March 19, 2025
FREDERICTON – Green Party Leader and MLA for Fredericton Lincoln David Coon wrote Speaker Francine Landry this morning to request an emergency debate in the Legislative Assembly on the impending 25% U.S. tariffs on Canada, due to take full effect on April 2.
“These tariffs have already created a great deal of uncertainty for New Brunswick businesses and all New Brunswickers as the policy of the U.S. President seems to change daily,” said Coon. “One thing that we know is that these tariffs will have serious consequences for New Brunswickers, considering that 92% of all of our exports go to the U.S.”
In turning down a request for an early return of the Legislature and an emergency debate on February 27th, the Speaker wrote that she “would suggest that such a request under Standing Rule 45 should be made when the House is scheduled to sit based on the information then available.”
“The threat of U.S. tariffs has not subsided in the past three weeks. If anything, the U.S. President has stepped up threats against Canada and Canadian sovereignty,” said Coon. “The Legislative Assembly must have an emergency debate to provide the opportunity for MLAs to discuss the threat this poses to New Brunswickers, and the appropriate actions needed to protect them.”
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