'Bare minimum': Sask. Opposition slams province's plan for short spring sitting in face of U.S. tariffs

Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP has slammed the provincial government's plan for a shortened spring sitting.

On Tuesday, the government announced the Saskatchewan Legislature would open on March 19, with the provincial budget to be presented that day.

It will be one of the rare times in the province's recent history — the other being 2021 due to the COVID pandemic — that the government will not face two weeks of questions before presenting a budget.

NDP Leader Carla Beck called it the "bare minimum" in the face of the looming threat of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs.

Beck and NDP House Leader Nicole Sarauer stressed they were not accusing the provincial government of breaking the rules, but said the move is not appropriate under the circumstances Saskatchewan is facing.

"Not only are we not seeing an emergency session, we are seeing two and a half weeks less accountability at a time when when I think we need more," Beck said in a news conference on Tuesday.

Tariff threat imminent

Trump has announced plans for two waves of tariffs.

The first would implement a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods and is slated to take effect on March 4. The second, scheduled for March 12, would see 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports to the U.S.

Beck said that if the legislature were in session, the government would have the ability to quickly respond to those tariffs by passing legislation with unanimous consent.

Instead, the legislature will not return until at least a week after the second round of tariffs is expected.

"If there ever was an all-hands-on-deck moment, it's this," Beck said.

Moe returns from trade trip

Moe spent last week in Washington, D.C., as part of a joint-mission by Canadian premiers and the Council of the Federation.

He met with American officials like Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.

Moe also travelled to Mexico, visiting Guadalajara and Mexico City.

On Wednesday, Moe defended his government's decision to not recall the legislature until March 19.

"We'll have much time to talk to the leader of the Opposition and you know, the various critics that they have," Moe said.

"I would suggest that they are not influential in the Trump administration and we need to take the time that we have now to engage with those that are."

WATCH| Moe says he's working to change minds in Washington: 

Moe says he's working to change minds in Washington

11 days ago

Duration 1:45

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is in Washington this week. Before U.S. President Donald Trump announced steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada on Monday, Moe was on CBC's Power and Politics to talk about how he's warning people at the Capitol of the consequences of tariffs and working to change their minds. He says blanket tariffs will mean job losses on both sides of the border.

Moe said his trip was meant to strengthen trade ties with both countries.

The premier insisted now is not the time to focus on "how hard" Canada can stick it to the United States.

"I would say that Canada and Saskatchewan will remain the largest trading partner of the United States long beyond and past this president's term," said Moe.

Moe said the upcoming budget will deliver on his government's promise to deliver a better province.

The NDP said the government is required to have at least 29 days of budget scrutiny. They don't expect the sitting will last beyond that.