Trump has imposed job-killing tariffs on Saskatchewan steel and threatened other tariffs repeatedly in recent months. Even more concerning, Trump and his allies have repeatedly threatened Canada’s sovereignty, saying our country would be better off as the 51st state.
The Saskatchewan NDP analyzed political donations made by Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough to Republican Party PACs and key Trump-endorsed candidates. The findings are not exhaustive as there are literally thousands of donor records; however, the firm clearly:
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Made a donation to JD Vance’s campaign last June. He’s now Trump’s Vice-President
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Made political donations to Marco Rubio over the course of several years as he ran for President and other posts. He’s now Trump’s Secretary of State and holds several other key Cabinet posts
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Donated $30,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee in two instalments in 2024 and has been giving to the committee for years
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Made donations to the Fund For America’s Future PAC, which supports conservative economic policy and has consistently supported the policies of Trump and other close allies
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough has been contracted by the Sask. Party for 14 years and been paid millions of dollars (at least $8 million running to 2022) over the years.
“This looks downright gross,” said Meara Conway, Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Minister for Ethics & Democracy. “Public dollars that belong to the people of Saskatchewan are used to pay Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough and then that firm takes that money and uses it to line the pockets of Donald Trump and prop up the political campaigns of those who stand with him while he hammers our economy and threatens our existence as a country.”
It’s unclear the true extent of the economic damage Trump has already caused to the Saskatchewan economy or what could come should he impose threatened tariffs as the Sask. Party has pretended for months to not have any economic impact projections of the ongoing trade war.
Conway demanded to know how much public funding is still being provided to Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough currently, and whether any conditions have been put on the contract with the firm to prevent its representatives from funding Trump allies in the wake of the trade war.
She also questioned the dealings of other potential lobbying firms being funded by the Sask. Party.
“I suspect that the Sask. Party is going to claim this is the cost of doing business but that’s ridiculous,” Conway said. “We’ve consistently had questions about the value of these contracts, but we’re in unprecedented times. With the election of Trump, this can’t just be a blank cheque. Why would the Sask. Party take money from Saskatchewan people and give it to a firm that props up a MAGA movement hellbent on dismantling our economy and destroying our future?
“The Saskatchewan NDP stands in full support of Saskatchewan’s future within a united Canada. We should not be funding politicians who want to make us the 51st state. Full stop.
“The Saskatchewan NDP wants to get to work building Saskatchewan’s future within a united Canada.”
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