EI relief coming soon if U.S. tariffs stay in place, says Charlottetown MP
For now, people won't hear much about relief for individuals, says Liberal politician
Charlottetown MP Sean Casey says employment insurance relief will be introduced within weeks to help those who lose their jobs due to new American tariffs, if those tariffs aren't lifted soon.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump launched a North American trade war by slapping 25 per cent tariffs on virtually all Canadian goods.
In response, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has placed tariffs on $30 billion worth of American products bound for Canada, and plans to hit another $125 billion worth of goods in three weeks if Trump's tariffs stay in place.
Trudeau has also hinted at possibly expanding EI eligibility to support workers who lose their jobs or have their hours cut as a result of the trade war.
Casey said Islanders won't have to wait long for help if the tariffs remain in place.
"People, quite frankly, are living month to month and and if they lose their job through no fault of their own, and they don't qualify under what the EI program allows for, now there's going to have to be some latitude to accommodate them," he told CBC's Island Morning.
Focus on pressuring the U.S.
At the moment, though, Casey said people won't hear much about individual relief efforts because the focus is on trying to get the tariffs lifted.
"We are solely focused on inflicting pain on the United States to get them to rethink this. So all of the energy is focused on making the duration of this trade war short, as opposed to putting in measures to mitigate in the event that it isn't short," he said.
The first round of counter-tariffs targets U.S. products like orange juice, peanut butter and bourbon — items tied to certain Republican-led states.
Casey added that the targeted states will feel the pinch, which may force Trump to reconsider.
"The longer it hurts, the louder they will be, and eventually he won't be able to ignore them.
"I don't think he's listening to anyone yet … That will change over time."
Eliminating Confederation Bridge tolls a complex issue
P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz recently spoke with Trudeau about reducing interprovincial trade barriers in the face of a trade war so that Island businesses could compete more effectively in other Canadian jurisdictions. Lantz wants that to include eliminating Confederation Bridge tolls, which has been talked about for years.
However, Casey said that solution is "of simplistic nature" while this is a complex issue that requires careful consideration.
He questioned whether reducing the tolls is the best alternative, compared to addressing other affordability issues. He pointed to the provincial gas tax of 8.5 cents per litre, which is not rebated to Islanders, saying that the conversation around transportation infrastructure costs should consider these broader factors, not just the bridge tolls.
"It's a conversation worth having. It's not black and white, even though it's being presented as such," Casey said.
He also noted that some truckers have said in the local media that dropping bridge and ferry tolls wouldn't significantly lower grocery prices.
Elections on the horizon
With a new Liberal leader set to be announced Sunday, and that person also becoming Canada's next prime minister, Casey is expecting an election could be called as soon as next week.
He assured Islanders that the federal government won't be in "caretaker mode" during the campaign, though.
"Cabinet ministers who have responsibilities with the U.S. relationship will continue to have those responsibilities, and then they won't be on autopilot. They will continue to carry those files."
With files from Island Morning