U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff war will have far-reaching consequences for all Canadians, putting hundreds of thousands of jobs at risk and possibly reshaping our entire economy and relationship with the United States, as well as with the rest of the world. Canada needs a government that puts the country ahead of its own party politics.
To that end, Parliament must be recalled. To have prorogued Parliament for a Liberal leadership race knowing Trump’s tariffs were in the cards was unconscionable. But to leave the House of Commons shuttered in such a dire emergency would leave the Liberals open to a charge that they are betraying the country.
It is also unclear whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has a legitimate mandate to negotiate with the Americans. Before prorogation, all three major opposition parties had pledged to vote no confidence in the government, which would have forced an election.
Circumstances have changed, and it is possible that Trudeau would be able to find support in the House to address the immediate challenge of 25 per cent tariffs on all goods, and 10 per cent on energy products, being exported to the United States.
However, if the government does indeed fall, then so be it. An election would distract from addressing the tariff crisis, but at the end of it, Canadians would at least have a government with a legitimate mandate. Playing for time by avoiding Parliament, in the hope that the Liberals can rally around the flag and boost their poll numbers, would be disreputable.
Trudeau himself seems to appreciate the need for an all-party approach.
“We have the tools to support Canadians through this challenging time,” Trudeau said at a news conference on Saturday. “This is a moment for Canadians to pull together, including Canadians of all political parties. This is a moment where we need to set aside our differences and focus on delivering for Canadians.”
Exactly. A national emergency requires a national response.
We need an emergency debate so that all political parties can put forward measures, propose solutions and address the concerns of constituents. We need all politicians to band together to preserve our standard of living, protect our industries and forge a way forward.
What would be intolerable in this time of crisis is for the public to be informed by way of the prime minister’s press conference — given at a time when he chooses, imparting only information that he sees fit to give and with no accountability whatsoever.
As the prime minister said, now is a time when all political parties must pull together. And the proper place for a gathering is Parliament.
National Post