James Thorsteinson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure today to rise and introduce a number of guests sitting in the west gallery, to you and through you to all members of the Legislative Assembly.

First I would like to introduce a couple of constituents. Mike and Jackie Gallon have joined us here today. They were able to take in the budget yesterday. This is Mike’s first trip to the legislature. He’s been enjoying it thoroughly. Mike works for CNRL [Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.] in the oil field near home. And he is joined by his wife, Jackie. I’ve mentioned Jackie before. She is my CA [constituency assistant] and works very diligently keeping me on task and working well for the constituents of Cut Knife-Turtleford. And I ask all members to welcome them to their Legislative Assembly.

And while I’m on my feet, Mr. Speaker, I would also like to welcome 33 grade 9 students from Maidstone High School, which is in my hometown. These students travelled five hours down here to be here today. And that’s quite a journey, and I thank them for coming. I’m looking forward to some interesting discussion following question period, some hard-hitting questions I’m sure.

I would also like to welcome their teachers Natasha Wicks and Brad Lejeune. And I apologize if I get the pronouncing of some of these names wrong. Some of them I know quite well. The parent chaperones Justin Johner, Kelly McBinery, Leanne Doud, Rhonda Cammidge, Kristin Shantz, Jayne Hutchison, and Nichole Blyth. Please help me welcome these members to their Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatchewan Rivers.

Hon. Eric Schmalz: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I have the honour of introducing a couple of guests, to you and through you, very important people to the people of Saskatchewan Rivers and the people of Rosthern-Shellbrook. They are the constituency assistants for both those constituencies. For Rosthern-Shellbrook, we have Ms. Sally Jacobson, who is no stranger to this House. And my constituency assistant, Ms. Kristina Ross, recently moved to the area from British Columbia along with her husband, who was my high school best friend. So welcome them back.

In addition to their daily duties, the heavy burden and workload that is taken on by our constituency assistants — I’m sure many of the members around this Chamber would agree — these two individuals have told me that one of them has the additional task of dealing with a very high-maintenance and demanding MLA [Member of the Legislative Assembly], but they wouldn’t tell me which one. So, Mr. Speaker, I would ask all members to help me welcoming them to their Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from White City-Qu’Appelle.

Brad Crassweller: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, I’d like to welcome 24 grade 11 and 12 students from Greenall High School in my constituency, accompanied by their teacher, Ms. Marley. So welcome here. I also want to give a quick little shout-out here to Payton Lockie. Shelby works in the building here, and so a special welcome to Payton. Thank you, Payton.

I want to thank Ms. Marley who brings a class every year. And I’ve been to her class for a panel discussion, and we’re going to be getting together with this group later on, but a phenomenal teacher investing in our leaders of tomorrow. And so please join me in welcoming this grade 11/12 class to their Legislative Assembly with their teacher Ms. Marley. Thank you for coming.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Wood River.

Hon. David Marit: — Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, I also would like to introduce my constituency assistant. Sandy Ellert is here along with her colleagues. She’s been my constituency assistant since I was first elected in 2016, and prior to that she was Yogi’s constituency assistant as well. But the duties of a constituency assistant for some of us MLAs that are not home that often, obviously handling a lot of cases. So I want everyone in the Assembly to please welcome Sandy to her Legislative Assembly. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, I think I see a gentleman that has just entered the Assembly. And I would like to say, to you and through you, introduce the 23rd premier of Manitoba to the Assembly here today, Mr. Kelvin Goertzen.

Mr. Speaker, I got to know Kelvin as he served as a premier, starting in 2021 on our Council of the Federation calls. You know, and we all know what we were doing and what we were discussing on the Council of the Federation calls in 2021, during a very trying time for our provinces, our nation and, I think, the world at that point in time.

I wanted to thank Kelvin very publicly for his service as an MLA since 2003 for the constituency of Steinbach, Manitoba. But also thank him for his service all throughout the various positions that he has served in, but most particularly his service as the premier of Manitoba during a very trying time and the leadership that he provided for his party, for his province, and for the people in Manitoba.

