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With around 72 hours left before American President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs are expected to take effect, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe emphasized the importance of de-escalation in an address to business leaders.
The premier was among the first speakers at the Western Canada Economic Forum (WCEF) in Regina on Wednesday. Moe spoke about the economy, the importance of cross-border trade, and repeated his vision of a strengthened North American economy. He also encouraged those in the room to communicate with their counterparts, clients and suppliers in the U.S.A. on the issue.
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Moe later told reporters everything is urgent right now as leaders trying to deal with the trade situation.
“Every word that comes from our mouth and every motion that we go through, whether it’s a sub-national leader or the federal government, needs to be focused on deescalating the entire conversation around tariffs and really looking at the strength and the integration of the economy we have,” explained Moe.
The premier was expecting to join his counterparts at a first ministers’ meeting later on Wednesday, saying he would bring the same message that he has previously touted – that Saskatchewan does not support broad dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs or export tariffs.
“Export tariffs, if we were to start exporting potash or oil, if the federal government saw fit to do that, would rip this country apart,” said Moe.
Moe said he was expecting to hear about a possible expansion of Canada’s $2 billion list of possible counter-tariffs if Trump goes ahead with his threat to impose 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs on Canadian goods.
On Tuesday, Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s energy and resources minister, tried to assuage concerns about Canada’s response during an event in Saskatoon. He said Canada won’t take anything off the table before even starting negotiations, but wouldn’t start with energy and critical minerals in the talks either.
‘People should get ready for a bit of a bumpy ride,’ said Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s energy and natural resources minister, during an event in Saskatoon this week. (Shane Clausing/650 CKOM)
“I think people should take a deep and collective deep breath,” said Wilkinson. “We’re going to be moving through these things in a thoughtful way.”
The federal minister also said it’s important for Ottawa to soothe concerns in Saskatchewan and Alberta, reiterating that any retaliation has to be fair and must not single out one province or sector.
When asked about Wilkinson’s comments, Moe said there needs to be better understanding of what the plan is.
“There’s points of the plan that have, at times, been floated or not floated by federal officials with respect to broad-based dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs,” Moe said.
“Those aren’t on from Saskatchewan’s perspective. Those hurt all Canadians and hurt all North Americans, escalate the whole discussion around tariffs and are not helpful to us building that continental economy into the future.”
At the forum, Emily Fleckner the U.S. consul general for Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, was expected to speak around midday, but early on Wednesday it was announced she wouldn’t be there. It was relayed that the U.S. government had suspended all planned travel and public engagements, so Fleckner wouldn’t be able to make it.
