Sask. Premier Scott Moe doesn’t take 51st state threat ‘seriously’

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Premier Scott Moe is heading to Washington, D.C. to advocate for the trade relationships Saskatchewan and Canada have with the U.S., as the clock ticks on the deferred implementation of President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

As he readied for the trip on Friday, Moe said he didn’t take Trump’s comments about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state very seriously, with his focus instead on making the case against the imposition of tariffs.

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“I don’t think it’s possible. I don’t think any Canadians would be supportive of that,” Moe told reporters Friday. “I don’t take that rhetoric seriously.”

Trump announced plans to impose a 10 per cent tariff on energy and 25 per cent tariff on other Canadian goods as of Feb. 4. On Feb. 3, following calls with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the U.S. president agreed to a 30-day pause.

Canada also walked back its proposed retaliatory tariffs and is working to shore up security at the border.

As part of an agreement, Canada will deploy a $1.3-billion border plan consisting of 10,000 front-line personnel on the border in exchange for the pause. Moe welcomed this, agreeing more security was needed along the border to stem the flow of drugs and people across the 49th parallel.

Following news of tariffs being put on pause, Trump wrote on social media: “We pay hundreds of Billions of Dollars to SUBSIDIZE Canada. Why? There is no reason. We don’t need anything they have,” going on to say, “Canada should become our Cherished 51st State. Much lower taxes, and far better military protection for the people of Canada — AND NO TARIFFS!”

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On Friday, Trudeau was heard telling those gathered at an economic forum that Trump’s desire to annex Canada “is a real thing,” citing the nation’s critical mineral resources.

Moe, scheduled to depart Sunday, is part of the Council of the Federation (COF) trade mission, which includes fellow premiers and territorial leaders. They plan to spread the message that tariffs will hurt both countries. A COF meeting is slated for Feb. 12, with U.S.-elected representatives and business leaders and the Canada American Business Council.

“Our strategy here is to ensure we’re engaging with our largest trading partner, which is the United States of America, so that we don’t have tariffs imposed on Saskatchewan and Canadian goods,” said Moe, who will also have meetings separate from the COF.

Moe refused to comment on what he would like to see in terms of retaliatory tariffs from Ottawa, but has previously spoken against dollar-for-dollar countermeasures.

Moe was asked if now was a good time to seek new trade partners while removing interprovincial trade barriers.

“Further diversification is possible, and in particular, I think it’s important as we continue to increase the value of our exports,” said Moe, who, after the COF program plans to travel to Mexico to engage with business and elected officials.

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With respect to oil and gas, Moe said he was happy to see a change of tone from the federal Liberal Party.

“The largest interprovincial trade barrier we have is our inability to get pipeline infrastructure built across this nation,” said Moe.

Trump’s tariff talk appears to have swayed the feds as Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson recently said it was a national “vulnerability” for Canada to be “so dependent on the United States for the export of oil.”

“We welcome this new found policy stance of not only the federal Minister of Energy, but the leadership candidates that are running,” Moe said.

Of Saskatchewan’s $27 billion worth of goods exported in 2023 to the U.S., crude oil accounted for $11.6 billion of trade.

—with files from The Canadian Press

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