I would also, as he’s in Saskatchewan, ask him to change his allegiance from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Mr. Speaker, more seriously, to all members of this Assembly, I’d like to thank and welcome the 23rd premier of Manitoba, through you to all members, and welcome him to the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Leader of the Opposition.

Carla Beck: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to join with the Premier in welcoming former premier Goertzen to the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly, and also thank you for your service to the people of Manitoba at what was an incredibly difficult time. These difficult times call for leadership, and I know it’s often taxing on those who lead. Sincerely, on behalf of the official opposition I would like to again thank you for your service and welcome you to this Legislative Assembly.

We’ll see if we’re persuasive in getting him to wear a Riders jersey to the Labour Day game. But we can talk about that later. I invite all members to join me in welcoming Premier Goertzen.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Carrot River Valley.

Terri Bromm: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to today recognize, sitting beside here behind us, Fred Bradshaw, who is no stranger to this Assembly. So for those of you who don’t know Fred, he was my predecessor, a long-term serving member of this Legislative Assembly from Carrot River Valley, great, great constituency of Carrot River Valley.

And Terry’s a minister . . . Sorry, he’s asking me to acknowledge, I think, his baking and cooking skills, which we are very happy to be sharing in today as well. So please, thank you again, Fred, for all of your hard work and your commitment, and welcome.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Mount Royal.

Trent Wotherspoon: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my real pleasure to welcome Fred Bradshaw to his Assembly: a good friend in this legislature; a great community leader; a good, strong MLA for many years; somebody who always brought a level of humanity and humour to this legislature as well; someone that brought the best brownies and butter tarts and even some sausage over the years, even to the opposition, Mr. Speaker. This is a very fine individual. Also a fellow hunter and fisher, he says, although I’ve never heard anyone from his riding ever claim that he’s ever caught anything or hit anything, Mr. Speaker. But it’s a real honour to welcome my good friend Fred Bradshaw to his Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from White City-Qu’Appelle.

Brad Crassweller: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, I’d also like to introduce to you in our west gallery here my constituency assistant, Nicole Entner-McCullough, who does a fantastic job in our constituency office. She’s in her 18th year as an assistant. And she’s just a phenomenal lady, phenomenal person, phenomenal community person. And so, Nicole, I welcome you and we welcome you to your Legislative Assembly. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Westview.

April ChiefCalf: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, I would like to introduce my constituency assistant, Zachary Nelson. I promised him I wouldn’t do this today, but here we go. And I just want to welcome him to the Legislative Assembly today and to thank him for all the work that he does to assist the residents of Saskatoon Westview and me as well. Welcome.

PRESENTING PETITIONS

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Lumsden-Morse.

Blaine McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We, the undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan, wish to bring to your attention the following: that the province of Saskatchewan exported over 4.3 billion in goods to China in 2024; nearly 1 billion of these exports are in canola products; further, that the devastating 100 per cent tariff on Canadian-produced canola, pork, and peas by China will have a disproportionate effect on Saskatchewan producers and the province’s economy. These new tariffs are anticipated to begin on March 20th.

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request that the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan take the following action: that the Government of Canada take immediate action to remove the harmful tariffs on canola, pork, and peas that are disproportionately affecting the producers and farmers of the province of Saskatchewan; that the federal government immediately engage in meaningful dialogue with representatives of the Chinese government to eliminate tariffs that harm Saskatchewan producers.

The below undersigned are residents of Borden, Regina, and Canora. I do so present.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Coronation Park.

Noor Burki: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We, the undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan, wish to bring to your attention the following: that Saskatchewan has the highest suicide rate among the other provinces; that Indigenous people die by suicide at the rate of four times higher than non-Indigenous people in Saskatchewan; that Saskatchewan continues to break its own records in overdose deaths, with 484 suspected or confirmed overdose deaths in 2023; that one in four youth in Saskatchewan have reported having engaged in self-harm at some point; that one in four youth reported to have considered suicide in the past year, with 9.7 per cent having attempted; and that the child and youth advocate in her 2022 reports noted that long wait times and insufficient mental health and addictions services are leaving many children and youth without access to the care when they need it.

