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REGINA — It was a day of jerseys, anthems and elbows up at the Saskatchewan legislature Thursday, with the Opposition NDP accusing Premier Scott Moe of going soft on a motion to condemn the U.S. trade war.
NDP Leader Carla Beck introduced a motion calling on the assembly to condemn U.S. President Donald Trump for seeking to annex Canada and imposing sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods.
Moe wanted a different wording.
He struck out the language in the motion entirely, with the backing of his Saskatchewan Party governing caucus.
He replaced it with the words, “Canada will never be the 51st state,” along with calls for the assembly to support his government’s plans to address tariffs.
The assembly ultimately passed the revised motion, but Beck later told reporters she doesn’t understand why Moe wanted to soften the language.
“People in this province have already been repeatedly condemning Donald Trump’s comments and the threats to make us the 51st state,” she said.
“This should not have been a partisan motion. It should have been something that all people in that assembly could agree to.”
Moe said the NDP’s motion was just words and that he has condemned Trump’s comments.
His government has also aligned with other provinces by no longer purchasing American alcohol and by prioritizing Canadian supplies for public infrastructure projects in response to the tariffs.
“We need a plan, we need action,” he said. “What Canadian families and Saskatchewan families, I think, are asking politicians of all levels is to dial back the rhetoric and to come forward with what is your actual plan.”
Moe added he’s a true Canadian.
“There’s no underlying concerns with respect to my love and loyalty to this province and my love and loyalty to this nation,” he said.
NDP members began the day singing the national anthem on the steps of the legislature while wearing Team Canada hockey jerseys in a show of support for the country.
However, when they were about to enter the chamber inside the building, Speaker Todd Goudy asked them not to wear their sweaters.
Goudy said in an emailed statement the rules allow members to only wear appropriate business attire or ethnic dress.
“There have been instances where concessions have been made, but I was not informed ahead of time,” said Goudy, the legislative referee for house proceedings.
“I appreciate the co-operation of the Opposition house leader and the Opposition caucus to my decision.”
Beck said the decision wasn’t what her team expected.
“The jerseys and the colours were orchestrated today. Spontaneous singing on the steps was not,” she said.
Saskatchewan released its budget Wednesday predicting a $12-million surplus with additional spending in core areas. However, it did not set aside funds to deal with tariffs, even though other provinces have created contingencies.
The budget includes a tariff analysis that says Saskatchewan could lose $1.4 billion in revenue should broad U.S. tariffs come into effect next month with Canadian countermeasures also in place.
The U.S. has imposed 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports entering the country and has promised to implement more tariffs on Canada on April 2.
China has also imposed tariffs on Canadian canola oil, meal and peas. It’s in response to Canada hitting Beijing with levies on Chinese-made electric vehicles, aluminum and steel.
Moe has said the tariffs on canola would devastate the industry in Saskatchewan.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 20, 2025.
Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press