Latest news with #GovernmentofSaskatchewan
CBC
06-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
'We're not interested in separation': Sask. government responds to sovereignty petition
Social Sharing 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. WATCH | The history of western separation in Canada: The history of western separation in Canada 8 hours ago Duration 3:28 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." 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. "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.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Saskatchewan finance minister opts for 'symbolic' black shoes on budget day
Saskatchewan's latest budget will be presented during a time of tumult as tariffs and uncertainty define the province's relationship with its largest trading partner. Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, Finance Minister Jim Reiter displayed a hard copy of the 2025-26 provincial budget without cracking it open or giving the assembled media any major hints about what was inside. The budget — subtitled 'Delivering for you' — is to be presented on Wednesday afternoon at the Saskatchewan legislature. As for what the slogan means, Reiter said the budget would focus on campaign promises by Premier Scott Moe and the Saskatchewan Party that were designed to target 'priority areas.' This budget was created amid erratic tariffs from the U.S. on all imported Canadian goods as well as retaliatory Chinese tariffs on canola. Reiter called it 'difficult' to plan for a fiscal year in the current economic climate. 'It adds so much uncertainty,' he said while showing off his new shoes — a budget day tradition. 'I wasn't sure I was going to do this. They're going to be symbolic. I would just say this folks: they're black, and I'll let you read into that what you will.' In the language of budgets, if something is said to be 'in the black,' it conveys a surplus. A budget that's 'in the red' indicates a deficit. Asked to elaborate on the meaning of his shoes, Reiter just said 'they'll look good with my black suit.' Reiter also explained to reporters that his shoes were made in India by a company headquartered in the United Kingdom, a direct acknowledgment of the current pressures posed by U.S. and Chinese tariffs. Long before the current time of trade wars and reciprocal actions against the U.S., mid-year financials in November projected the provincial deficit had ballooned to $743.5 million from the $273.2-million shortfall forecast in the 2024-25 budget. Higher crop insurance payments were cited by Reiter, who is presenting his first budget as the new finance minister. Also, in the lead-up to the budget, the Government of Saskatchewan authorized up to almost $1-billion dollars in additional spending by way of cabinet special warrants. Wednesday also signals the resumption of the first session of the 30th legislature, with MLAs sitting for the next 30 days. The session began with a 10-day sitting late in 2024 after the provincial election. Mandryk: Big government spending a given for upcoming Saskatchewan budget Mandryk: Sask. government spending a billion dollars more with little explanation alsalloum@ The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe. With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.
CBC
24-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
Disappointment, uncertainty as Sask. quietly pauses employers' ability to hire foreign workers
Social Sharing A decision by the Saskatchewan government to quietly pause employers' ability to hire foreign workers could leave businesses without employees and immigrants without the job they need to remain in Canada. Mike Patel, who operates a small hardware store in Indian Head, Sask., and other small stores across the province rely on the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) to help build a workforce. "It's quite a bit shocking for me as this is a great program to attract people specifically into smaller towns," Patel said. Salim Multani, who lives in Saskatoon, said he moved to Saskatchewan because SINP was supposed to give him an easier path to obtaining permanent residency in Canada. Multani said the provincial government's pause on the SINP program makes him question every decision he made over the past few years. "It was unimaginable," he told CBC News. What is SINP? SINP is meant to address labour shortages in Saskatchewan by having immigrants fill vacant positions. Employers are only allowed to hire foreign nationals through the program once they're able to prove they can't find anyone else in the province to fill a position. Once a business is qualified, they are provided with a job approval form allowing them to hire a foreign national. That person must then work full-time for that employer for at least six months to qualify for the program and stay in the country. A 'pause' On Feb. 18, the provincial government updated its immigration website, announcing it would pause the intake of job approval forms for "several weeks." The province said it's the result of a federal decision to slash immigration levels. "The Government of Saskatchewan is disappointed by the Federal Government's decision to cut all provincial nominee program allocations, including [SINP], by 50 per cent," Saskatchewan's Ministry of Immigration and Career Training wrote in a statement. For 2025, the SINP's allocation was cut to 3,625 spots. That's the lowest allocation for the program since 2009, according to the provincial government. A spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said the federal immigration plan for 2025 to 2027 is meant to provide "well-managed, sustainable growth" in the face of national challenges around housing, infrastructure and social service. "This year, all provinces and territories are expected to focus their nominations to target their most critical labour market needs, including those in construction and health care," the statement from the federal ministry said. Saskatchewan Minister of Immigration and Career Training Jim Reiter was not made available for an interview this week. Panic and frustration Rajdeep Singh, director of Pax Immigration Consultant Inc. in Emerald Park, Sask., said he knew changes to SINP were likely after the federal government announced late last year it would slash immigration numbers. Singh didn't expect that change to come so abruptly. "We have seen a lot of panic in both employers and employees," Singh said. Singh's company fielded more than 100 calls from people with ties to SINP trying to get answers about what could happen next. Singh said he and his staff are encouraging everyone to remain calm, but that he doesn't have the answers they want. "There is not a lot of information that's been posted out for us to answer them at this point," he said. "There's not official source yet who has confirmed anything to us." Abuzafor Chowdhory, a master's student at the University of Regina, said his and his family's future in Canada has been thrown into question. He's been waiting to be selected through the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program for years. Now Chowdhory is concerned about what will happen and is desperately hoping the province will provide an exemption. "When you are declaring a law or a policy, and [there are] people who already came here based upon that policy, there should be some flexibility for those people," he said.
