NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is calling for an emergency session of Parliament to implement supports for companies and workers impacted by the newly imposed 25 percent U.S. tariffs on Canadian products.
Singh is also urging lawmakers to implement employment insurance (EI) reforms as companies in various sectors grapple with layoffs.
The NDP leader’s March 4 call for an emergency Parliament session comes the same day the U.S. tariffs came into force.
President Donald Trump has been warning Canada for several months that it would face tariffs if it did not do enough to address the flow of fentanyl across its southern border. He told reporters on March 3 Canada has fallen short in curbing the influx of drugs across the border and that tariffs would be implemented in response. They went into effect just after midnight.
Singh said there is urgency in implementing emergency support measures because industry and workers will be immediately impacted.
“We’re in what could be worse than the pandemic in terms of the impacts to our economy and to workers,” he said during a March 4 press conference on Parliament Hill. “So we need, across the board, supports for the workers impacted.”
Singh suggested that can be achieved through emergency funding for industries hurt by tariffs and by revamping EI to support people while they are out of work. He also wants the government to adopt a “build Canadian, by Canadian” plan to focus on job creation while providing for the needs of the country.
Singh laid out similar thoughts in a letter penned to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet.
“I understand that we are all preparing for an election to be called soon,” he said. “But these steps need to be taken immediately, prior to an election. Otherwise, we are leaving Canadians vulnerable to the impacts of tariffs to suffer for months as an election is held and a new government is chosen.”
Parliament has been prorogued since Trudeau announced on Jan. 6 his decision to resign as prime minister and Liberal leader. Trudeau will officially step down from the position after the party chooses his replacement on March 9.
Trudeau also announced in January that the governor general had prorogued Parliament at his request, suspending all House of Commons proceedings until March 24. The move prevents opposition parties from bringing down the government with a vote of non-confidence and delays a forced election until at least spring.
Trudeau has so far not agreed to calls from the Conservatives reconvene Parliament. He told a press conference last month the government already has “the tools” it needs to be able to “support Canadians through this challenging time.”
Ottawa has promised to impose $155 billion worth of retaliatory tariffs on American products. The first stage will see the introduction of tariffs on $30 billion of goods, effective immediately. The remaining $125 billion in tariffs is scheduled to take effect in 21 days.
