REGINA, Sask. — We break down the nearly $9-billion federal-provincial support package for Canada's steel and automotive industries, examine the push for stronger east-west trade across the Prairies, and hear from Montana Democratic Senate candidate Alani Bankhead about the financial and logistical pressures facing American border states.
Podcasts are available now on GX94, Yorkton, or on 620 CKRM, Regina, hosted by Steven Wilson. Or read the transcript below:
Steven Wilson — Welcome to Trade Dispute: Impact on the Prairies. I'm Steven Wilson.
The United States is accusing Canadian politicians of attempting to influence American politics ahead of next month's midterm elections.
In an unusual diplomatic move, the U.S. Embassy in Canada, under Ambassador Pete Hoekstra, released a document Wednesday targeting comments made by Canadian officials.
The document featured quotes from Industry Minister Mélanie Joly and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, referencing Canada's strategy of using counter-tariffs and other trade measures to pressure American businesses and states.
The embassy's statement concluded with a warning that Americans decide America's elections.
The diplomatic dispute came just hours before Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ford held a joint news conference on Parliament Hill to unveil a nearly $9-billion support plan for Canada's steel, automotive and critical minerals sectors.
The industrial support package includes $2.5 billion specifically for automotive manufacturing, helping companies modernize production facilities and accelerate the transition toward electric and connected vehicles.
The broader plan also includes more than $5 billion in support for the steel industry, along with investments in critical minerals infrastructure.
Ford described the announcement as a transformative step toward protecting Canadian workers, businesses and communities affected by the ongoing trade dispute.
In Western Canada, the defeat of Alberta's separatist referendum has prompted renewed attention to interprovincial trade.
With the independence question settled for now, Prairie leaders are pushing to strengthen east-west commerce as an alternative to traditional north-south export routes facing American tariffs.
In an effort to stimulate domestic agricultural trade and develop new markets for Prairie producers, Canadian Western Agribition in Regina launched its Canadian Buyers Program this week.
Supported by the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership and Prairies Economic Development Canada, the program offers eligible Canadian buyers from outside Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba up to $1,000 in travel and accommodation assistance to attend Agribition.
The initiative is designed to connect buyers with Prairie livestock producers, genetics suppliers and other agricultural businesses, helping strengthen domestic trade relationships.
South of the border, supply chain disruptions are putting additional pressure on heavy industry and agriculture.
A new supply chain update from trade publication TEDmag highlights how U.S. import restrictions and retaliatory trade measures have made product origin and unpredictable tariffs increasingly important factors in determining total delivered costs.
Distributors in border states are facing limited transportation capacity and rising shipping costs as they scramble to secure alternative supplies.
That economic disruption is becoming a major issue on the campaign trail in states such as Montana, where Canada accounts for a significant share of the state's exports.
Alani Bankhead is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Montana.
In an interview with Harvard Media, Bankhead said the trade dispute is hitting American consumers hard, raising concerns about Indigenous treaty rights and generating widespread frustration across her state.
Alani Bankhead — On the doors here in Montana, I'm exceptionally frustrated with the trade war. Not only is it impacting the price of goods here, but also it's violating treaty sovereignty with the tribes as well.
So the law here says that the federal government can't restrict the tribes from doing trade across the border.
And it's impacted American and Montanan families to the tune of $1,000 extra in costs just in 2025 alone.
And obviously the economy here is really struggling. And so folks are really upset that in the midst of all the inflation and everything that the government is choosing to inflict this upon the people.
And so people are very, very frustrated. I have not met a single person who is for these tariffs anywhere in 54 counties.
Steven Wilson — That financial strain is being compounded by controversy surrounding energy policies in Washington.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration reportedly announced an energy supply arrangement involving Russian diesel, raising questions about the decision to pursue Russian fuel while Canadian energy supplies are available across the border.
Bankhead described the move as corrupt, saying Montana's agricultural communities place a high value on maintaining longstanding trade relationships with reliable neighbours.
Alani Bankhead — Corruption. That's what I think of it.
Corruption lately in the polls has been the top issue in terms of problems that people are seeing with our federal government at the moment.
And I want to be super clear that this election cycle, especially in Montana, is not about Democrat versus Republican, conservative versus liberal.
It's about the one per cent Epstein billionaire class versus everybody else.
And so when we're talking about this specific question, people are mad, first and foremost, that we're bringing in that Russian tool rather than continuing with normal trade that we've engaged in for decades or over a century with so many amazing partners.
And people can see through the corruption. I mean, the administration and many of our elected officials, unfortunately, aren't even trying to hide it. And so the people are really pushing back on that.
Montanans especially, I think, share a very kind of almost rugged individualist personality with Canada, right, where we support each other in community because that's all we have.
And especially when you're in really cold climates and temperatures and you're in the agriculture community, that community is everything.
And so ensuring that we are fighting to ensure that we are self-sustaining and actually working with people whose values align with ours is something that's very important historically to Montana and more important now more than ever.
And so, again, it breaks my heart to hear that we are tainting the relationship with Canada through these Russian gas deals.
It's not acceptable. We should be working with our allies, not with our enemies.
Steven Wilson — Before running for political office, Bankhead spent 21 years in the U.S. Air Force and served as a federal agent working in counterintelligence.
She argues that turning away from Canadian energy in favour of Russian fuel imports creates a significant strategic vulnerability that could threaten critical North American infrastructure.
Alani Bankhead — One hundred per cent. It is a national security vulnerability, obviously with critical infrastructure, right?
So critical infrastructure covers things like gas. It covers electricity, water.
All of those supply chains are really important to people just being able to live every day, right?
And when we entwine ourselves too much with people who aren't friendly to us, that does create counterintelligence vulnerabilities that will hurt us down the road.
And again, going back to, you know, it's important for people to feel like their legislators are embodying their values.
And coming back to that idea of we want to buy local and we want to buy with people who embody our values.
And Canada has been that for us for a really, really long time.
But the administration, I think, clearly has some dealings and some paths with some despots that are creating very corrupt, unfavourable conditions for the American people.
And unfortunately, that impacts Canada as well.
And so, yeah, with my counterintelligence hat on, there's a whole lot of things I'm seeing that I'm not liking.
Steven Wilson — Tomorrow on Trade Dispute: Impact on the Prairies, we'll bring you more of our interview with Alani Bankhead, exploring how the trade conflict is shaping voter sentiment ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.
I'm Steven Wilson. Thank you for listening to Trade Dispute: Impact on the Prairies.
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