Tariff Response for Nova Scotians - QP
CLAUDIA CHENDER: As promised, the March 4th tariff deadline is here, and the tariffs have been imposed. Workers, manufacturers, fishers, growers, small business owners, everyone is watching and waiting to see how they will be impacted. My question for the Premier is: When will Nova Scotians impacted today know what supports will be available through this difficult time?
THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable Minister of Finance and the Treasury Board.
HON. JOHN LOHR « » : I want to acknowledge that these are extraordinary times and this is an extraordinary challenge for our province. I just want to acknowledge that the Province has responded to challenge and adversity at times in the past and will do so again. We as a government - all members of this Legislature - will respond to these enormous challenges. I want to point out that the first inkling that these tariffs would come was in December. This has impacted our thinking ever since and is reflected in our budget, which is a budget to stimulate the economy of Nova Scotia through tax cuts, through an extraordinary investment in infrastructure, and as other impacts as well.
CLAUDIA CHENDER: Yet we've spent the past few weeks in this House debating the rules of debate, changes to government accountability - when what we need is a plan for the Nova Scotians affected. Nova Scotians from every corner of this province are worried about what this will mean for their paycheque, for their expenses, for their family's budget, for their livelihood. My question is: When will this government start working on the issues that Nova Scotians actually elected them to do?
JOHN LOHR « » : I want to say that as a government, we've been responding to the tariff issue ever since we became aware of it. I want to acknowledge the hard work the Premier has done. He's seen as a leader in Canada on the response. Clearly, one of the outstanding things that needs to be done is to change the way we do business with each other. The interprovincial trade barriers are something that have to change. We're seen as a leader in that effort, Nova Scotia is. Thank you to the Premier.
We know that even in small ways, we can all do a bit more business with other provinces, with Nova Scotians. We can change the economy of our province. I want to acknowledge that. I want to mention the fact that we've invested in Nova Scotia Loyal and continue to do so.
CLAUDIA CHENDER: The government estimates that last year, Nova Scotia's top exports were tires at $1.5 billion; fish and seafood at $1.2 billion; forest products at $430 million; agriculture and agrifood products at just under $300 million. This revenue isn't just columns on a spreadsheet. It's thousands of people's livelihoods and the economic prosperity of our communities. The key thing that needs to be done is to let these individuals know how they will be supported. I'll ask again: Can the Premier stand up in this House and tell people what is being done to protect our local jobs, businesses, and communities?
JOHN LOHR « » : I can say that since December, our government has met with hundreds of business groups, individual businesses, and Chambers of Commerce. We are listening. We have set up a tariff hotline for individual companies to call in. We are looking for the feedback from that. We realize these are extraordinary times. The tariffs will be devastating - challenging for our province and challenging for our American neighbours. We will work through this. Nova Scotians have faced adversity in the past and triumphed. We will triumph again.