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan to call on the Government of Saskatchewan to work with experts and community leaders on evidence-based solutions to the mental health and addictions crisis in Saskatchewan.

The signatories of this petition reside in Hudson Bay, Marcelin, and Prince Albert. I do so present.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Silverspring.

[10:15]

Hugh Gordon: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We, the undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan, wish to bring to your attention the following: that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action from 2015 included Call no. 80, which called upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish as a statutory holiday a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure the public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.

That Bill C‑5, the legislation to establish the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, received Royal Assent on June 3rd 2021, making the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation an official federal statutory holiday, first marked on September 30th of 2021; that most workers of Saskatchewan, unless they work for the federal government or in select few workplaces that recognize the importance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation do not get any time off on September 30th or special wage rates when required to work on that day; that the people and institutions of Saskatchewan still have significant work ahead in the journey toward reconciliation.

We, in a prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to make September 30th a public statutory holiday in Saskatchewan in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The signatories of the petition, Mr. Speaker, are from Saskatoon. I do so submit.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon University-Sutherland.

Tajinder Grewal: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to present a petition to protect Saskatchewan’s water supply.

We, the undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan, wish to bring to your attention the following: that water is essential for human health, recreation, health of our ecosystems, and our economy; that research from the University of Regina shows that water quality of Saskatchewan’s lakes is getting worse; that the Provincial Auditor has pointed out that Saskatchewan’s lack of a wetland policy negatively affects water quality and that significant work remains to better regulate drainage; and the provincial government needs to take an active role in opposing policies that have downstream impacts on Saskatchewan rivers and deltas.

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request that the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan actively protect Saskatchewan waters from current and future threats to our valuable water supply.

The petition has been signed by people from Saskatoon. I do so present.

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Carrot River Valley.

Celebrating Social Work Week

Terri Bromm: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This week, March 17th to 22nd, is Social Work Week in Saskatchewan. This year’s theme is Social Work is Everywhere. Mr. Speaker, social workers play an important role in supporting and enhancing the well-being of individuals and communities.

There are over 3,000 registered social workers in our province. These dedicated individuals work across multiple sectors, including health care, education, justice, child welfare, disability services, community-based organizations, and private practice. Their work addresses complex social issues such as mental health challenges, family crises, and community development.

Mr. Speaker, our government thanks and recognizes social workers providing crucial programs and services to help their clients overcome complex challenges. These vital supports assist individuals and families during some of the most difficult times in their lives.

I also want to take a moment to recognize and thank the Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers for promoting and governing the profession of social work in this province. Social work is a rewarding but challenging profession. Please join me in celebrating Social Work Week and thanking all social workers for the important work they do. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Coronation Park.

Coming Together to Observe Ramadan

Noor Burki: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a Muslim MLA from Regina Coronation Park, where we have a growing Muslim community, I’m so proud to rise to recognize the holy month of Ramadan.

Every Ramadan, Muslims around the world fast from sunrise to sunset. It is to honour God, to practise self-discipline, and reflect on many blessings that we have in our lives, like food, shelter, and water — blessings we should all be grateful for. Ramadan reminds us of important values like generosity, kindness, unity, and respecting others. It’s a chance for all of us to come together, no matter where we come from.

Mr. Speaker, I’m honoured to represent such a strong, compassionate, and generous community. I would like to extend blessings and sincere wishes of health and happiness to all those who celebrate, and I thank the Muslim community for all the hard work they do to make Saskatchewan a vibrant and welcoming place.

I invite all members to join me and recognize the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan Mubarak. Ramadan Kareem.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Kelvington-Wadena.

