Planning for Tariffs Explanation - QP

CLAUDIA CHENDER: There's another thing that most governments do, which is consult before they put legislation in, so they know what the concerns are going to be. Hopefully we'll get there. Donald Trump is threatening to impose 25 per cent tariffs on our imports in less than a week. The measures the Premier announced yesterday to remove barriers to interprovincial trade is a start. But workers need to know that there is a plan to support them. The Premier has not, in fact, addressed the questions of the promised changes in procurement. What Nova Scotian producers, workers and small businesses know, or should know, is the plan. What is the plan and when will we know it?

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable Minister of Growth and Development.

HON. COLTON LEBLANC « » : I could not be prouder of the leadership of this Premier. For weeks now, he's been taking this issue top of mind. He's been travelling to meet with his federal, provincial, and territorial counterparts. He's travelled to Washington on two occasions. He's met with business leaders. I've joined him on those meetings. We are leading the country in breaking down internal trade barriers. We want Nova Scotians and Nova Scotian businesses to know that we are taking action. We were the first province to come out with retaliatory actions and will have more to say.

CLAUDIA CHENDER: That's just it: Nova Scotians don't know. I'm glad that everyone is proud of the Premier for his travel, but Nova Scotians don't know what is going to happen. They're working hard to afford their rent and their mortgages. They're making sacrifices so that they can buy groceries, and they are worried about the economic impact. Again, with less than a week before the deadline, when can Nova Scotians expect a plan from this government on how it will impact their families, and what help will be there for them?

COLTON LEBLANC « » : Breaking down internal trade barriers is exactly what we've heard from Nova Scotians. They want to make it easier to do business, not only in Nova Scotia, but across this country. I'll remind the honourable member that this is making national news. The Premier is taking the bull by the horns, taking this file seriously, breaking down these barriers, supporting Nova Scotia businesses, and will continue to do just that.