EXCLUSIVE: Moe calls for immediate federal election, Trudeau outlived mandate

In a forceful appeal made during a Western Standard interview, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau or NDP leader Jagmeet Singh to force a general election, arguing that the country's current minority government outlived its typical four-year mandate.

"I would say all Canadians think that when they elect a government, a four-year mandate is the norm," said Moe.

"We have a minority federal government that is beyond that four-year mandate."

Moe emphasized that while Trudeau is living "day-by-day," the political landscape is shifting south of the border.

Moe pointed to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, along with the strengthened Republican majorities in both the Senate and the House, as evidence that Canada needs stable and decisive leadership. 

"We have an incoming Trump administration into the White House, a Republican majority [in] the Senate, and the House, with likely the most significant four-year mandate we've seen in recent history," said Moe. 

"We have no such mandate, and our prime minister has no such mandate. He's living essentially day-by-day."

Moe’s approach to dealing with the incoming Trump administration is focused on three areas.

“The broader Canada-U.S. relationship, from the Saskatchewan perspective, is one that we'll actually engage. I think, at three different levels on,” said Moe.

“First, as a province using the contacts that we have acquired, generated, and made. The relationships we've formed over the last number of years, not only in the U.S., but around the world. Second, we'll engage through the Council of Federation, alongside other premiers. Third, we will support a federal government in their engagement as well.”

"It's time for him to do the right thing and provide Canadians with the opportunity to have a voice in who is going to represent them with that incoming Trump administration," said Moe.

"Who is going to have that four-year mandate to be our voice as Canadians, and who is ultimately going to create the policy over the course of the next four years."

Moe firmly believes that a new election would allow the public to select who can navigate potential cross-border challenges and create policies responsive to a drastically changed White House agenda.

"Canadians, I think, would agree that it's time for an election in Canada, and we would hope that either Justin Trudeau or Jagmeet Singh agree as well," said Scott Moe.

"So, it's election time."