What to expect from the first ministers' conference in Saskatoon

CBC

2 days ago

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When premiers from across the country gather with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday in Saskatoon, it will be a historic day for the province.
It will be just the second time a first ministers' conference has been held in Saskatchewan and the first time in Saskatoon.
After a throne speech that was heavy on symbolism and touched on economics and sovereignty, one expert says there is no doubt Carney will want the agenda to be focused on the threat of tariffs.
"When you're in a conflict with the United States, it helps to have kind of broad national unity, to have the backing of a wide range of different regions," said Daniel Westlake, an assistant professor of political studies at the University of Saskatchewan.
Westlake believes Carney and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe will view this event as politically beneficial — Carney can use the conference as an opportunity to extend an olive branch to a Western Canada that felt aggrieved with his predecessor. Moe can tout the federal government as being attentive to the province's needs.
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While the choice of Saskatchewan as the location for the meeting stands out — these conferences are normally held in Ottawa — Westlake doesn't believe the core conversations will change because of that.
"At the end of the day, the prime minister and each of the premiers are each going to have their agenda, and they're going to talk what they want to talk about," he said.
Monday's meetings will give Carney a chance to have an in-person meeting with every premier — something he may not have had the opportunity to do since first being sworn in as prime minister in March.
Westlake believes the benefit to getting everyone in the same room is that it can get everyone on the same page.
"I think especially with the times that we're going into, there's a lot of value in the prime minister and the premiers building a good rapport and building good relationships," he said.
There will be plenty for the premiers and the prime minister to talk about, including developing a common strategy to deal with American tariffs, said Westlake.
However, he's doubtful there will be a serious policy announcement emerging from Monday's meeting.
"They have important stuff to talk about. I'm just not sure it's the stuff that yields large scale agreements," he said.
Resetting the Sask.-Ottawa relationship
Moe spent this spring's eight-week legislative sitting dealing with the threat of tariffs and a late push on the topic of western separatism.
While the province did not build tariff contingencies into its budget, Moe has made it clear he believes the path forward is to create new economic opportunities within Canada or internationally.
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"I don't know that I have ever seen such a economic opportunity available and lying at the feet before Canadians than I do today," Moe said on Thursday.
Last month, the Saskatchewan premier called for a "reset" on the relationship between Ottawa and Saskatchewan, by releasing a list of 10 changes he believes Ottawa "must make."
Moe's demands included:
The immediate launch of negotiations with China in order to remove tariffs on agricultural food products, a reference to the 100 per cent tariff China has placed on Canadian canola oil and peas.
The end to a number of federal policies meant to lower carbon emissions, such as the industrial carbon tax and clean electricity regulations.
Changes to the Criminal Code to address bail reform and the introduction of harsher penalties to combat "new street drugs."
Expansion of pipeline capacity across Canada and the opening of rail and port capacity.
Reduction of federal "red tape" in order to streamline federal approval of infrastructure projects and reduce "infringement" into provincial jurisdiction
Moe confirmed last month that he would raise those issues at the first ministers' meeting in Saskatoon.
But with a federal government that appears to be tightly focused on tariffs and the economy, Westlake doesn't believe there will be any serious desire to move on the concerns raised by Saskatchewan.
However, he does think there will be a desire for Ottawa to not alienate Saskatchewan.
"They probably want to show that they've listened. Scott Moe will want to show that he's voiced these views to the prime minister, and so there's probably grounds for a conversation there," said Westlake.