The Saskatchewan NDP is calling for the provincial legislature to be recalled early, saying the ongoing Canada-U.S. trade dispute requires immediate action to help affected businesses. The Official Opposition says the impact of the trade dispute has become more serious since the legislature last met in the spring and is calling for assistance measures to be implemented. “We introduced legislation to end Sask. Party taxes on groceries and kids clothing. We introduced legislation to reverse [the] power rate and car insurance hike. We introduced legislation to finally bring rent control to Saskatchewan and we introduced legislation that would prioritize Saskatchewan workers for Saskatchewan projects,” NDP MLA Nicole Sarauer said. Among businesses feeling a financial squeeze are motorcycle dealerships. Canada has imposed a 50 per cent counter tariff on large American-produced bikes - which account for the majority of Harley Davidson sales in Saskatchewan. A 50 per cent counter tariff on bikes would prevent many customers from buying. “We’ve got twenty staff so it can be very significant very quickly if this goes on too long. I’m not really sure how we could handle it because you add that much more onto our product and you’re looking at you know eighty thousand dollars for some regular bikes,” said Robb Hertzog of Prairie Harley Davidson. The provincial government says it is assessing the latest impacts of the trade dispute. “Premier Scott Moe is doing the real work, doing the real work by establishing CUSMA industry round tables where he’s having discussions with businesses and workers that are affected by these tariffs,” Government Whip Brad Crassweller explained. Frequent changes to U.S. tariffs makes it difficult for the government to plan assistance programs in response. The province should have a better understanding of the situation by the time the legislature resumes sitting at the end of October.
