Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham is currently in Norway attending the Offshore Northern Seas oil and gas conference. However, his focus is on working out a provincial strategy in response to the Canada-U.S. trade conflict, despite being away from home.
A statement released on Tuesday and attributed to Wakeham recognized that tariffs would lead to increased costs for businesses and consumers, disrupt supply chains, and create uncertainty in Newfoundland and Labrador. While the direct impact on the province may be relatively lower, it is not entirely shielded. Wakeham commended Prime Minister Mark Carney for his leadership in implementing retaliatory tariffs against the United States, aligning Newfoundland and Labrador’s stance with the federal government.
The statement emphasized the province’s commitment to supporting Canada in defending its economic interests and fostering a stable trading relationship with the U.S. Wakeham mentioned reaching out to key industry partners essential to the province’s economy to monitor the effects of trade actions closely.
In response to CBC’s inquiry about Wakeham’s contacts, a communication staff member mentioned engaging with entities such as Mining Industry N.L. and the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour, among others. The Canadian government has imposed counter tariffs on $27.6 billion worth of U.S. goods since September 8 and allocated $7.5 billion to support affected workers and businesses.
The premier stressed the importance of ambitious and targeted response programs to safeguard jobs and communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. Meanwhile, opposition leaders have urged the government to reinstate a “premier’s roundtable” on tariffs, involving representatives from various sectors to address the impact of the trade dispute effectively.
NDP Leader Jim Dinn advocated for the inclusion of non-profit organizations in the roundtable discussions to ensure a comprehensive response that considers the needs of vulnerable groups in the province. The provincial Liberals have urged Wakeham to take proactive steps and revive the roundtable to address the concerns of industries and workers in face of the ongoing trade tensions.
Small business concerns were raised by the Canadian Federation for Independent Business, with director Jonathan Galgay highlighting the need for clarity in federal support programs and fair access for smaller businesses. Galgay mentioned engaging with the premier on members’ interests and shared concerns about program criteria for accessing relief initiatives.
ACOA reported successful utilization of the regional response program in Newfoundland and Labrador following earlier tariffs, with over $12 million in total support provided to date. Galgay emphasized the need for stakeholders to understand the implications of the new tariffs and commended the provincial government for actively engaging with partners to assess the situation.
Overall, Wakeham’s office underlined ongoing efforts to gather feedback from partners, anticipate impacts, and prepare for consultations with stakeholders in addressing the trade challenges faced by the province.