REGINA - Premier Scott Moe has joined the provincial Premiers for the Council of the Federation meetings in Toronto, where the threat of American tariffs was expected to be a prime topic.
The threat from President-elect Donald Trump of imposing 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods has met a swift negative reaction from politicians across the country. The provincial premiers have already had discussions on the issue and it was set to come up again in Toronto.
In speaking to reporters in Toronto, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the focus on Monday would be “securing our border and making sure we hit our two per cent NATO (commitment).” He also pointed to clean and reliant energy and ensuring lifesaving drugs are approved a lot quicker.
But the Premiers' conference may have been upstaged by news at the federal level of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland's resignation from Cabinet, on a day when she was set to deliver her fall economic statement. In her resignation letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Freeland had pointed for a need to answer Trump's tariff threats by "working in good faith with the Premiers of the provinces and territories of our diverse country, and building a true Team Canada approach."
Last Wednesday in advance of the Council of the Federation meetings, the Premiers held a conference call with Prime Minister Trudeau, and the indication was that the tariff threat was a major discussion point.
Premier Moe sat down with Â鶹´«Ã½AV immediately following that conference call for our annual Year-End Interview. He was asked at that time if he had an update on where things stood.
Moe indicated the issues at the centre of discussion going forward will be “first, border security as it pertains to drugs and, and illegal migrants,” and the second would be “trade discussion, market access, trade deficits that may or may not exist across the border.
“And then, three, will be Canada's investment to the, with respect to their two per cent NATO spending target. I think all three of those are fair discussion for the Canada, US and Canadians and Americans. And so how do we support that from a provincial level.”
Moe said he had been in “multiple calls” with not only Prime Minister Trudeau but with the other Premiers, “working collectively to advocate as Canadians on the broader trade relationship. We're also making another, a number of other video calls at this point. And well, those will be in-person visits very shortly in the new year.”
Moe also pointed to the province's “extensive” contact list in the US government. “This past week, I've been on video calls with multiple governors and starting to line up some of our other contacts in Washington as well,” Moe said.
“As a province, we've worked hard at this over the last decade or even longer. And now we're going to need to use those contacts to reach out and to talk about the importance of Saskatchewan and Canada being involved in, alongside the United States in providing energy security and food security, not only for our continent, but providing that same energy and food security for our allied nations around the world. It's an important conversation.”
Moe pointed to the need towards “visibly and demonstrably increasing border security, not only at our 49th parallel, but possibly in our airports, and as well at our port points of entry as well.
“Because it is drugs, and it is people that we need to stop, not only going into the US, but stop coming into Canada as well, as we have our own epidemic when it comes to the availability of fentanyl and opioids and such in our communities. And we're not immune to that in Saskatchewan. It is a Canadian, North American challenge, but it's also here in our province.”
Moe also said you can expect to see significant investments in the future at the border.
“What I think you are seeing, and what I've learned through our conversations with the Prime Minister, is that they are going to step into increasing the border security that we have in a substantial way. We may have to take additional steps in the years ahead. And the provinces, including Saskatchewan, are looking for ways that we can participate and enhance some of the border security steps that the federal government is making. And so I think there will be more to come in the weeks ahead on what this all looks like.
"But I think you're going to see fairly significant investments. I would say significant investment increasing our border security. And the provinces are going to play a role in enhancing what the federal government is going to attempt to do.”
When asked if the tariff situation could be resolved Moe expressed his concern Trump will carry out his threats of tariffs.
“I'm concerned that it's going to happen, as President Trump finds his way to office on Jan. 20th. In fact, he's been fairly clear that it's going to happen.”
Moe pointed to Saskatchewan’s current trade with the USA, exporting close to $30 billion including potash, uranium, oil, and agricultural products. The province also imports heavy farm equipment including tractors and combines.
If the tariffs do happen, “that level best of preventing it to happen turns into how quickly can we get them removed and make our case as to this isn't advancing, in any way, the energy and food security of Americans or Canadians,” said Moe.
“It isn't helping us build our collective economy. And it's hurting people on both sides of the border. And so that is really the conversation that we're having with the governors and other incoming elected members as well as existing elected members in the U.S. And that's a conversation that you're really going to see intensify between now and January the 20th. And should the tariffs arrive, you'd see it intensify even more after that point.”
You can expect to see more of our full year-end interview with Premier Moe, coming soon at Â鶹´«Ã½AV.ca.
