Chaos in Ottawa means uncertainty, opportunity for some Sask. industries

One day after the Prime Minister announced his intention to resign, observers are waiting to learn what a prorogued Parliament means for Saskatchewan.

"When political scientists find things that are happening really interesting, it's probably not good," Daniel Westlake, a political studies professor at the University of Saskatchewan said on Tuesday.

"I don't know that I've got the popcorn out, but I'm kind of nervously watching to see where this goes."

On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation, while also revealing that Parliament would be prorogued until March 24. The move will give the Liberal party time to find a new leader ahead of an expected confidence vote that could trigger an early election in 2025.

Westlake says the procedural tool allows the government to remain in power, but it halts the work of Parliament until elected officials are back in the House of Commons.

"That basically means everything that was happening up to this point is now done, and we start again with a fresh slate whenever Parliament comes back for legislation," Westlake said.

With the federal government unable to pass or continue working on legislation, many are wondering what will happen in the interim, with political leaders across the country expecting an election in the coming months.

"I reiterate my call for an immediate election so that Canadians may choose who will represent them," Premier Scott Moe said in a statement Tuesday.

"Suspending Parliament to take months to settle who will lead the Liberal Party is not giving Canadians the choice they desire or deserve,” the statement said.

“We are focused on addressing affordability, engaging on increased market access, investment attraction and continuing to engage with the USA on ensuring border security for those that live on either side of the border.”

In recent months, United States President-elect Donald Trump has reiterated a desire to implement a sweeping 25 per cent tariff on all goods from Canada. Westlake says Canada will be left politically defenseless to respond to any tariff threat.

"There's not going to be any ability to pass any legislation that might be needed to respond to tariffs that the United States brings in," Westlake said. "That's where they're going to run into trouble, because some of that stuff's going to need [to] be legislation and they're not going to be able to pass legislation unless Parliament is sitting."

One bill in particular that is now off the floor is Bill C-282, an act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act.

Supporters of the bill say it is crucial to protect supply management as potential trade renegotiations with the United States approach, while opposing organizations like the Agriculture Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) say the proposed legislation could have created market distortions and burdens that could hinder the growth and competitiveness of other commodities not under supply management.

"If you are to protect supply management and at all costs, countries like the United States would not be interested in negotiating with Canada at all," Sylvain Charlebois, the director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, said.

"Saskatchewan does a lot of trade with the United States, so actually, today's news is good news for Saskatchewan, to be honest."

Charlebois said the now-defunct bill was meant to strengthen supply-managed industries, like dairy, poultry and eggs, but had plenty of pushback from cattle producers, hog producers and grain producers.

"So the end of Bill 282 is certainly desirable if you do live in Saskatchewan," Charlebois said.

Regardless of tabled legislation, Westlake says tariffs have the potential to harm the Canadian, and in turn, Saskatchewan economy.

"I don't think you need to be an economist to know that's going to have a huge impact on the Canadian economy," he said.

Saskatchewan NDP leader Carla Beck said cooperation is needed to meet the threat of tariffs.

"I think Saskatchewan people (and) Canadian people are tired of internal partisan squabbles," Beck said. "We need leaders at all levels — to work together, work with industry to present to the United States an effective response."

Westlake says while many things divide politicians in Canada, he sees a path to co-operation.

"I think this is a big enough threat to the country and the province as a whole that it creates a lot of incentive to co-ordinate," he said. "There's not a lot of incentive to play political games."