Manitoba premier emphasizes need for unity in face of U.S. tariffs

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew discusses the province's response to U.S. President's Donald Trump's 25 per cent tariffs on Canada

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says the best way to fight back against U.S. tariffs is with a united front.

During a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Kinew compared the trade war to a face-off on the ice.

“We’re a nation of hockey players,” Kinew said. “We know how to handle ourselves, and so we know that when it is time to have a good scrap, Canadians and Manitobans are ready.”

To fight back against Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tax on Canadian imports, Kinew reiterated his government’s plan to pull U.S. alcohol off shelves.

“We’re sending that message that we are going to buy Canadian, buy Manitoban, and we’re going to fight back by buying local.”

He also spoke about introducing deferrals on provincially administered taxes, such as the health and education levy, as well as the retail sales tax.

“These tax deferrals mean that people will have money in their businesses to protect your jobs and keep our economy moving through this period of uncertainty,” he noted.

Kinew said businesses will have to opt-in to the deferral and pay the taxes in the future.

“If companies choose to opt-in, this is about them having liquidity, having that cash on hand, having those dollars to keep paying people’s pay cheques and keep the machinery of their business running,” he said.

All businesses are eligible to apply for the deferral.

Kinew said more steps will be taken in the coming days, “to protect our way of life here in Manitoba.”

Kinew called the situation unprecedented, but ensured his government is prepared to take action.

“This will be a serious economic headwind to our province,” he said. “We’ve got projections, we’ve got modelling, but the reality is that we have not been in a scenario like this before.”

Industry impact

Kinew also reemphasized his government’s commitment to protecting jobs in Manitoba.

“We’re working with business and labour to ensure that your way of life will stay strong,” he said.

Kinew pointed to the Port of Churchill as a way of reaching international markets in exporting steel and critical minerals.

“Let’s be serious about Trump-proofing our Canadian economy,” he said.

In regards to energy, Kinew said he’ll be sharing more about Manitoba Hydro in the coming days.

‘We’re committed to equality’

Despite clouds of uncertainty, Kinew said one thing is clear: national and provincial identity.

“We can negotiate on economic issues all you want, but when it comes to standing with Ukraine, when it comes to defending who we are, when it comes to standing up for trans people who live here … non-negotiable.

“We’re committed to equality, we’re committed to human rights, we’re committed to democracy,” he said.

“It’s not going to be easy or smooth sailing,” Kinew continued. “This is going to be a period with a lot of ups and downs and surprises along the way, but we will persist.”

Kinew also said his government “fully supports” Ottawa’s retaliation efforts in the wake of the tariffs.