Canadian Agricultural Safety Week

Chris Beaudry: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize March 16th to 22nd as Canadian Agricultural Safety Week. This week serves as an important reminder of the critical need for safety in agriculture and our shared responsibility to protect those who work to help feed the world. Agriculture is essential to our economy and a way of life for many in this province, but it comes with risks, from working long hours on heavy machinery to handling large livestock.

Mr. Speaker, farm safety isn’t just a priority for this week. It’s a commitment we must uphold every day. By investing in proper protective equipment and mental health supports, we can help prevent injuries and save lives.

The Government of Saskatchewan proudly supports Canadian Agricultural Safety Week. We’re proud to wear Agricultural Safety Week ribbons to demonstrate support for producers and raise awareness among the general public.

I’d like to thank the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association for their dedication to this cause. Their work plays a key role in protecting producers and agriculture workers across Canada.

To our producers, your safety matters on and off the farm. Thank you for your hard work. Let’s continue working to make agriculture safer for everyone, not just this week but every day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Wascana Plains.

Constituents Mirror Canada’s Diverse Makeup

Brent Blakley: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During this time I would like to highlight the constituency that I represent in this Legislative Assembly, the constituency of Regina Wascana Plains and the people that live there. I would like to acknowledge these folks for their attention before and during the recent election. I thank them for their involvement, engagement, input, and support in the campaign.

There’s just a little fact about Regina Wascana Plains. And I’m sure the members opposite have probably read this in our newsletter, The Commonwealth, the fact that street names in Wascana Plains, 77 street names begin with either “Wascana” or “Green,” which was so much fun around door-knocking time — 39 Green and 38 Wascana.

The folks from Wascana Plains come from many different cultural and religious backgrounds, which mirrors Canada’s rich and diverse makeup. They help keep this city and province running. New Canadians have come to Wascana Plains from the Philippines, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Central and South America, and the African continent, just to name a few. The citizens here are young professionals, those that work in the trades, health care workers, and educators. They work in the retail and service industry, and all of them contribute to the fabric of this constituency and this province.

I’m here today on a promise, a promise to represent and advocate for all people of Regina Wascana Plains and all people of Saskatchewan to the best of my effort and ability. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Moose Jaw Wakamow.

Positive Impacts of Aircrew Training Program

Megan Patterson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am thrilled to highlight a program that will have an enormous impact on the city of Moose Jaw. The future aircrew training program, also known as FAcT, was awarded to SkyAlyne Canada in May 2024. This 25‑year, $11.2 billion contract will modernize the Royal Canadian Air Force in a significant way. This investment is part of the largest investment made in our Royal Canadian Air Force since the Second World War.

This contract will include aircraft, simulator, and classroom training. It will also include aircraft, airfield maintenance, accommodations, and food services. Over the next 25 years the FAcT program is expected to create about 3,400 jobs nationally and contribute over $400 million to Canada’s GDP [gross domestic product]. This training for pilots, air combat officers, and sensor operators will be conducted at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, Portage la Prairie, and at 17 Wing. 15 Wing Moose Jaw is expected to benefit from about 4 billion in contract spending, just over one-third of the total contract.

As a point of pride at this point I want to mention that our current city manager, Maryse Carmichael, was the first woman to join the Snowbirds and then became the first commander of the Snowbirds that was female. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Elphinstone-Centre.

Health Care for Rural Residents

Meara Conway: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’ll be reading a statement in from a concerned paramedic working in Shellbrook.

The ongoing service disruptions at the Parkland Integrated Health Centre in the Premier’s constituency of Shellbrook are jeopardizing patient care, delaying emergency medical services, and pushing health care workers beyond their limits. PIHC [Parkland Integrated Health Centre] frequently closes its emergency room due to short staff, forcing patients to travel nearly 50 kilometres to Victoria Hospital in P.A. [Prince Albert]. Minimal notice, often just a sign on the door, leaves families unaware until they arrive in crisis. The extra distance drains emergency services, delays critical care, and overwhelms already burdened health care facilities.

