The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) plans to work more with the provincial government on the issue of tariffs from the U.S. and China rather than alongside the federal government.
That was the main message from President Bill Huber as he gave a speech to delegates Thursday morning on the third and final day of the SARM Convention from Prairieland Park in Saskatoon.
Huber says earlier in the week he spoke to Federal Ag Minister Lawrence MacAulay over the phone, an opportunity offered by Provincial Ag Minister Daryl Harrison.
Before getting into the details of the conversation with MacAulay, Huber said he’s not a fan of the Minister professionally.”He’s very polite and cooperative but he never delivers on anything that we really ask him for.”
Huber says the talk was about the Chinese tariffs on Canadian products. China’s 100 per cent tariffs on canola oil, canola meal, and peas that take effect March 20, and the 25 per cent tariff on pork and seafood are in response to Canada’s tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminum, imposed last year.
“(MacAulay’s) exact words were to me, ‘You know, we got to look after all of Canada.’ I said this tariff on canola (from) China is probably worse than the U.S. tariff threat, and I asked him if they probably think about removing the tariff on electric vehicles from China coming into Canada, and he says “You know, Bill, we got to look after all of Canada’ and I said well I think it’s Western Canada’s turn, maybe we should be doing something to help us out here.” Huber said to the crowd, which garnered applause.
Huber says the next day, MacAulay invited him to talk again about what can be done about the tariffs but declined the invitation.
“I didn’t bother because (Highways Minister David) Marit was sitting at the table in the office room when I was talking to Minister MacAulay and he said ‘You know, it’s great you’re trying but I think you’re just wasting your time.'”
Huber then decided to work more with the province on the issue.
“It’s not a good situation, we’re in a real big mess,” Huber said of all the tariffs, “so I think we’re going to support them…we’re there to support them. If there’s something they’re going to do that we don’t like, we’ll certainly tell them and we’re going to take direction from you.”
Huber previously asked delegates on Tuesday after the Fireside Chat with the SARM Board of Directors for direction on how to react to the tariffs, whether in an aggressive manner or take a diplomatic approach.