Manitoba reacts to Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’

The campaign trail took a back seat on Tuesday, as all eyes were on Washington, where U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled new tariffs as part of what he called ‘Liberation Day,’ prompting reactions from across the country and in Manitoba.

“We’ve got a message for Donald Trump: New Democrats and workers are going to fight back and defend our jobs and our country,” said Jagmeet Singh, Federal NDP Leader.

During a campaign stop in Winnipeg on Wednesday, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh referred to Trump as “an arsonist” setting fire to economies on both sides of the border through his trade war. He went on to promise increased employment insurance payments and the removal of GST from everyday essentials as measures his government would take to protect Canadian workers.

“Your internet, your home heating, your cell phone services—let’s take the GST off these essentials and save people some money,” said Singh.

“We are going to work together to ensure that your jobs and your industries are here today, tomorrow, and for generations to come,” said Wab Kinew, Manitoba Premier.

Kinew was in Brandon to commit over $150 million in support for farmers and producers, including $10 million to match the Federal AgriStability fund, a program that essentially serves as crop insurance.

“We are standing up for West-Man, we are standing up for Western Canada, and we are standing up for this country that we love so much,” said Kinew.

As for the role Manitoba Hydro will play in the trade war moving forward, Kinew hinted that further measures could be coming down the line.

“Given what we have seen with Trump, we have to prioritize the future power needs of our province and make sure that we have everything we need to build Manitoba up in the future,” said Kinew.