Latest news with #AleanaYoung
CTV News
07-08-2025
- Business
- CTV News
NDP raises concerns after U.S. company buys Sask. grain elevator, rail assets
The Saskatchewan NDP is raising its concerns about a U.S. company buying a Western Canadian agricultural firm. (Damian Smith/CTV News) The Saskatchewan NDP is criticizing the province for not intervening after a U.S. based company purchased an agricultural logistics business that operates in east Saskatchewan. Ceres Global Ag Corp is an agriculture, energy, and industrial product supply chain company which operates 13 locations across North America – including in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Two of the locations include a grain elevator near Melfort and a logistics hub in southeast Saskatchewan. Ceres Global Ag has now been bought out by Bartlett – a U.S. ag firm based in Kansas City – leaving the two locations in Saskatchewan under American ownership. 'This is a time when we should be doing everything we can, especially with strategic economic infrastructures, power, rail, energy assets,' expressed NDP MLA Aleana Young. 'We should be ensuring Canadian ownership, if not Saskatchewan ownership, not continually allowing big multinational corporations or American corporations to come in and scoop up Saskatchewan assets.' With the deal closing in July, Barlett said in a news release acquiring Ceres will 'expand its operational footprint and grain merchandising capabilities' which will add approximately $45 million of total grain and oilseed storage capacity. 'This acquisition represents another step forward in our strategy to strengthen our agriculture business and broaden the value we deliver to customers across North America,' President and CEO of Bartlett's parent company Jeff Roberts said in a news release on July 2. 'The Ceres team and its leadership have an outstanding track record, and we're looking forward to building on that within the Savage portfolio.' In a statement to CTV News, the Government of Saskatchewan said its aware of the purchase and is watching the deal closely to support producers. 'We will continue to monitor the situation to help ensure producers have access to competitive and local options to sell their grains. During the first six months of 2025, the volume of Saskatchewan agri-food exports to the U.S. increased by almost 6.5 per cent,' the statement read. 'It is reckless for the NDP to suggest that we should be blocking and opposing investment in Saskatchewan that provides jobs and significant tax revenue to the residents of Saskatchewan,' the province added.
CBC
25-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
Sask. gov't disputes Opposition's claims of local procurement misrepresentation
Social Sharing Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP claims the province has been misrepresenting its procurement practices by categorizing out-of-province businesses as Saskatchewan-based. In response, the Sask. Party government said it's following Canadian Free Trade Agreement criteria. In an April government news release, the province said 90 per cent of recent procurement was awarded to Saskatchewan companies. On Tuesday, the NDP released documents obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request that the party says tell a different story. In a news release, the NDP said SaskBuilds reported awarding 666 contracts in the 2024–25 fiscal year. The FOI shows the number of businesses classified as "Saskatchewan-based" was "significantly inflated," the NDP said. The Opposition said 51 per cent of contracts went to companies headquartered in Saskatchewan, and only 58 per cent of total contract dollars went to those Saskatchewan-based firms. Meanwhile, the NDP said businesses labelled as "Saskatchewan-based" by the province include Crumb Rubber Manufacturing (CRM), based in Newport Beach, Calif., and Mitsubishi of Canada, headquartered in Ontario. "Anybody on the street will tell you that you can't just call any company a local business just because they've got a P.O. box here. That's not how it works," NDP jobs and economy critic Aleana Youngsaid at a news conference Tuesday morning. "Not only is this dishonest and a betrayal of Saskatchewan workers and businesses, it's also part of a disturbing pattern of behaviour with this government. Say one thing, do another." Young said tariffs from the U.S. and China make it more important than ever to "stand up" for provincial workers and businesses. "Earlier this month, the Sask. Party quietly walked back their supposed Sask. First procurement policy — a move that, combined with today's revelations, confirms that they were never committed to supporting local businesses," she said. Province says it's following federal guidelines In an emailed statement to the media early Tuesday afternoon, the Saskatchewan government called the NDP's news release an "irresponsible attack on Saskatchewan workers." "Under the NDP definition, they wouldn't consider companies like Evraz to be Saskatchewan companies. They say they support Saskatchewan steel workers, but don't think they should be allowed to bid on Saskatchewan work," the province said in the statement. The NDP shot out a second news release on the matter shortly after the province responded. "We know that Evraz Regina makes some of the best steel in the world, and we have called on the government for years to use Saskatchewan steel in every possible project," Young said in the release. The province said its government procurement policy uses the definition for a Saskatchewan-based company laid out in the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, meaning the definition comes from the Government of Canada itself. It said businesses meeting the following criteria are considered Saskatchewan-based: Have a place of business in Saskatchewan where regular business activities are conducted on a permanent basis, is clearly identified by name and is accessible during normal business hours. Employ Saskatchewan residents or sole proprietorship owned by a Saskatchewan resident. Be a registered business in Saskatchewan with an Information Services Corporation profile or equivalent. According to the Sask. Party's news release, SaskBuilds and Procurement awarded approximately $689.5 million in procurements this fiscal year. It said that approximately 90 per cent of that value, or $617.6 million, was awarded to Saskatchewan-based companies, approximately 10 per cent of that value was awarded to businesses from other provinces in Canada, and approximately 0.1 per cent of the procurement value was awarded to companies from the United States. "The NDP position on procurement would exclude many Saskatchewan companies from bidding on Saskatchewan work. These companies employ thousands of Saskatchewan employees that build our province, pay taxes and invest in local communities."
