A local MP says the 30-day tariff pause is a chance to evaluate and relook at how Canada not only deals with external forces but also factors within the country.
Lethbridge MP Rachael Thomas says if the U.S. goes forward with implementing tariffs after the 30-day pause it would be a bad situation for everyone as it will cost a lot of money for everyone and could also result in job losses for Canadians.
“I think tariffs are certainly an economic measure that causes harm to both sides. Of course, here at home, we would face the harm of having to pay more on goods that are coming up from the U.S., but at the same time, if tariffs are put on the goods that we’re sending south, then our businesses [will have a] hard time being able to find a market for what they’re producing,” Thomas says.
Interprovincial trade is a subject she says needs to be addressed as Canada heavily relies on the trade relationship with “our partners to the south” to bolster the economy. She says to keep Canada as a strong nation it is important to take a look internally at the barriers that currently exist for province-to-province trade.Â
“We need to start taking down those barriers on everything from wine and spirits to energy. For a long time, there’s been a conversation in the country around putting a pipeline that goes east-west and there’s huge economic advantage to doing so.”
Thomas acknowledges the tariff situation with the U.S. has been a roller coaster, but she thinks the 30-day pause has created an opportunity for Parliament to resume so legislators can come together and take action towards finding a resolution. She says President Donald Trump has found himself in a position of power that he has been able to use “as a bully” to force Canada’s hand, with the tariffs he has said he tends to place on the country being completely unjust.
“Bottom line is this, you know, Trump has responded to Canada by saying he’s going to put in 25 per cent tariffs on most things and then 10 per cent on energy. He kind of let that sit in place for a minute and then decided to relent and give us another 30 days.”
“Traditionally, the United States has been our closest neighbour, our greatest ally, and even our best friend. We’ve always enjoyed a very close trading partnership and we’ve always been able to engage in conversation about the issues that we’ve had with one another and to be able to find resolve. There’s no reason why Trump couldn’t have approached this in that same fashion, and why we couldn’t have come to some resolution.”
According to the Lethbridge PM, when it comes to the concerns raised about safety at Canadian borders, they are relatively safe and secure. However, says over the in a dozen years there has been an increase in crime along with an increase in trafficking of all sorts including illegal firearms and human beings.
“Yes, of course, those things do need to be addressed and there’s an opportunity to do that, which is why Parliament needs to be called back into session as soon as possible so that these important conversations can transpire and so that effective changes can be put in place.”
