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“Why would you sign on to the USMCA while the tariffs were still active? Why didn’t you walk away?” said Klein.

To cheers, he asked, “You can legalize marijuana, but you can’t twin a pipeline to the coast?” in reference to the TransMountain pipeline.

Trudeau said he recognizes the steel tariffs hurt workers and the economy, but also said the government is putting measures in place to help workers in places like Regina and Sault Ste. Marie.

“Do we sign the new NAFTA with our largest and most important trading partner or do we walk away from a $2-billion a day trading relationship that is hugely important for the Canadian economy?” said Trudeau.

Photo by BRANDON HARDER / Regina Leader-Post

The prime minister said he is taking the issue of American tariffs seriously, notably through retaliatory measures put in place.

He then turned to the issue of TransMountain and his Liberal government’s spend of $4.5 billion to buy it, in order to complete the project that includes the pipeline, pumping stations and rights of way along the route between Edmonton and Vancouver, as well as the marine terminal in Burnaby, B.C., where oil is loaded onto tankers for export.

The prime minister said he is “confident” the pipeline will make money and be “very valuable” once it is complete, but there needs to be consultation with Indigenous people “as much as possible.”

“We have to engage in partnership, in respectful dialogue, in benefit sharing, in respect and partnership with Indigenous people,” he said. “That’s the way we’re going to get these pipelines built.”