REGINA - Opposition Leader Carla Beck is pledging a unified stance from Saskatchewan in response to the Trump tariff threat.
At a news conference at the Legislature on Tuesday, and in a social media post as well, Beck pledged the NDP would offer her help and support to the provincial government aimed at turning back the threat of 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to bring in the tariffs soon after he is sworn in on Jan. 20, 2025"
Beck said she wrote a letter to Premier Scott Moe “to offer any and all assistance, any resources from our team to assist in the efforts at turning back this threat of 25 per cent tariffs. We're also ready to leverage any and all of the personal relationships and connections that we have towards this effort.”
Her offer of support comes in the wake of the political turbulence coming out of the nation's capital.
Beck acknowledged the events in Ottawa on Monday, where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced calls for his own departure. following the resignation of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Several Liberals as well as all Opposition leaders including the NDP’s Jagmeet Singh have called for Trudeau’s resignation, and Beck has also joined in that call.
“I do believe that Prime Minister Trudeau should step down. This is not a time for chaos,” Beck told reporters.
“This is a time for unity. We're not seeing that right now.”
But Beck’s main message on Tuesday was less about her own call for Trudeau to go, and more about the need for all political leaders at the provincial level to step up to fill the current void out of Ottawa.
“It's clear by events yesterday that the federal government in Ottawa is in chaos. Currently, our nation, this country, is not being taken seriously by the incoming U.S. administration. And this is something that needs to change. And it needs to change quickly because we're running out of time. Our national sovereignty is not a joke. And what we do now, in the days and the month ahead, will shape our province, will shape this country for years into the future.”
She said the tariffs issue “goes beyond partisan politics. We must stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners across this country and defend our province and our livelihoods. Simply put, this is a time for stability and it's a time for unity. If Ottawa won't provide that, then it falls on provincial leaders to do so.”
She said there was “no greater risk” to the economy than the tariff threat.
“This is not a time to signal division. It's not a time to signal weakness,” said Beck. “We need to demonstrate to the incoming U.S. administration that we stand together, ready to build solutions, but also that we will not back down and we won't be intimidated. This is not a time for partisan antics. Saskatchewan families, Saskatchewan industry, they're counting on all of us. And Canadians are counting on us to show a strong and a united front.”
While the drama unfolded in Ottawa Monday, Premier Scott Moe was in Toronto for the meeting of the Council of the Federation involving all the provincial Premiers. Following those meetings, the Premiers issued their communique in which they stated they “will advocate against tariffs that threaten our deeply integrated and mutually beneficial economic relationships.”
The Premiers also called for the Feds to to accelerate reaching the NATO defence spending target of two per cent of GDP, as well as take a proactive approach to secure the borders -- something Premier Moe has also called for in recent days.
Beck acknowledged it was “reassuring to see the premiers sitting at the table with a unified message.” She also described what happened in Ottawa as “the opposite of what needs to happen right now.”
“There were two messages coming out of Ottawa. One was of chaos and an internal focus, and we saw a message from the Premiers that I think is what we need to see more of. Unity, strength, clarity, and a willingness to put aside partisan interests to deliver that unified message.
“I think we need to see more of that, and again, I'm here today. This is why I wrote the letter to the Premier, to say that we understand the gravity of the moment and that we want to work towards finding a resolution that is going to benefit certainly people here in Saskatchewan, but right across the country and on both sides of the border.”
As for the contacts she would be leveraging, Beck said they have already heard from key industries who have reached out to them, and had meetings that day with stakeholders here in the province.
“I don't think that there aren't parameters on that list,” said Beck. “I think any and all voices. We have a whole group of 27 MLAs who both have connections during their time as elected officials, but also those who have worked in industry. Industry that has business on both sides of the border, have contacts right across the country and on both sides of the border…
“Again, this is an all-hands-on-deck moment. We need that Team Canada approach. We also need that Team Saskatchewan approach.”