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sask. gov't disputes Opposition's claims of local procurement misrepresentation
Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP claims the province has been misrepresenting its procurement practices by categorizing out-of-province businesses as Saskatchewan-based. In response, the Sask. Party government said it's following Canadian Free Trade Agreement criteria. In an April government news release, the province said 90 per cent of recent procurement was awarded to Saskatchewan companies. On Tuesday, the NDP released documents obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request that the party says tell a different story. In a news release, the NDP said SaskBuilds reported awarding 666 contracts in the 2024–25 fiscal year. The FOI shows the number of businesses classified as "Saskatchewan-based" was "significantly inflated," the NDP said. The Opposition said 51 per cent of contracts went to companies headquartered in Saskatchewan, and only 58 per cent of total contract dollars went to those Saskatchewan-based firms. Meanwhile, the NDP said businesses labelled as "Saskatchewan-based" by the province include Crumb Rubber Manufacturing (CRM), based in Newport Beach, Calif., and Mitsubishi of Canada, headquartered in Ontario. "Anybody on the street will tell you that you can't just call any company a local business just because they've got a P.O. box here. That's not how it works," NDP jobs and economy critic Aleana Youngsaid at a news conference Tuesday morning. "Not only is this dishonest and a betrayal of Saskatchewan workers and businesses, it's also part of a disturbing pattern of behaviour with this government. Say one thing, do another." Young said tariffs from the U.S. and China make it more important than ever to "stand up" for provincial workers and businesses. "Earlier this month, the Sask. Party quietly walked back their supposed Sask. First procurement policy — a move that, combined with today's revelations, confirms that they were never committed to supporting local businesses," she said. Province says it's following federal guidelines In an emailed statement to the media early Tuesday afternoon, the Saskatchewan government called the NDP's news release an "irresponsible attack on Saskatchewan workers." "Under the NDP definition, they wouldn't consider companies like Evraz to be Saskatchewan companies. They say they support Saskatchewan steel workers, but don't think they should be allowed to bid on Saskatchewan work," the province said in the statement. The NDP shot out a second news release on the matter shortly after the province responded. "We know that Evraz Regina makes some of the best steel in the world, and we have called on the government for years to use Saskatchewan steel in every possible project," Young said in the release. The province said its government procurement policy uses the definition for a Saskatchewan-based company laid out in the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, meaning the definition comes from the Government of Canada itself. It said businesses meeting the following criteria are considered Saskatchewan-based: Have a place of business in Saskatchewan where regular business activities are conducted on a permanent basis, is clearly identified by name and is accessible during normal business hours. Employ Saskatchewan residents or sole proprietorship owned by a Saskatchewan resident. Be a registered business in Saskatchewan with an Information Services Corporation profile or equivalent. According to the Sask. Party's news release, SaskBuilds and Procurement awarded approximately $689.5 million in procurements this fiscal year. It said that approximately 90 per cent of that value, or $617.6 million, was awarded to Saskatchewan-based companies, approximately 10 per cent of that value was awarded to businesses from other provinces in Canada, and approximately 0.1 per cent of the procurement value was awarded to companies from the United States. "The NDP position on procurement would exclude many Saskatchewan companies from bidding on Saskatchewan work. These companies employ thousands of Saskatchewan employees that build our province, pay taxes and invest in local communities."
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'We're not interested in separation': Sask. government responds to sovereignty petition
NDP jobs and economy critic Aleana Young said Monday that Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe isn't being forceful enough in shutting down separation talk. (Chris Edwards/CBC - image credit) A petition calling for a provincial referendum on Saskatchewan's sovereignty has garnered nearly 2,000 signatures in three days, prompting responses from both the provincial government and the Opposition NDP. The petition, launched by advocacy group Unified Grassroots on May 2, aims to "empower the provincial government to negotiate new terms for Saskatchewan's relationship whether as part of Canada or as an independent nation." If successful, the petition could kick-start a process to launch a plebiscite vote within 12 months of submission to the government. In order to be submitted, it must accumulate signatures from 15 per cent of eligible voters, or about 125,000 signatures. The result of the vote, even if it were to favour separation, would not be legally binding. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement WATCH | The history of western separation in Canada: On Monday, both the provincial government and Saskatchewan NDP said they do not support separation from Canada. During question period on Monday afternoon, Saskatchewan Finance Minister Jim Reiter stated several times that the provincial government does not support leaving Canada, but would follow the legislation on plebiscites. "I'm a proud Canadian, all members of this side of the house are," Reiter said. "We're not interested in separation.… We're also not interested in muzzling the voices of people who want to use freedom of speech." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement NDP jobs and economy critic Aleana Young said earlier on Monday that Premier Scott Moe could easily put separatism calls to rest and is choosing not to. "I have three calls for Premier Moe today: one, condemn [Alberta Premier] Danielle Smith, two, condemn Unified Grassroots, and three, be straight with the people of Saskatchewan and say out loud, clearly and unequivocally, that you would vote to stay as part of Canada," she said. "This is a premier who is all too happy to get along, to go along with the fringe elements of his own base." The provincial government reiterated its stance in a later statement. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "The Government of Saskatchewan does not support separating from Canada, however we also don't support the status quo," it said. "We believe in a strong and united Saskatchewan, within a strong and united Canada, and the role Saskatchewan can play in making Canada an energy superpower." A public vote to separate from Canada can also happen through a government-initiated referendum. According to Saskatchewan's Referendum and Plebiscite Act, a government-led referendum would be legally binding if more than 60 per cent of voters vote for a single result and at least 50 per cent of eligible voters had cast a ballot. That process would bring several challenges. The House of Commons would have the power to edit or cancel the question if it felt the wording would not clearly capture the will of the people. The federal government would also have to consult with all political parties in the province on the issue. Issues such as what to do with Crown Land and military bases, and what to negotiate with Indigenous people, would also have to be dealt with.
