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REGINA — As Saskatchewan’s politicians return to the legislature this week, the Opposition NDP says it will push Premier Scott Moe to get tougher on U.S. President Donald Trump.
NDP Leader Carla Beck says her party will introduce an emergency motion this week calling legislators to condemn Trump for proposing to annex Canada and imposing tariffs on Canadian goods.
“Our country is under threat, the likes of which none of us have seen in our lifetime,” Beck, wearing a Team Canada hockey jersey, told reporters Monday.
“We see attacks on our economy, our jobs, our resources, including our water, (and) attacks on our way of life and attacks on our very sovereignty.
“Donald Trump has brought the fight to us and we can’t back down.”
Beck said Moe has been weak in responding to Trump.
“We saw (Alberta Premier) Danielle Smith come up with stronger terms to condemn what we are facing,” she said.
“What we’ve seen from (Moe) so far simply isn’t good enough. It’s time for leaders to step up, loudly and proudly.”
Trump has imposed 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum and plans to apply additional levies April 2. The federal government has retaliated with 25 per cent tariffs on U.S. goods worth $29.8 billion.
Moe’s Saskatchewan Party government has stopped purchasing American alcohol and is looking to prioritize Canadian suppliers for public procurement.
“Our government has been clear in our strong opposition to the Trump tariffs and his offensive comments about Canada joining the U.S.,” Moe’s office said in a statement.
The premier has said he supports Canada’s countermeasures but that the country needs to find a path back to free trade with the United States.
Moe has also said Canada won’t win a trade war with its southern neighbour and staring down the world’s largest economy won’t get results.
The focus of the spring sitting will be on the 2025 budget. It is set to be introduced in the house Wednesday and will be centred around health care, education, drug addiction and crime.
During last year’s election campaign, Moe’s platform promised deficits in the first three years to accommodate increased spending in those areas.
“Those investments are going to be focused on ensuring that Saskatchewan remains the most affordable province in Canada to live,” Moe told reporters last week.
Moe has also signalled the province would support industries affected by tariffs, but has declined to say whether there will be a contingency fund for relief.
Beck said she’ll be looking to see if the budget includes contingencies for industries affected by tariffs. She also wants the province to follow through on removing U.S. suppliers from public procurement.
She added she’s watching for increased investment in health care, education and reducing homelessness.
“This is about priorities, making sure that we’re spending on the things that are most important to people,” she said.
Saskatchewan is also dealing with China’s planned tariffs on canola oil, meal and peas in response to Canada applying levies on Chinese-made electric vehicles, steel and aluminum.
Moe has said Beijing’s tariffs, expected to be imposed Thursday, threaten jobs in the province. He has called on Ottawa to engage with China to prevent the levies from going ahead.
The province’s 61-seat legislature is made up of 34 governing Saskatchewan Party members and 27 from the Opposition NDP
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2025.
Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press