Latest news with #Canola
CBC
21-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Sask. Opposition's attempt to condemn Donald Trump, wear Team Canada jerseys goes sideways
Social Sharing A day that began with the Saskatchewan NDP caucus clothed in red hockey gear and singing O Canada on the steps of the provincial legislature did not end the way the Official Opposition planned. The party members swapped out their orange for Team Canada hockey jerseys on Thursday as they sought to introduce an emergency motion to condemn President Donald Trump's administration, his tariffs and the threat of making Canada the 51st state. It also asserted the federal government should not impose export taxes or impose limits on exports of natural resources in Saskatchewan. "This was not, should not have been, a partisan motion. It should have been something that all people in that assembly, all leaders in that assembly could agree to," NDP Leader Carla Beck said. The NDP's joy didn't last long, as their MLAs were forced to take off the Team Canada jerseys to enter the legislative chamber. The party has since confirmed the decision was made by Speaker Todd Goudy. In a statement, Goudy said he was upholding decorum in the House and enforcing a rule requiring business attire. "There have been instances where concessions have been made, but I was not informed ahead of time," Goudy said. The NDP's dissatisfaction did not end there, as its motion was swiftly amended by the Sask. Party government. The amendment confirmed that Canada would never be the 51st state and endorsed the province's tariff response plan — including the need to take counter action against "unjustified tariffs" and increase procurement from Saskatchewan-based employers — but removed Trump's name. WATCH| Sask. NDP brings elbows up to the legislature: Sask. NDP brings their elbows up to the legislature 4 hours ago Duration 0:30 Beck said the switch didn't make sense. "I think the bigger concern we saw today, again from this government, was their inability to actually name Donald Trump as the person who is threatening this country," said Beck. "I, in fact, find that even more troubling than being asked to take off the jersey before we went into the assembly." After a period of debate, the NDP ultimately voted in support of the government's amendment. It passed unanimously. Premier Scott Moe defended the decision to remove Trump's name. He said it was about toning down the political rhetoric. "Words are words. We need a plan, we need action. That's what Canadian families in Saskatchewan, families I think are asking politicians of all levels to dial back the rhetoric and to come forward with what is your actual plan on how we're going to react to what is really an unprecedented time," said Moe. It's still not clear what the province's response to the tariffs will be. The government didn't provide any contingency funds to deal with tariff repercussions in Wednesday's budget. China's 100 per cent tariff on Canola kicked in Thursday, while more U.S. tariffs are expected next month. Moe confirmed he'll be joining a call with Prime Minister Mark Carney and other premiers on Friday. Moe said he intends to ask Carney to make contact with Chinese officials to end the canola tariff as soon as possible. With a federal election call likely in the coming days
CBC
12-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Sask. premier warns that Chinese tariffs on canola would be ruinous
Social Sharing Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe lashed out at American and Chinese tariffs on Wednesday, saying they will have a devastating impact on Saskatchewan workers. "Make no mistake — a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese canola and meal exports, alongside the challenge that we're seeing in the United States with the on and off again tariffs on various products, will decimate the canola industry in Saskatchewan," Moe said at the annual Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) conference in Saskatoon on Wednesday. "Immediately. In a matter of a number of weeks, not months." China has announced that it will impose 100 per cent retaliatory tariffs targeting canola, as well as other Canadian goods like seafood and pork. The decision comes in response to Canada's 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles and a 25 per cent levy on Chinese aluminum and steel products imposed on Oct. 1. The Chinese tariffs are scheduled to kick in on March 20, just a day after the Saskatchewan budget is set to be introduced in the provincial legislature. "I'm not sure you're going to hear the budget speak specifically to this, but you're gonna hear the Saskatchewan government speak specifically to this," Moe said. The premier said no one wants to buy Chinese electric vehicles in Canada, and moving to protect Canadian and American car industries is directly harming agriculturally-based provinces like Saskatchewan. Moe's ire was not just focused on the incoming Canola tariffs. On Wednesday morning, 25 per cent tariffs on all imports of steel and aluminum to the United States officially came into force. In response, the Canadian government announced a new set of 25 per cent tariffs on $29.8 billion worth of American imports. They include $12.6 billion worth of steel products, $3 billion worth of aluminum products and $14.2 billion worth of other goods. They are ti go into effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Thursday. Those new tariffs are on top of the federal government's first retaliatory tariffs announced earlier this month, which applied to $30 billion worth of American goods and are to be increased to $155 billion at the end of March. The federal government said they will remain in place until all American tariffs are lifted. Moe confirmed that Saskatchewan's retaliatory measures announced last week will also remain in place. They include blocking the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) from buying and distributing U.S.-made alcohol, and pausing future government capital projects to assess how American contractors and suppliers could be minimized. "Things are changing literally by the hour," Moe said. "And we've seen that over the course of the last number of weeks. So a calm hand is necessary." Aleana Young, the Saskatchewan NDP's economy and jobs critic, said at a separate news conference in Regina on Wednesday that the government should prioritize Canadian steel manufacturers. "Stop using steel from outside of Canada, stop using cheap Chinese steel, stop using U.S. companies when it comes to building projects here in Saskatchewan," Young said. More than half of Saskatchewan's exports go to the United States, totalling about $26.7 billion in 2024. About three quarters of those were from one of four products: crude oil, potash, canola oil and uranium. According to Statistics Canada, in 2024 Saskatchewan exported $387 million worth of iron and steel products and $26 million worth of aluminum to the United States. Regina is home to one of 13 steel plants in Canada. It's run by Ervaz plc, a steel manufacturing and mining company based in the United Kingdom. According to United Steelworkers Local 5890 President Mike Day, about 30 per cent of the steel produced at the facility is shipped to a sister plant in the U.S. "Right now everything is up in the air and we don't know what the next move is," said Patrick Veinot, a staff representative for United Steelworkers. "It's important that we get together and we discuss it. All parties, all stakeholders. That includes finance, that includes business, that includes the unions, you know, as organized labour.
CBC
10-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
China hitting Canada with 100% tariff on canola oil and peas
The Canadian Canola industry is under attack again from China. New Chinese tariffs are in response to the federal government's decision last October to impose 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and a 25 per cent levy on its aluminum and steel products.
