As punishing Chinese language and American tariffs threaten Canada’s exports, Sask. farmers expressed anger and frustration over what they referred to as U.S. President Donald Trump’s “stupidity.”
However for all of the vitriol they’ve towards the U.S. chief, additionally they confirmed disdain for former prime minister Justin Trudeau and his successor, Mark Carney.
“Every little thing is for the east,” mentioned Carl Jensen, who farms in Invermay, Sask., about 250 kilometres east of Saskatoon, throughout Canada’s Farm Present final week.
CBC Saskatchewan spent a morning on the Farm Present in Regina as a part of its nationwide efforts to seek out out what issues to Canadians on this federal election marketing campaign.
- What situation issues essentially the most to you this federal election, and why? Share your private tales with us at ask@cbc.ca.
Jensen, together with different agricultural producers on the occasion, expressed bewilderment on the narrowing of polls that after confirmed a rock-solid Conservative majority.
“If the Liberals get in, I believe, what’s gonna occur right here? Western Canada goes to separate.”
Like many others at this farm present, the Jensens determine as Conservative Celebration supporters. Conservative MPs took all 14 Saskatchewan seats within the earlier federal election.
“We have had so a few years of Liberals and their insurance policies that don’t help Western Canada in any respect,” mentioned Carl’s spouse, Elsie Jensen. She voiced a commonly-expressed view on the present that Saskatchewan boasts pure assets and will have thriving power and farm sectors, however have not seen the good thing about these assets.
“We’re carrying the nation they usually’re punishing us.”
Tariffs inflicting stress
Tariffs have been prime of thoughts for lots of the farmers on the present. China lately launched 100 per cent tariffs on Canadian canola oil and canola meal. That transfer is seen as a tit-for-tat measure in response to Canada’s 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese language-made electrical automobiles. In the meantime, America is poised to implement 25 per cent tariffs on all merchandise — together with canola — subsequent month.
The Jensens additionally shared one other commonly-expressed view at this Farm Present, that Canadian-imposed tariffs on China’s EVs have been meant to help an auto business within the east at the price of farmers within the west.
“The circumstances now are simply going from dangerous to worse with Trump’s insurance policies, with China’s response to Trudeau’s stupidity,” Elsie mentioned.
“It’s a must to play ball with the Chinese language. We get every little thing from China,” her husband added.
As angering as tariffs are, the couple and others on the farm present additionally expressed continued ire over the carbon tax, with the Jensens describing it as driving up the price of every little thing, with the rebate not overlaying the tax’s true prices.
Whereas Carney had signed a chief ministerial directive to kill the unpopular gas tax as of April 1, many on the farm present expressed deep skepticism that he would actually “axe the tax,” as Conservative Celebration chief Pierre Pollievre has been calling for.
“Would you belief the Liberals? It is simply the ploy as a result of the election has been introduced. It is only a ploy to get extra votes,” Carl mentioned.
Former Sask. premier Brad Wall has additionally spoken about Carney’s obvious killing of the carbon tax, saying the prime minister will “not eliminate the carbon tax, however he’ll disguise it,” by making a shadow carbon value on Canadian enterprise. Wall shared a Fb publish that famous reliable polls are now showing that Canadians could deny the Conservatives a majority within the upcoming federal election.
“How may Canadians even flirt with such a risk?” he requested within the publish.
Yvan Delorme, who runs a enterprise spraying crops, mentioned farmers are the lifeblood of the province, offering work for folks like him who rely upon the agricultural business.
“[The federal government] treats us like third-rate residents and we’re not. We must always really be the highest of the meals chain,” he mentioned, calling it an “understatement” to say folks in Western Canada can be offended if one other Liberal celebration authorities was elected.
“Voting for getting one other Liberal authorities is like crapping your pants and altering your shirt,” he mentioned with a wry snicker.
As one among his first strikes as prime minister, Mark Carney killed the buyer carbon tax. Saskatchewanians we spoke with on March 15, 2025, weren’t essentially leaping for pleasure.
Western alienation not new
In a province the place F–k Trudeau indicators are a standard sight, animosity towards the Liberals has been round for many years, mentioned Daniel Westlake, an assistant professor of political science on the College of Saskatchewan.
However he does not consider one other Liberal win would carry the effervescent Western separatism to a boil.
“A part of it is because the animosity towards the Liberals isn’t new, and up to now, it has by no means led to a critical risk of separatism,” he mentioned.
Whereas rural voters in Saskatchewan could not really feel like the federal government represents their pursuits, westerners nonetheless are likely to see themselves as Canadians first, he mentioned.
“I simply do not suppose there may be the sense of distinct id as divorced from Canada that’s essential to gas a critical separatist motion,” he mentioned, noting that even rural Western Canadians categorical themselves in protest through the use of the Canadian flag.
“That implies to me that the folks expressing these views could not just like the course the present authorities is taking Canada, however that they nonetheless see themselves as Canadian.”
For now, with the federal election outcomes nonetheless up within the air, rural voters at Canada’s Farm Present mentioned they’re attempting to deal with the stress of the unknown and hoping that the subsequent authorities will be capable to take care of Trump’s volatility.
The Jensens hope their canola crop may usher in 1,000,000 {dollars} or extra. As an alternative, tariffs may see their earnings totally evaporate and drive them to look to Farm Credit score Canada for assist to seed subsequent 12 months’s crop.
“I believe Trump figures he is an illusionist, so he is distracting us by making us take into consideration them whereas he shafts us another manner,” Elsie Jensen mentioned, including she’s not sure what Canada’s subsequent management will do for them.
“We’re simply form of, ‘Wait and see. Are you going to do something to assist us out?’ As a result of farming is what we do in Saskatchewan.
“It is only a very, very irritating occupation to be in proper now.”
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