REGINA, Sask. — We check in with everyday citizens and agricultural producers to get their take on pivoting toward the European Union, break down the mounting political pressure on prairie premiers, and hear how the dispute is impacting local farmers during harvest.
Podcasts are available now on GX94, Yorkton, or 620 CKRM, Regina, hosted by Steven Wilson. Or read the transcript below:
Steven Wilson — Welcome to Trade Dispute: Impact on the Prairies. I'm Steven Wilson. Members of Parliament returning to Ottawa today for the fall sitting, and the Canada and United States trade dispute has completely taken over the agenda.
The federal government is preparing to introduce the Building Canada Strong Act to speed up project approvals, as well as introducing legislation to extend the fuel excise tax break. Meanwhile, Conservative lawmakers are demanding to see the exact details of the failed August trade deal. And the Bloc Quebecois is demanding immediate financial support for businesses crippled by the American tariffs.
A major focal point of the new session will be Prime Minister Mark Carney's proposal for an alliance for the future with the European Union. Lawmakers will eventually vote on the alliance, which would not immediately replace the existing free trade framework. Reporter Aidan Oleko hit the streets to ask everyday people what they think about Canada becoming an associate member of the European Union.
Glenn and Celeste Schwartz remain skeptical.
Glenn Schwartz — The EU is very bound up in rules and you give up a lot of sovereignty within the EU. So, it's fine to have an arrangement, but I wouldn't want to be an actual member. What does associate membership mean?
We don't know that yet.
Celeste Schwartz — You know, it is too early to tell. I think little bits and pieces are coming out in the mail or in the in the media. And you read a little bit about it, but I'm not really sure they know what they're doing yet.
Steven Wilson — When asked the same question, Geri Daku said that regardless of the European label, stepping away from American dependence makes sense.
Geri Daku —If it doesn't exist, then we're kind of the pioneer of it all. I don't know about that yet. I don't think we need to depend on the United States either.
As much as I can, I don't buy U.S. stuff. I have a U.S. daughter-in-law. She's perfectly just wonderful daughter-in-law, but yet U.S. is being real donkeys about stuff.
Steven Wilson — In the agricultural sector, the idea of deeper European ties brings mixed feelings. Kevin Hursh with SaskAgToday.com says farmers are cautious about European regulations but notes the alliance does not have to mean a loss of sovereignty.
Kevin Hursh — What I've seen or heard reported is that it's cooperation on things such as defense. It's visas for students that want to study or take classes in one of the other jurisdictions back and forth. In agriculture, I think a lot of people are afraid and put up a stop sign saying we can't abide by the rules and regulations and lack of registrations on products that Europe goes through.
We don't want any of that. In fact, our trade deal with the European Union has really been one-sided for agriculture. For instance, on beef, we're importing more beef from Europe than they take from us because they've come up with phytosanitary concerns whereby they won't accept our beef unless it goes through a bunch of other different processes.
I don't think it all depends what this associate membership means or this closer relationship means. We'll have to see the details of that. If it's on certain broad issues where there's common agreement, I think it's fine.
I don't think anybody really wants to lose sovereignty or lose control. That's the whole point of trying to diversify away from the U.S. market. We don't want to be completely tied to somebody else's rules and regulations either.
But I don't really see it as the threat that some people do. I think it's important though to scrutinize the details when they're finally available.
Steven Wilson — The push for diversification comes as U.S. President Donald Trump signals a willingness to weaponize tariffs on a global scale. Over the weekend, Trump signed new legislation granting him the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on major importers of Russian oil. The president also continuing to antagonize Canada, again specifically threatening to block Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier from selling jets in the American market.
That aggressive posture is sparking deep anxiety in border states like Montana and North Dakota. Analysts point out North Dakota relies on Canada for over 80 per cent of its exports. The trade war is also creating political turbulence here at home.
In Alberta, Premier Danielle Smith made an emotional weekend plea for Albertans to reject the upcoming separation referendum, urging voters not to walk away from the rest of Canada.
In Manitoba, Premier Wab Kinew continues his push to bypass the American border by officially offering to waive the 7 per cent retail sales tax on major capital investments at the Port of Churchill.
Here in Saskatchewan, new polling from the Angus Reid Institute shows Premier Scott Moe's approval rating has dropped two points to 48 per cent. The data suggests the escalating trade dispute and his retaliatory tariffs on American alcohol are not providing a widespread political boost.
For farmers on the ground, the political posturing is wearing thin. Ryan Young spoke with Bankend area grain and bison farmer Keegan Kitzul, who says everyday citizens are paying the price.
Keegan Kitzul — As far as the politics go, looking from both sides of the border, because we do a lot of work and a lot of business in the U.S. as well, it's an absolute embarrassment. Both sides of the border should be ashamed of themselves. Farmers, everyday goers, every civilian in North America right now is not benefiting from this one bit and it's a very frustrating case that everybody, especially the agricultural sector, it always seems to target us.
So yeah, it's lots of frustration and it does suck. I wish we have such a strong nation that I hope soon they can get their s*** figured out.
Ryan Young — Just wanted to ask as well, when it comes to bison and trade in the U.S., is that pretty easy?
Keegan Kitzul — So far, yeah, the bison are flowing across the border freely like they always have. The CUSMA Agreement kind of protects us from that. If Canadian bison in particular, and especially beef too, if it didn't flow into the U.S., there'd be no market because they need us as much as we need them.
And one of the largest bison marketers is out of the U.S., so yeah, we do rely heavily on them. Same with a lot of other Canadian producers.
We have Canadian market, but hey, that's why we're neighbouring countries and we need each other.
Steven Wilson — The trade war is also hitting farmers directly in the wallet when things break down in the field. Ryan Young caught up with Kent Hegglin, a grain farmer near Earl Grey, to talk about how tariffs are inflating the cost of imported machinery and replacement parts.
Kent Hegglin — Well, I think it does. I mean, our fuel has gone insane right now as far as exporting our product. I don't know if it's affected that much.
I don't know exactly where everything goes. But combine parts and everything, we run John Deere, so parts are coming out of the U.S. So that's affecting us as well and things along that line.
Ryan Young — Yeah, I could imagine because you never know with harvest, something could break down and you need that part, but there's that added cost, right? So frustrating.
Kent Hegglin — It is. It's frustrating. And I mean, we always say we're paying too much for parts anyways, but now I guess we're paying.
Steven Wilson — We will continue tracking the harvest impacts and the political fallout in Ottawa as the fall session of parliament gets underway. I'm Steven Wilson. Thank you for listening to Trade Dispute: Impact on the Prairies.
