Saskatchewan politicians levelled accusations of preening and reckless behaviour as they debated China’s punishing tariffs on Canadian canola in the legislature Thursday.

The furor was over the Saskatchewan Party government changing an Opposition NDP motion, which called on the federal government to remove its 100-per-cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles and restore market access for Canadian agriculture products.

Premier Scott Moe’s caucus struck out the NDP’s wording and added their own version that called for the same thing. His caucus also added a line commending Moe’s leadership on the file.

The motion passed with the Saskatchewan Party majority voting in favour, while the NDP voted against.

New Democrats said the motion’s congratulatory wording of the premier was pompous and arrogant.

“They’re making it all about themselves and trying to fluff the feathers of the premier ... at a time where we need to have the backs of producers,” Trent Wotherspoon, the party’s deputy agriculture critic, told the assembly.

“We see ... the front bench prop up and lift the premier while the backbench fans him and feeds him fruit.”

In March, China imposed tariffs on Canadian canola oil and meal, peas, pork and some seafood products. It later slapped Canada with a hefty levy on canola seed, widely seen in response to Ottawa’s 100-per-cent tariff on Chinese EVs.

Moe defended the motion’s new wording, telling the assembly he has worked hard to promote the interests of farmers at a time of economic uncertainty.

He fired back at New Democrats, accusing them of wanting to close trade offices. He called it a reckless move, and argued they were silent on China’s tariffs until a few months ago.

“Why ... did it take (the NDP) seven months to defend Saskatchewan?” Moe said. “This government will always support the Saskatchewan agriculture industry.”

It was the first chance for politicians to debate each other this sitting after Moe’s government tabled its throne speech Wednesday.

Later Thursday, NDP Leader Carla Beck accused Moe of lying about her position on trade offices. In last year’s election campaign, she called for their restructuring.

“The facts matter, and I understand why the premier wants to distract from the fact that he’s been flip-flopping on canola,” Beck told reporters.

“What I don’t understand is why he is choosing to play partisan games instead of sending a clear and united message to the federal government.”

In August, Moe had said Canada should remove the EV tariff only if it can have a positive relationship with the United States. He later said it’s not easy for Ottawa to get rid of the levy.

Moe later told reporters Thursday he’s been clear about his position all along.

“It isn’t easy (to remove the EV tariff), but it’s necessary,” he said.

He said Canada will want to know how the United States would respond should it remove the levy. Ottawa had initially applied the tariff in lockstep with its southern neighbour to protect North American auto manufacturing.

“This is not a straight line ... and that’s why we need to be negotiating at both tables,” Moe said. “Those are tables for our federal government to be at.”