New Brunswick MLAs held their first emergency debate in decades on Wednesday afternoon.
Green Party leader David Coon requested the debate to discuss the government’s response to tariffs.
“One thing that we know, Madam Speaker, is that these tariffs will have serious consequences for New Brunswickers,” said Coon.
“New Brunswick’s economy is a very export-dependent one with 92 per cent of all exports going to the U.S.”
Coon also referenced a report from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce which found Saint John is the most vulnerable city in Canada to tariffs.
The city is home to the Irving Oil refinery, the largest in Canada, with more than 80 per cent of its product exported to the United States.
Coon said New Brunswickers are feeling on edge and even fearful because of the uncertainty.
He suggested the government establish a select committee to explore and understand issues as they develop.
“We need to come together as parties, as well as members in this house, like we did around COVID. This is not an issue to use for partisan purposes,” said Coon.
The Progressive Conservatives even called for an all-party committee, similar to one they had created during COVID.
Interim leader Glen Savoie said New Brunswickers he has talked to are not feeling very confident right now.
“I can sympathize with the government for the on-again, off-again, mercurial nature of the American president, but if he wants to pull the strings, we need to make sure that we can control on our end what it is that we’re doing to make sure that we’re protecting the interests of New Brunswickers,” he said.
The Official Opposition leader said the legislature should have been recalled early for an emergency debate.
Savoie had made that request in late February, but it was denied by Speaker Francine Landry.
Landry acknowledged she does have the authority to recall the legislature earlier than specified if the government requests it and indicates that the public interest requires it.
“To date, I have not been advised by the government that the public interest requires that the House should meet before March 18,” she wrote.
Premier Susan Holt unveiled her government’s $162-million tariff response plan on March 4.
The four-pillar plan includes support for affected residents, relief for businesses and movement on interprovincial trade.
Holt, who highlighted what her government has been doing during Wednesday’s debate, said they will remain nimble in their tariff response.
“I ask of the other two [parties] of this legislative assembly join us in signaling that New Brunswick is unified in our fight against these tariffs,” she said.
