REGINA - The opposition New Democrats plan an emergency motion condemning the Trump administration when the Saskatchewan legislature resumes this week.
At a news conference Monday at the Legislature, Opposition Leader Carla Beck said that this Thursday, the NDP House Leader Nicole Sarauer would introduce an emergency motion that would “condemn the Trump administration for proposing the annexation of Canada and for imposing tariffs on Canadian goods.”
“Right now, our country is under threat. A threat the likes of which none of us have seen in our lifetime,” said Beck, who wore a Team Canada jersey at the news conference.
Beck continued to contend that Premier Scott Moe had not done enough to speak out against the Trump tariff threats.
“While my 26 Saskatchewan NDP colleagues and I have repeatedly condemned the comments made by Donald Trump and members of his cabinet, Scott Moe has failed to do that very thing. Even after this guy threatened to destroy our economy, suggested that our agricultural products were disgusting and dirty, and sided with (Russian president) Vladimir Putin over Ukraine's heroic president. Moe was the last Canadian premier to speak out, the last to impose countermeasures, and he had the very weakest response to Donald Trump's threats and insults.”
The indication from Sarauer was they wanted unanimous support for their emergency motion.
“We are looking for every MLA to be in the House voting in favour of this emergency motion. The emergency motion will be very straightforward. This is not the time for political games. This is a time for leadership,” Sarauer said.
“We know that Trump officials have openly mused that Alberta and Saskatchewan are the weak links in our national unity. They couldn't be more wrong from what I've seen, and I know Carla and the other NDP MLAs have seen as well. I see a rush of national pride right across my constituency and right across this great province.
People are hanging our national flag from their homes. People are shopping local and celebrating local businesses. And people are shouting our national anthem at the top of their lungs. Let's go into that chamber and send a strong, clear and united message. Saskatchewan is not for sale. Canada is not for sale.”
When asked if she thought Trump would even notice the emergency motion from Saskatchewan, Beck replied “I'm not sure if he will or won't, but I know that Saskatchewan people, Saskatchewan businesses, Saskatchewan industry and the rest of Canada will pay attention.”
The plan is for emergency motion to be introduced just one day after the Legislative session begins its spring sitting on March 19, with the introduction of the 2025 budget.
On what to expect from the NDP this sitting, Sarauer would not tip her hand as to what the NDP would focus on in Question Period, but did indicate the Trump tariffs would take precedence.
“It wouldn’t be shocking to know this is one of our very top priorities this session,” Sarauer said. “So you'll hear Carla and the other MLAs talk about this issue a lot.”
As for other issues, Beck said that regardless of where we're at in the province right now, “you have people on edge. You have people who are concerned, who are angry, who are frustrated, who very clearly continue to tell us that they want to see a strong response from all members in that legislature.
“And all of the concerns that were there before the tariffs are still there. Concerns in health care. We saw code orange invoked at Regina General Hospital last week. We see a further reduction of hours at City Hospital in Saskatoon. We see continued closures of programs in health care right across the province. We continue to see concerns with the cost of living, which won't be helped by tariffs. We continue to see concerns with overdoses and homelessness. We continue to see concerns when it comes to education, and the list goes on and on.”
Regarding the provincial budget coming down on Wednesday, Beck wanted to see all of those issues addressed.
“To deal with staffing up in health care, ensuring that students get the supports that they need.
Some measures to give some relief when it comes to the cost of living. All of those things for sure.”
Beck also pointed to further tariffs coming April 2 and said she wanted to see “some willingness or some contingencies to provide support for those who are most impacted, those people in those industries that are most impacted.” She also wanted to see “some indication that we're going to start making the investments in infrastructure to put Saskatchewan people back to work,” pointing to rail lines, power lines and pipelines across the country.
“So there's a big list, and again it's a heck of a time to be going in with fewer days to debate, fewer days of scrutiny,” said Beck, referring to the shortened 30 days of sitting this spring.
“But here we are. We're ready to go. We've been ready for a long time, but this motion is top of mind. And again I think that it's something that Saskatchewan people want us to be focused on as well.”
