https://www.adn.com/politics/a...g-tariffs-on-canada/

another socialist move lol ...

Alaska Legislature
Alaska House passes resolution opposing tariffs on Canada

In a rebuke of President Donald Trump, the Alaska House on Monday adopted a resolution opposing the imposition of tariffs on Canada.

Supporters of the resolution — which has no binding powers — say it will signal Alaska’s commitment to its relationship with Canada, amid Trump’s move to impose tariffs on goods from the nation that shares a 1,500-mile border with Alaska.

The resolution also recognizes Canada’s sovereignty, after Trump made a series of comments about annexing the nation and turning it into the U.S.’s 51st state.

Reactions from Canada have threatened to escalate the trade war between U.S. and Canada that leaders say could economically harm both nations.

The British Columbia government introduced legislation earlier this month that would allow the Canadian province to impose tolls on commercial vehicle travel between Washington state and Alaska. In a further escalation, Alaska’s U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan then threatened to pause a requirement that large cruise ships traveling from the Lower 48 to Alaska stop at a Canadian port along the way.

The resolution, which acknowledges Alaska’s economic dependence on Canada, was introduced by Republican House Majority Leader Chuck Kopp, and passed the House in a 33-4 vote. A similar resolution has been introduced in the Senate but has yet to be voted on by the full chamber.

“Canada is literally an economic lifeline to Alaska,” Kopp said earlier this month. “Without Canada, Alaska’s economy would be cut off from key markets and critical supply chains.”

[From Alaska to Maine, communities that border Canada worry US tariffs come at a personal cost]

The House measure heads next to the Senate for consideration. If approved, it will be sent to Trump along with Canadian leaders and members of the Alaska congressional delegation.

“This resolution recognizes that relationships matter, and are far more important than maybe the almighty dollar at times,” Kopp said in a hearing on the resolution before the House Resources Committee. “Keeping our partnership with Canada strong isn’t just good policy — it’s essential to the Alaskan way of life.”

Before the measure was adopted, it was amended — at the request of Big Lake Republican Rep. Kevin McCabe — to include a threat that Alaska would revoke funding to maintain and repair a section of the Alaska-Canada highway if Canada made good on its proposed plan to counter the Trump tariffs with tolls on trucks carrying goods to Alaska.

Under an agreement signed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai last year, federal funding would be used to repair a section of the Alaska Highway between Destruction Bay and the Alaska-Canada border.

“I would hate to spend a bunch of money … to repair highways in Canada if they are just going to turn around and put jersey barriers up and not allow us to travel on that money,” said McCabe.

“I would hate for a tariff battle between two superpowers to affect the people that live in Alaska. So with this resolution I think we are telling Canada, ‘Wait a minute. We object to being used as a pawn,’” McCabe added.

The four lawmakers opposing the House resolution were all Republicans — Jamie Allard of Anchorage; Bill Elam of Nikiski; Mike Prax of North Pole; and Cathy Tilton of Wasilla.

Though several members of Trump’s party voted for the resolution, some raised concern about the Alaska Legislature’s message that it opposed the president’s policymaking.

This is not the first time that Alaska state lawmakers have passed a resolution to show their disapproval of Trump’s policies. Lawmakers also passed a resolution asking Trump to reverse his position on changing the name of Alaska’s tallest mountain from Denali back to Mount McKinley.

Rep. Julie Coulombe, an Anchorage Republican, said during the hearing earlier this month that she has “a real problem with the leadership of Canada right now.”

“This is basically running against our own leadership and supporting the leadership of Canada, and that’s not something I like to do,” she said.

Local leaders of communities in both Canada and Alaska testified in favor of the resolution.

Pillai, the Yukon premier, told members of the Alaska House Resources Committee that “Canada is not and will never be the 51st state.”

“The Trump administration’s unjustified tariffs and the frequent threats made by the Trump administration to Canada’s economic and national sovereignty are creating chaos, challenges and disruption for people and businesses on both sides of the border,” Pillai said.

[Canada’s prime minister and his opponent kick off election saying Trump must respect sovereignty]

Skagway homebuilder and Assembly member Orion Hanson said the tariffs would impact his business and the lives of people in towns like Skagway — where residents often travel between Canada and Alaska to shop and recreate.


“I am certain — absolutely certain — that if a 25% tariff is placed on Canadian goods, the cost of new housing in Skagway will increase substantially,” Hanson said. “If a trade war ensues between the United States and Canada, the cost of living in Skagway will go up. It will spiral up very fast.”

Matt Morrison is chief executive officer of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region, which brings together representatives of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon. He said the resolution is “really significant.”

“I can’t tell you how important it is to the hearts of our Canadian brothers and sisters. They are being hurt and feeling betrayed and to have something like this is so important,” he said.

Kirk Cameron, mayor of Whitehorse, said the resolution is “very helpful” in illustrating the connection between Whitehorse and several communities in Alaska, including Juneau.

“We consider the border to be something more of an annoyance between ourselves here in the Yukon and Alaska,” he said.

Thank you Alaska from, Jonny Cannuck.