The impact of these disruptions at PIHC extends far beyond Shellbrook, Mr. Speaker, affecting rural communities that rely on it as their primary health care facility. All rural residents deserve reliable health care, not temporary fixes or empty promises. Contract nurses provide only short-term relief, and they contribute to low morale overall. Long-term solutions must prioritize training, education, and incentives to bring more health care professionals into the system. Action is needed now before things get worse.

Health care promises should not be limited to election years or made only when seeking votes only to be forgotten afterwards. Commitments to change must be genuine, implemented with accountability, and lead to measurable improvements in our health care system. Sadly, Mr. Speaker, this budget will leave rural communities feeling further taken for granted by members opposite and, in particular, the Premier.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Cut Knife-Turtleford.

Statements by the Official Opposition

James Thorsteinson: — Mr. Speaker, former Ag minister and our friend, Bob Bjornerud, once famously said, you can say anything in opposition. The NDP [New Democratic Party] opposition is taking that statement to heart.

They now say they want pipelines built. They voted against Northern Gateway and Keystone XL pipelines. They now say they’re against the carbon tax. They stood in this Chamber and voted for it, and called our court challenge on that tax a pointless crusade. They now say we should improve highway infrastructure to help get our exports to market. They were and still are against the improvements we made for commercial truck traffic to navigate in and around Regina and make access to Highway 1 easier.

They now say we should engage internationally to expand our export markets. Their 2024 campaign platform promised to close our international trade offices. They criticized our international trade travel and they filibustered five hours on a vote to support free trade through the Trans-Pacific Partnership. They voted against support for CETA [Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement], a trade agreement between Canada and the EU [European Union].

On this side of the House we don’t need the threat of President Trump’s trade war to act on all of these things. Our priorities have been clear and consistent for 18 years, unlike the NDP who changed their mind 18 days ago. Bob was right — you can say anything in opposition.

QUESTION PERIOD

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Leader of the Opposition.

Canadian Sovereignty and Management of Provincial Economy

Carla Beck: — Mr. Speaker, yesterday, in front of full galleries in this Assembly here to see the provincial budget introduced, the Premier refused to condemn the repeated comments by Donald Trump about making Canada the 51st state. Mr. Speaker, this is simply table stakes at this time of crisis.

[10:30]

Why wouldn’t the Premier condemn these attacks on our sovereignty, and why won’t he stand up to Donald Trump?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I was fairly certain we were in the same room yesterday, a filled Legislative Assembly where what I saw was a government introduce a balanced budget on behalf of the people of this province, a budget that . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Order.

Hon. Scott Moe: — A budget that delivered on behalf of Saskatchewan people when it comes to ensuring our province remains the most affordable province in Canada, delivered with respect to health care, delivered with respect to education, and ensuring our communities are safe, Mr. Speaker. With respect to . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Okay, I’m just going to make a comment in the beginning that we will have order. We have our students here. Welcome here again. We recognized you in the beginning, and we’re going to recognize them that they’re here. And we’re going to have decorum in this place, and we’re going to ask questions, give answers, and we’re going to listen. Thanks.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Mr. Speaker, a balanced budget puts our province in a very unique position in Canada, a position, I would say, of strength with dealing and providing stability for Saskatchewan residents as we face very unstable times, yes, by our largest trading partner with the comments that are coming about Canada being a 51st state. Canada will never be a 51st state, Mr. Speaker.

And to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question, Mr. Speaker, any comments in that realm are not only condemned by me, the majority if not all of Canadians, and many, many Americans as well, Mr. Speaker, as we understand and value the trade relationship that we have in North America, the role that we play in Saskatchewan in providing food and energy security for not only North Americans but for many other countries around the world.

And so what I saw yesterday on the floor of this Assembly was a Finance minister, Deputy Premier, rise to his feet and deliver a balanced budget on behalf of the people of this province, putting us in a very unique position of strength in this nation.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Leader of the Opposition.

