Latest news with #SaskatchewanParty
Calgary Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Chris Selley: Alberta NDP's divorce from the federal party trainwreck is better for everyone
Article content Mark Carney cuts the ultimate Laurentian-elite figure, but he did grow up in Edmonton, which is a bit risqué from a Liberal standpoint. Before Carney, the party's leaders had grown up (in this order) in Montreal, Toronto, Quebec City, Ottawa, Shawinigan, Ottawa, Montreal, Hamilton … you get the picture. Article content The federal NDP have been stuck in Central Canada mode for nearly as long: Jagmeet Singh is from Toronto; his predecessor Tom Mulcair is from Montreal, and for all his perspicacity never really made much sense as party leader; Layton before that cut his political teeth in Toronto, yet somehow his upbringing in the arch-anglophone Montreal suburb of Hudson played to his advantage in francophone Quebec. That's not something the party will ever be able to replicate. No one is quite sure how it happened the first time. Article content It's an interesting fact that only one person, the little-remembered John Thompson, has ever served both as a provincial premier (Nova Scotia) and as prime minister (he was Canada's fourth, dying in office quite spectacularly of a heart attack at Windsor Castle in 1894). But there's no reason a premier couldn't or shouldn't become PM, and the NDP — more than any other nationwide party, probably — should want to break that streak. Article content Article content Say what you will about British Columbia NDP premier David Eby, or former Alberta NDP premier Rachel Notley or her successor Naheed Nenshi, or Saskatchewan opposition leader Carla Beck (whose NDP hold 27 seats to the Saskatchewan Party's 34), or Manitoba NDP Premier Wab Kinew, but they're all heavy hitters compared to the low-energy types that find themselves leading the Ontario and federal parties. Article content There is clearly an expectation of winning in certain provincial capitals that does not exist among New Democrats at Queen's Park or on Parliament Hill — which is especially odd considering the provincial and federal parties so freely trade strategists and staffers. To pick just one prominent example: Montreal-born-and-bred Brian Topp, who ran for the party leadership against Mulcair after Layton's death, was Notley's chief of staff in Edmonton, and had previously been Saskatchewan NDP Premier Roy Romanow's deputy chief of staff in Regina. Article content Article content Lately he has been reduced to crowing about how great the federal NDP's supply-and-confidence deal was with the Trudeau Liberals. It's just weird. Maybe what the party needs is a proper, public civil war. Article content In any event, if federal New Democrats want to be relevant again other than mathematically — never mind want to govern — they would do well to stop pretending they have anything much in common with their successful provincial comrades in Victoria, Edmonton, Regina and Winnipeg. And their comrades in those provincial capitals would do well to separate themselves from decades of wretched failure by the federal party — even if only symbolically. They're just not playing in the same league. In practice, they simply aren't the single party they claim to be.
Calgary Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Doug Ford and Scott Moe agree to work on eliminating trade barriers on eve of first ministers' meeting
On the eve of a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney about knocking down internal trade barriers, Ontario Premier Doug Ford inked a new agreement with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe to work on eliminating barriers between the two provinces. Article content Article content Both leaders participated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding in Saskatoon on Sunday. Article content The document said Ford and Moe agree to 'build on their respective enabling legislation to remove internal trade barriers between them,' in order to increase the flow of workers as well as services and goods, such as alcohol. Article content Article content Last month, Ford's Progressive Conservative government introduced legislation aimed at removing trade barriers between Ontario and other provinces. Ford has already made similar announcements with Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Manitoba. Article content Article content Ford and other premiers have turned their attention to addressing longstanding internal trade barriers in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war. Article content In recent weeks, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec have all tabled legislation aimed at boosting interprovincial trade. Article content The new memorandum of understanding with Moe cites his Saskatchewan Party government's forthcoming legislation to address the issue. Article content The document signed on Sunday says that Ontario and Saskatchewan 'will strive to ensure that a good or equivalent service or registered worker that is deemed acceptable for sale, use or work in Ontario, is deemed acceptable for sale, use or work in Saskatchewan — and vice versa.' Article content Article content It also calls on other Canadian provincial and territorial leaders to table their own legislation to knock down internal trade barriers, including 'through mutual recognition.' Article content Internal trade is expected to be a focal point of discussion when Carney meets with all 13 provincial and territorial leaders on Monday. The prime minister has repeatedly said Canada's economy would be stronger if it acted as one, not as 13. Article content Another major topic of discussion at Monday's first ministers' meeting will be how Ottawa plans to fast-track the building of major energy and infrastructure projects, with Carney promising to knock down the timeline for approvals to two years from five. Article content Premiers will be provided with an overview of yet-to-be-tabled legislation that seeks to establish a new major projects office and allow for changes to the current regulatory system.
Toronto Star
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Saskatchewan NDP's anti-separation bill dies as legislative session wraps up
REGINA - Saskatchewan's legislative session ended Thursday and with it an anti-separation bill went up in flames. The Opposition NDP's proposed legislation was repeatedly blocked this week by Premier Scott Moe's Saskatchewan Party, as New Democratic Leader Carla Beck tried to force a vote.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Scott Moe releases list of 10 changes Ottawa 'must make' to reset relationship with Sask.
