Some MLAs want to debate N.B.'s tariff response now. The Speaker says they'll have to wait

New Brunswick MLAs eager to question the premier about her planned response to U.S. tariffs will have to wait at least another two weeks to do so.

Progressive Conservative and Green party MLAs were hoping Susan Holt's government would recall the legislature earlier than planned so that members could debate the issue of tariffs, which could come into effect as early as Tuesday.

However, a formal request by Saint John East MLA Glen Savoie was rejected, meaning he and other members will have to wait to question the Liberals about what they plan to do in the face of economy-crippling tariffs being promised by U.S. President Donald Trump.

"I would argue that there's a lot that we do not know about what the Holt government has done to prepare us for the tariffs," said Savoie, speaking on Information Morning Fredericton.

"Certainly we know there is a support program coming, but how is that going to be paid for?"

The New Brunswick Legislature rose for its holiday recess in December and won't sit again until March 18, when Holt's finance minister is expected to table the government's budget.

Since December, Trump has been inaugurated as president of the United States and has continually ramped up threats to impose tariffs on Canadian goods and services, along with musing about annexing Canada.

Sweeping 25 per cent tariffs on most goods and services, and 10 per cent tariffs on energy imports from Canada, were originally expected to come into effect on Feb. 4, but Trump made an 11th-hour decision to delay them by a month.

Savoie, who's the interim leader of the Progressive Conservatives, said he thinks the gravity of the threat merits the legislature being recalled early. 

"A lot of damage has already been done [by the threat of tariffs]. We've seen frozen investment here from the stakeholder meetings that we've had here in the province," Savoie said.

"So this uncertainty means that we really have to double down on the things that we can control and ... how do we hold the government to account when the legislature is not sitting and we can't ask those questions?"

In her letter to Savoie, Speaker Francine Landry said she understood why he made the request, given the uncertainty created by the threat of tariffs.

She also acknowledged that the Speaker could recall the legislature earlier if the government agreed that doing so was in the public interest.

"To date, I have not been advised by the government that the public interest requires that the House should meet before March 18," Landry wrote in her letter, which was dated Feb. 27.

Efforts better spent outside legislature, says House leader

Holt was not made available for an interview Monday, but House leader Marco LeBlanc said in an interview his government's efforts are better spent outside the legislature.

"At the end of the day, [Holt] has been working, she's been making sure that she meets with people, she meets with business leaders, she meets with community to make sure that we see the least effects possible to this," said LeBlanc.

"We did not feel like this was a case to urgently call back the legislative assembly because the work is being done."

Holt has said a tariff relief package will be included in her upcoming budget.

LeBlanc declined giving any hints what that relief will look like or how much it will cost, but said some support could come earlier than March 18 depending on what happens after Tuesday.

"The premier, once again, has been working tirelessly on the threat of tariffs, and we will be working toward a plan to support New Brunswickers and New Brunswick workers and businesses should the tariffs be imposed," he said.

Wider issue around number of sitting days

Tantramar Green MLA Megan Mitton said she's already heard of workers in her electoral district being laid off just over the uncertainty the threat of tariffs has created.

She said with jobs already being affected, she also thinks the legislature's recess should be ended early so members can debate the province's tariff response.

"This is a really serious threat to our economy, and I think that having conversations and debates and being able to ask questions in a public forum … is really vital," she said.

Mitton said the request to recall the legislature speaks to what she sees as a wider issue around how few days MLAs sit in a single session.

Where a session of the legislature typically included about 60 sitting days a decade ago, she said, that number has steadily declined, with the legislature only expected to sit for 36 days in this session.

"The legislature used to sit in February, and so I think that that, you know, it leaves a a vacuum, it leaves a void where there there should be public debate, questions and communication in the legislature happening."