OTTAWA — NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is calling on the Liberals to recall Parliament and work with opposition leaders on a potential support package for workers who could be hit by U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs as early as Feb.1
Singh, who on Thursday spoke at an event with union leaders in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., said he wanted to be “really clear” that his intention to vote non-confidence in the minority Liberals when Parliament resumes at the end of March remains the same.
The NDP leader says that date is still weeks away but, in the meantime, Singh says that if there are ways to fight back against Trump’s threat of tariffs and deliver support to affected Canadians, “let’s do it.”
“We need to let these workers know, ‘we got your back,’ and so I’m calling on Parliament to be recalled so that we can put in place those protections,” Singh said on Thursday.
“If there’s any legislation required to actually put in place supports for workers, let’s get that done.”
Governor General Mary Simon granted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s request to suspend Parliament until Mar. 24, which he did to give the Liberal party room to hold a leadership contest to replace him, after announcing on Jan. 6 he would step down as both party leader and prime minister. The Liberals will name their new leader on Mar. 9.
On Wednesday, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson confirmed the government was looking at how it might be able to support people hit by Trump’s potential tariffs through existing programs and resources. Should Parliament need to pass legislation to deliver any additional support and sees opposition parties are willing to work with them, the Liberals would consider recalling Parliament, the minister said, adding he believes those conversations were still premature.
Singh on Thursday pointed out that Opposition Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has also called on Parliament to be recalled.
“Let’s call it back and get something done to support these workers,” Singh said.
The federal Conservatives have not said whether they would support the government in passing any new legislation designed to deliver tariff-related financial support, as the party did when the COVID-19 pandemic first arrived in March 2020. That legislation saw the Liberals send tens of billions over two years to businesses shuttered by lockdowns and individuals who had lost their jobs.
Both Singh and Poilievre have said the Liberals must be willing to retaliate should Trump make good on his threat of slapping 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, who is in Washington meeting with Republican lawmakers and Trump officials, said she conveyed during a meeting on Wednesday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio that should Trump proceed, Canada would retaliate and “everything was on the table.”
She was set to be joined in Washington on Thursday by Public Safety Minister David McGuinty who is trying to sell Trump officials on Canada’s new plan to beef up border security, including by targeting the flow of the deadly drug fentanyl.
Trump has demanded Canada take action against fentanyl making its ways into the U.S. through the Canada-U.S. boundary and against migrants who cross illegally, under threat of having 25 per cent tariffs slapped on Canadian goods. Trump has made a similar threat to Mexico. Canadian officials have said the U.S.’s border with Mexico is the main problem and that less than one per cent of fentanyl entering the U.S. comes from Canada.
Howard Lutnick, Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. Commerce Department, said during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday that the Feb. 1 threat of tariffs is directly tied to concerns about fentanyl and immigration, saying the countries could avoid them if the U.S sees them taking action.
“As far as I know, they are acting swiftly, and if they execute it, there will be no tariff. And if they don’t, then there will be,” Lutnick said.
With files from Bloomberg
National Post
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