Sask. Opposition's attempt to condemn Donald Trump, wear Team Canada jerseys goes sideways

Alexander Quon · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 20, 2025 6:45 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 minutes ago

A time that began with the Saskatchewan NDP caucus clothed successful reddish hockey cogwheel and singing O Canada connected the steps of the provincial legislature did not extremity the mode the Official Opposition planned.

The enactment members swapped retired their orangish for Team Canada hockey jerseys connected Thursday arsenic they sought to present an exigency question to condemn President Donald Trump's administration, his tariffs and the menace of making Canada the 51st state.

It besides asserted the national authorities should not enforce export taxes oregon enforce limits connected exports of earthy resources successful Saskatchewan.

"This was not, should not person been, a partisan motion. It should person been thing that each radical successful that assembly, each leaders successful that assembly could hold to," NDP Leader Carla Beck said.

The NDP's joyousness didn't past long, arsenic their MLAs were forced to instrumentality disconnected the Team Canada jerseys to participate the legislative chamber.

The enactment has since confirmed the determination was made by Speaker Todd Goudy.

In a statement, Goudy said helium was upholding decorum successful the House and enforcing a regularisation requiring concern attire.

"There person been instances wherever concessions person been made, but I was not informed up of time," Goudy said.

The NDP's dissatisfaction did not extremity there, as its question was swiftly amended by the Sask. Party government.

The amendment confirmed that Canada would ne'er beryllium the 51st authorities and endorsed the province's tariff effect program — including the request to instrumentality antagonistic enactment against "unjustified tariffs" and summation procurement from Saskatchewan-based employers — but removed Trump's name.

WATCH| Sask. NDP brings elbows up to the legislature: 

Beck said the power didn't marque sense. 

"I deliberation the bigger interest we saw today, again from this government, was their inability to really sanction Donald Trump arsenic the idiosyncratic who is threatening this country," said Beck.

"I, in fact, find that adjacent much troubling than being asked to instrumentality disconnected the jersey earlier we went into the assembly." 

After a play of debate, the NDP yet voted successful enactment of the government's amendment. It passed unanimously. 

Premier Scott Moe defended the determination to remove Trump's name. He said it was astir toning down the governmental rhetoric.

"Words are words. We request a plan, we request action. That's what Canadian families successful Saskatchewan, families I deliberation are asking politicians of each levels to dial backmost the rhetoric and to travel guardant with what is your existent program connected however we're going to respond to what is truly an unprecedented time," said Moe. 

It's inactive not wide what the province's effect to the tariffs volition be. 

The authorities didn't supply immoderate contingency funds to woody with tariff repercussions successful Wednesday's budget. China's 100 per cent tariff connected Canola kicked successful Thursday, portion much U.S. tariffs are expected adjacent month. 

Moe confirmed he'll beryllium joining a telephone with Prime Minister Mark Carney and different premiers on Friday. 

Moe said helium intends to inquire Carney to marque interaction with Chinese officials to extremity the canola tariff arsenic soon arsenic possible. 

With a national predetermination telephone apt successful the coming days, Moe said helium hopes enactment connected the Chinese tariffs is taken earlier Carney hits the run trail.