November 27, 2024 | Advertise with us

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Donald Trump announces 25% tariff on Canadian goods, the Premier responds

The United States President-elect Donald Trump is threatening a 25% tariff on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico unless the countries curb the flow of migrants and drugs across their borders.

Premiers and the Prime Minister will meet today to discuss the implications of a second Trump term.

On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said, "This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country! Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!"

According to a senior government source, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with Trump on Monday night after the news broke. Their conversation was described as “good” by the official who said the call included talks of trade and border security, with Trudeau noting that the number of migrants crossing from Canada into the U.S. is far less than those coming through Mexico. According to the senior official, both Trudeau and Trump agreed to have more conversations on the matter in the future.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe spoke with CTV Morning Live and said, "We’re going to support the federal government in their engagement efforts, we’re going to engage as Canada’s 13 premiers through the Council of Federation table and then we’ll use contacts that we have built over the last number of years as well to engage on Saskatchewan and Canada’s behalf."

Adding that a 25% tariff would negatively impact Saskatchewan jobs and economy, Moe said, “And it really doesn’t build us towards that broader goal that we have of a strong continental security situation, whether it’s food security, energy security, manufacturing security, we’re very integrated across that 49th parallel.”

Trump will be inaugurated on January 20 and has threatened tariffs on Canadian goods in his first term, before the trade deal was finalized.

In response to Premiers across the country requesting an emergency meeting of the First Ministers, the Prime Minister and Premiers will meet today to create a plan for navigating a second Trump term.

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Throne Speech debate begins as Sask. Party looks to change the channel on education

The response from the Speech from the Throne begins this week as MLAs sat for their first day of regular business yesterday.

The NDP are attacking the plan, saying it provides no new relief for Saskatchewan families. The NDP put forward a motion to pause the gas tax and it was defeated in the legislature.

On the Evan Bray Show, NDP leader Carla Beck said she was not surprised, “There weren’t a lot of surprises in there. I would say that the Sask. Party has never had a problem making promises. What we’re really focused on are the solutions… the results that we see. We know that Saskatchewan people deserve better health care. We know that people are struggling to pay their bills right now, that they need some relief. We know that our kids need a better education than we’re providing right now. We know that we need safer communities. The rhetoric is there, the promises are there. Our job, and we will do this, is holding the government to account to deliver more than just words (and) actual results for Saskatchewan people.”

The government is following up on social media with announcements from the Speech, including a video featuring the new Minister of Education Everett Hindley. In the video, Hindley explains some of the government’s new investments, including expanding the specialized classroom pilot, focusing on reading skills for primary learners, and more.

Debate will continue over the next two weeks before MLAs rise for a Christmas break.

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Shercom sues government for $10 million, NDP say government to blame for layoffs

A Saskatchewan-based tire recycling company is suing the government for $10 million over a multiple-year contract dispute and the NDP says the government is to blame for layoffs.

Shercom Industries launched a lawsuit against the Saskatchewan government, the province’s tire recycling regulator and its chief executive, claiming millions of dollars in damages for breach of a contract as part of a dispute that's lasted more than two years.

When the dispute went public last year, Tire Stewardship Saskatchewan Chief Officer Stevyn Arnt said, "I think what you're seeing play out is a company that is upset that they've lost their monopoly." The contract went through an RFP process, one in which Shercom says they were excluded from.

NDP Shadow Minister of Jobs and Economy Aleana Young is accusing Premier Scott Moe of reneging on a promise that Shercom would have a long-term contract, an assured supply of used tires, and a voice in the future of the tire recycling industry if it rebuilt its manufacturing plant after a major fire in 2016. Young said, "And if I were the premier, I would be working day and night to fix this. This is 130 families — 130 workers in Saskatoon, Martensville, Warman, who are facing pink slips right before Christmas.”

Premier Scott Moe responded to the news by saying that decisions around tire recycling are handled by Tire Stewardship Saskatchewan, “The very people that are selling those tires are making the decisions about how they’re being recycled.”

The matter is now before the courts.

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