‘Opportunity to reset’: Saskatchewan premier responds to U.S. midterm results

Democrats are celebrating major congressional election victories as Saskatchewan's premier calls for a trade reset. Wayne Mantyka reports.

Those at the top of Saskatchewan’s political establishment are treating last night’s U.S. midterms as the first step on the road to normalcy amid an ongoing trade war with Canada’s southern neighbour.

In a statement issued Wednesday morning, Premier Scott Moe said he believes the effect of U.S. tariffs on both sides of the border factored into the results.

“Last night’s U.S. election results were due at least in part to the impact of those harmful tariff policies,” Moe wrote.

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The premier went on to say the election results represent an opening for trade negotiations.

“We now have an opportunity to reset our relationship with the U.S. and restore free and fair trade between our two countries,” Moe wrote.

“I know Canada is ready to do this. Hopefully, the U.S. is as well.”

Tuesday’s midterms saw the Republicans lose substantial ground. As of 12 p.m. Wednesday, Democrats had seized 54 senate seats and 232 seats in the house, therefore capturing a majority in both chambers.

Finance Minister and Deputy Premier Jim Reiter spoke to reporters following question period and echoed the premier’s sentiments.

“I just hope that a message has been sent,” he said. “... As I said earlier, cost of living on both sides of the border is an issue, and the tariffs are a big part of that. So hopefully, common sense will prevail, and we’ll get some sort of an agreement soon.”

In her own statement, NDP Leader Carla Beck noted the relationship between Canada and the U.S. will not be repaired overnight but hoped Tuesday’s electoral results represented the beginning of the end for the “era of Donald Trump’s tariffs.”

“I believe last night’s election results were a stunning rebuke of these harmful economic policies and a clear message that the majority of Americans value their relationship with Canada and that they see us as allies, not enemies,” she wrote.

“We will never be the 51st state. We will always be a willing and active partner in economic prosperity. This is Canada, the True North, Strong and Free.”

With files from The Canadian Press