Sask. NDP emergency motion on Trump changed, passed

An emergency motion from the Sask. NDP on the Trump administration and the tariff threat to Canada was passed unanimously on Thursday morning in the legislature, but only after being fundamentally changed.

The original motion the NDP brought forward, having announced it earlier in the week, was two paragraphs:

“That the Assembly condemns the Trump administration for proposing the annexation of Canada as the 51st state and imposing tariffs on Canadian goods, and,

“That, in the opinion of the Assembly, the Government of Canada should neither impose export taxes on nor limit exports of natural resources produced in Saskatchewan.”

The Sask. Party Government members allowed the emergency motion to be introduced but amended it, replacing all but the first three words.

The new motion said the assembly would confirm that Canada “will never be the 51st state” but removed any reference to the Trump administration, instead going on to say the assembly supports the government’s tariff response plan, and detailing that plan in eight points.

Beck was confused by the removal of reference to Donald Trump.

“There is nothing in that motion … that is offside, that isn’t what people in this province have already and repeatedly called for,” said Beck.

She said this isn’t a threat coming out of nowhere and that it continues to be repeated by the U.S. president.

“We should name who it is that is threatening our country, and it shouldn’t be difficult to do that. Honestly, I’m at a loss as to why this government removed all references to Donald Trump from their motion,” said Beck.

Today in the Legislature, MLAs debated and unanimously passed our government’s tariff response plan.

Thanks to all Saskatchewan Party and NDP MLAs for your united support of Saskatchewan’s plan. pic.twitter.com/LGe9wr2GrT

— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) March 20, 2025

The NDP voted against the amendment because it removed reference to Trump, but government passed the amendment with its superior numbers, and the NDP then voted for the motion itself.

Beck said they voted for the motion because the Sask. Party measures it highlighted are things the NDP has been calling for.

Premier Scott Moe indicated it wasn’t about not condemning the U.S. president, he said he’d done it in his comments during Question Period, and he would again.

“Words are words, and we, most certainly, agree with the leader of the opposition with respect to some of the rhetoric that is coming and the comments that are coming from the president himself, as well as some of those around him – we condemn those comments, there’s no place for Canada to be the 51st state,” said Moe.

However, when asked why the reference to Trump and condemnation was taken out of the motion, Moe questioned how it would have helped.

“Dialing up the rhetoric is not going to do that, dialing up the actions is not going to get us to our goal, which is free and fair trade,” said Moe.

The premier quoted former Prime Minister Jean Chretien, saying they need to be smart with their comments. He said he wanted to respond to words with actions, saying that people want to see a plan from governments on this front.

Team Canada

Some of the NDP caucus was planning to wear Team Canada jerseys at proceedings on Thursday, but were stopped with a ruling from Speaker Todd Goudy.

Leader Carla Beck said that wasn’t what they’d expected.

“There’s always some leeway for extraordinary times, this is definitely an extraordinary time and it shouldn’t be controversial to wear the colours, wear the flag,” said Beck.

Goudy later quoted rule 47 in a statement, “Members shall be dressed in appropriate business attire or ethnic dress.”

He said there have been concessions made previously, but he wasn’t informed ahead of time in this case.

“I appreciate the cooperation of the Opposition House Leader and the Opposition Caucus to my decision,” said Goudy in the statement.

The Speaker’s role is to ensure rules and decorum are followed in the assembly.

Premier Scott Moe said there had been an instance of all the MLAs wearing Humboldt Broncos jerseys or shirts, but he said he believed that was done with the consent of all members.