Premier Scott Moe has published a letter he sent to Prime Minister Mark Carney outlining 10 policy changes the federal government "must make" in order to reset the relationship between Ottawa and Saskatchewan. Moe wrote in a Wednesday post on social media that Carney has the ability to quickly move to address the 10 items. "[That] would clearly signal a new, more positive relationship between Saskatchewan and the federal government than we have had for the past 10 years," Moe wrote, referencing the strained relationship his provincial government had with prime minister Justin Trudeau. Moe's demands include: 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 Many of the topics were raised by Moe during a press conference after last month's federal election. WATCH | Moe says at April 29 news conference he sees 'path forward' with Carney: Moe's letter was explicit in his insistence the federal government not impose the federal backstop on the industrial carbon tax. Moe's government eliminated the provincial output-based performance standards program, which taxed large industrial emitters, at the start of this month. The letter alludes to a conversation Moe and Carney had on May 1, during which the premier says he raised the 10 policy changes. Moe is the latest premier to release a wish list of projects and policies he wants to see addressed by the federal government under Carney, whose Liberals won a minority government in the April 28 federal election. Unlike his counterparts, Moe's letter does not identify a singular project he wants assistance on. For example, Ontario Premier Doug Ford highlighted a need for federal support on a tunnel under Highway 401. Moe is scheduled to hold a news conference on Thursday morning to mark the end of the spring legislative session, and it's expected he'll have more to add on his list of demands at that time. AgriStability meeting moving ahead On Wednesday, the province's Official Opposition urged Moe's Saskatchewan Party government to help farmers facing China's tariffs on canola. The NDP says the province needs to sign on to the federal AgriStability program, which is meant to protect producers against dramatic increases in costs and changing market conditions. Daryl Harrison, Saskatchewan's minister of agriculture, said those efforts are already underway. "The federal government's proposed changes to the program haven't been implemented. Once a federal ag minister has been appointed, negotiations will continue around program enhancements," Harrison said during question period. Harrison added that he has a meeting scheduled for Thursday morning with Heath MacDonald, who was named as the new federal agriculture minister on Tuesday.
Montreal Gazette
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Opinion: Western separatists should heed lessons from Quebec
By Those contemplating Western separatism should listen to Quebec separatists. In fact, everyone should. It might help us better understand why recent Western separatist rumblings out of Alberta and Saskatchewan are so ludicrous. Asked if he had any tips for Western separatists, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchett provided the following: 'The first idea is to define oneself as a nation,' Blanchett replied, after modestly admitting he hasn't had much separation success. '(A nation) requires a culture of their own. 'I am not certain oil and gas qualify to define a culture.' Similarly in Saskatchewan, potash, wheat, canola and beef are what is produced. It's not who Saskatchewanians are. So if the only arguments for Western separation are economic considerations, is it a valid cause? And shouldn't Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe be the one making that point — especially to Western separatists who seem hell-bent on taking others down this road at great costs? Of course, there's the issue as to whether Western economic grievances are as bad as they are made out to be. Suncor just recorded record quarter profit in Alberta. In Saskatchewan, farmland is more valuable than ever and keeps on increasing. And if one is inclined to believe the ceaseless flow of propaganda from the Saskatchewan and Alberta governments, we are enjoying unparalleled success in the nation and even the world. Heck, the Saskatchewan Party caucus sponsored a debate in the legislature last week over whether this province has ever enjoyed more prosperity. So why should this be put at risk? Hasn't anyone noticed what happened to the Quebec economy since the first referendum 45 years ago? This is not to suggest that none of the Western grievances are legitimate or that Western alienation is something new just conjured up. It is frustrating to be taxed on prosperity. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith makes a fine point that it's patently ridiculous to have an equalization formula subsidizing the country's biggest provincial economies — Quebec and Ontario. Moe might have been right when he said, while stumping for Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives in their recent election bid, that Ottawa seems a million miles away. There remains a long grocery list of grievances that the new federal Liberal minority government under Prime Minister Mark Carney needs to address. But grievances over Ottawa polices hardly makes Saskatchewan and Alberta distinct societies. And they are surely not grounds for separation — even if it's thought political gains are to be made by the mere threat. The problem is the political gamesmanship tied to the recent Western separation threats — threats now being aided and/or abetted by Smith and Moe to different degrees. Smith is being more proactive of the two, changing provincial legislation on referendums to make the threat of one more viable. Somewhat to his credit, Moe hasn't gone that far. But what he has (or hasn't) said is certainly aiding those pushing a potentially costly separation vote. Moe has repeatedly told the NDP Opposition in his province that this is not an either/or choice between separation and the status quo with Ottawa. He further argues it's wrong to stifle voices of discontent by changing the referendum law. But how are voices being stifled by simply shoring up this law to ensure a substantive number of signatures — say 30 per cent of eligible voters, as suggested by the NDP — are required to hold a referendum on becoming a separate country, instead of 15 per cent? What about the vast majority who don't want to deal with the instability and economic consequences that referendum talk will create? Don't they get to have a say? And why isn't the premier the first to take up this cause for a Saskatchewan in a united Canada? Isn't that the premier's job? The one to which he swore an oath? The best lesson to learn from Quebec separatists? Don't be like Quebec separatists.
