Kinew, Khan spar on trade, comments about Trump

Premier Wab Kinew says he’s on board with removing provincial trade barriers by Canada Day.

The premier was asked during question period Tuesday whether he supports Prime Minister Mark Carney’s plan for “free trade” across Canada by July 1.

“Yes. We’re dismantling interprovincial trade barriers,” he answered emphatically, despite the tight deadline.

He said he was pleased that during Tuesday’s meeting in the Oval Office, the prime minister told U.S. President Donald Trump that “Canada will never be for sale.”

It was a rare time when the NDP government directly answered a question posed by the Progressive Conservatives, and it took place on Obby Khan’s second day in the chamber as PC leader.

The official Opposition struggled to hold the government to account on the economy, agriculture and health care as members dodged questions and fired back about a podcast comment made by Khan in February.

The interview transcript shows the Fort Whyte MLA said, “One of his (Trump’s) clear wins… was a change in federal government… Justin Trudeau is gone now. Thank God he’s gone.”

When the interviewer asked how much influence Trump’s 25 per cent tariff threat had on Trudeau’s departure, Khan replied, “A lot. And I would say thank you… he’s gone now. Now we just need to get rid of Wab (Kinew) and unleash Manitoba.”

On Tuesday, Khan asked Kinew about Manitoba having the lowest rate of GDP growth among the provinces, and where his government will find the increased tax revenue that the budget relies upon.

The premier responded by saying the biggest threat to the economy is Trump, and he asked Khan to explain why he had thanked him, suggesting he has a “love-fest” with the president that’s unhealthy for democracy.

“He (wanted) our democratically elected former prime minister to be removed by a foreign power,” Kinew told the house Tuesday.

“We will never allow foreign leaders to determine our democracy.”

Khan accused the premier of putting false information on the record.

“He refuses to answer a simple question,” he said. “It is your right as Manitobans to know what his GDP targets are,” the PC leader said.

“The entire NDP budget is built on record business and income taxes collected. Where is this increased tax revenue coming from?” Khan asked.

Kinew shot back: “We’re going to grow the economy,” and referred to the $3.7-billion plan to build infrastructure.

Khan called on the government to pass a PC private member’s bill that would knock down provincial trade barriers, eliminate red tape and allow for “massive economic growth potential.”

Kinew said the government won’t support the PC bill and is preparing its own plan without sharing any details.

“The work is already happening,” the premier said.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca