Latest news with #SaskatchewanPolitics
CBC
15-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Scott Moe releases list of 10 changes Ottawa 'must make' to reset relationship with Sask.
Social Sharing 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 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 Many of the topics were raised by Moe during a press conference after last month's federal election. 'He still cheers for the Oilers': Scott Moe sees 'path forward' with Carney 15 days ago Duration 1:57 Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe congratulated and extended an invitation to Prime Minister Mark Carney to visit the province as soon as possible. A day after the federal election, Moe expressed optimism that Parliament can work with Saskatchewan, and other provinces, to form a united front. 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.
CBC
10-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Does Premier Scott Moe see your social media comments? A party insider gives her insights
When Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe congratulated Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney on winning the most recent federal election, disgruntled comments over another Liberal win swiftly began rolling in on social media. "Time to separate." "Independence or 51st State is the only option left for us." "The anger in the west is real." Just how much attention are politicians paying to social media commentators and their viewpoints — and should that shape their policies? Moe's former chief-of-staff Shannon Andrews joined the latest episode of CBC's This Is Saskatchewan' s podcast to dig into that question and shed light on how politicians like Moe use social media as a tool themselves. The premier himself does have a small team managing his social media, according to Andrews, who now works with Upstream Strategy Group as a consultant. But she said Moe does have a lot of input over what's posted under his name. "He views all of his posts prior to them going out," she said, adding he's also attuned to great community stories and shouting out Saskatchewan successes. But if people are thinking that elected officials may see what they post in the comments section, she said they shouldn't hold their breath. "He's also very busy, as most elected folks are. They don't have time to be sitting around on any of the platforms combing through all the comments." There's also a need to take these online comments with a grain of salt, she said, noting social media is "loud," compared to conversations in the constituency office or on coffee row. "You can't always verify who the source is, who it is that is making the post. And so in that respect, you have to kind of balance it off.… Sometimes you don't even know if they're coming from a person who lives in the province." Some people, including the Official Opposition, have said the premier should speak out loudly against western separatist sentiments. Regina Leader-Post political columnist Murray Mandryk said on This is Saskatchewan's Political Panel that entertaining this kind of sentiment does nothing to grow Moe's voter base. "He needs to build support in that middle area, urban Saskatchewan," Mandryk said, adding that he feels Moe has been too cagey in scrums when asked about separatist fervour. "His inability just to simply say, 'Yeah, I condemn those trying to break up my country,' that's an easy thing for a premier to say. He wouldn't say it." So why isn't Moe more forceful in his comments? For Andrews, it's a matter of recognizing the level of anger there is in Western Canada over the federal government's handling of provincial jurisdiction and resource-driven economies. "I think that sometimes the word separation gets chucked into this discussion and I don't want to see it downplay the real concerns and frustration that Western Canadians have," she said. "They want to be a part of Canada, but they need to feel valued to feel that they're a part of Canada." Andrews said she believes Moe's measured tone over the election of Prime Minister Mark Carney is genuine. "As much as this might be hard to believe after this past decade — and to be sure, there were many, many difficult moments with the Liberal government and with former prime minister [Justin] Trudeau — I think he's sincere in this effort," she said. At the same time, Andrews said people can expect Moe to continue his pattern of speaking out against federal government actions that hurt Saskatchewan interests. Social media might be an easy way for voters to express their anger or kudos for politicians, but Andrews said that at the end of the day, a good old-fashioned phone call, email or visit to an MLA's office is the best way to connect with them.
CTV News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Saskatchewan NDP to introduce anti-separation bill that aims to amend rules
NDP Leader Carla Beck and Sask Party Leader Scott Moe speaking to reporters after the leaders debate on Oct. 16, 2024. (David Prisciak/CTV News)
