YORKTON - NDP Whip and MLA for Regina Â鶹ÊÓƵ Albert Alena Young was in Yorkton Friday talking to a few people, and she had one main issue on her mind, tariffs on Canadian exports and how they impact workers particularly in Saskatchewan.
Young said there are certainly concerns regarding tariffs when she talks with people, and she warned it is not a problem that will go away, at least anytime soon.
“It will be a roller-coaster at least the next three years,” she told Yorkton This Week. “We are still in a trade war.”
And the impact of the trade war is felt in the province in many areas including steel, and of particular interest/concern in Yorkton canola oil.
In looking specifically at the tariffs hitting canola products to China, Young said Canada needs to get that fixed.
“Those need to come off yesterday,” she said, suggesting Canada needs to remove its tariffs on Chinese EVs, which caused the reciprocal tariffs on canola, and normalize trade with China.
“The federal government needs to take the tariffs off EVs yesterday.”
Dealing with American tariffs from president Donald Trump are not so easily fixed, but Young said a step would be a stronger response from Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe.
On a personal level Young encourages consumers to think ‘Canadian’ first when making purchases, and she added she sees that happening.
In that regard Young said it is disappointing seeing the Saskatchewan government still buying services from U.S. firms.
The opposition NDP recently brought to light two questionable contracts signed by the government.
As a result, the provinces Minister of Health admitted extension of a contract to private company LifeLabs for at least another year. LifeLabs, which is now operated by American-based Quest, was awarded a $60-million contract by the Government of Saskatchewan in 2017.
And the province is outsourcing park reservations and hunting and fishing licenses to an American company.
The Sask. Party government pays RA Outdoors LTD, a Texas-based company operating as Aspira, approximately $2 million per year (Public Accounts, page 271).
Young said such actions are not good enough in the face of American tariffs which are hurting Saskatchewan workers.
