The Progressive Conservatives want to join forces with the NDP government to take a “Team Manitoba” approach to the 25 per cent tariffs president-elect Donald Trump has promised to impose on all goods imported to the U.S.
The official opposition unsuccessfully called for an emergency debate in the legislature Monday on forming an all-party committee to respond to any tariffs that come into effect after Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration.
“This is going to impact tens of thousands of jobs in Manitoba. With our highly integrated supply chain, this is going to have devastating effects for our economy,” PC finance critic Lauren Stone (Midland) said after question period.
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES Wayne Ewasko, the interim leader of the Progressive Conservatives, and his party called for an urgent team approach to dealing with the threat of proposed U.S. tariffs on Canadian exports.
“It’s tough, we know, today to make ends meet,” interim PC leader Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet) said. “What is going to happen when these tariffs get imposed on Canadians and Manitobans?”
Agriculture critic Jeff Bereza (Portage la Prairie) said the impact on Manitoba’s agriculture sector would result in an “economic tsunami.”
Stone said she thinks every Manitoban is nervous about the Trump tariffs.
“We need individuals from both political parties that represent all areas of the province to come together to really understand what these impacts are going to be in Manitoba and to also help propose a plan to (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau, so when he does go down to the U.S., we know that our interests in Manitoba are going to be advocated for,” she said.
Premier Wab Kinew said earlier in the day that he supported Trudeau’s surprise visit to Trump’s Mar-a-lago Resort in Palm Beach, Fla. on the weekend.
“Relate before you negotiate,” said Kinew, repeating the advice of his U.S. trade adviser, former premier Gary Doer, who served as Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. The premier said the province is reaching out to state level representatives, including North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who is one of Trump’s cabinet picks and was at Mar-a-lago with Trudeau.
“We have a few people in the Trump administration who know where Manitoba is on the map,” said Kinew. “We’re hard at work making sure that Manitoba’s voice is heard in the U.S. and that’s how we can ensure that this Team Canada approach is successful.”
Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter
Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol.
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