Carla Beck: — Mr. Speaker, we are certainly in a unique position in this province. We have a premier who was the last out of the gates, the last out of the gates to respond to the tariffs, that had the weakest language to respond to these tariffs. And now it took him two days to even condemn Donald Trump’s comments about making us the 51st state. Mr. Speaker, it blows my mind.

The weak and meek response of that Premier is simply disappointing, to say the least, to people across this province. Now later this morning, I’m going to present a motion in this Assembly, and the Premier will have another chance to stand with us, united against these senseless and unprovoked attacks against our sovereignty.

Will he stand up for Saskatchewan and for Canada, or will he shut that motion down later today?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Mr. Speaker, what we see here today is the Leader of the Opposition standing up, complaining about the words of another national leader, Mr. Speaker, of which I previously condemned as many other Canadians do, by using words.

What Canadians and I would say Saskatchewan families are looking for are not words, not rhetoric. They’re looking for a plan, Mr. Speaker. They’re looking for a plan, a plan that I would say has been in place since November the 7th, 2007 in the province of Saskatchewan. A plan . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Order.

Hon. Scott Moe: — A plan, Mr. Speaker, to continue to engage on behalf of the industries that are creating wealth for Saskatchewan families and communities across this province. A plan, Mr. Speaker, to support vital infrastructure projects and the operation of those infrastructure projects, whether it be new pipelines, whether it be rail, whether it be our port infrastructure, Mr. Speaker.

A plan to align, more recently, with other provinces on countermeasures in each of our provinces, which you do see aligned across the nation of Canada, Mr. Speaker, to address the very real threat that is coming with not only USA [United States of America] tariffs, but counter-tariffs from our federal government and Chinese tariffs on canola.

We are in very unprecedented times. Thank goodness we are in the province of Saskatchewan where we are provided the stability of a balanced budget, the strength that that budget puts us in, Mr. Speaker, to provide all that Saskatchewan people have asked for and ensure we are in a strong position when it comes to dealing with the tariffs that are being imposed by three different entities as we speak here today.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Leader of the Opposition.

Provincial Budget and Management of Provincial Economy

Carla Beck: — Mr. Speaker, once again, once again our Premier is a day late and more than a dollar short. This should not be hard, Mr. Speaker, to condemn these attacks on our province and on our country. It should be easy to do.

But planning for tariffs is a different story. That’s why yesterday’s budget failed to focus on the future, failed to respond to the realities that Saskatchewan people, that this country are facing today. The Sask Party budget contains nothing to protect Saskatchewan people and industry from tariffs. There’s no contingency, no plan to respond to the damage that these tariffs will do to people in this province.

Why is the Premier leaving Saskatchewan people completely on their own in the face of this enormous threat?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Mr. Speaker, just to go back to the previous question, we are going to have the opportunity to debate Saskatchewan’s tariff plan today, our plan for Saskatchewan people — not just words — our plan and putting that plan into action. I would say much of that plan has been in action since 2007.

And we will have the opportunity to stand together and make a very real statement from this province, Mr. Speaker — to the world, to North Americans, and to our federal government as well — on the position of strength that Saskatchewan is coming from in this conversation that is so very serious for Saskatchewan people in communities across the province.

As I said, over the last 18 years this has been this government that has supported those vital infrastructure projects, Mr. Speaker. It’s that opposition that has voted against them, those very pipeline projects, on the floor of this Assembly, whether it be Northern Gateway, whether it be Keystone XL, Mr. Speaker. It’s this . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Order. I’m noticing a few voices over the rest, and I think you know who you are. Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Mr. Speaker, it has been this government that has invested in those trade relationships around the world through our missions that the former premier, myself, multiple ministers of Trade and Export, and ministers of Agriculture and Energy have taken. It’s the trade offices that we have opened to enhance our opportunities, to ensure we have that market share, to gain new market share, and we now have nine markets with over a billion dollars of exports.

It’s that opposition, Mr. Speaker, that has at every opportunity criticized that investment and said it’s not necessary, asked us to make those Zoom calls from our basement. Eighteen years we have been focused very much on ensuring that Saskatchewan’s economy is in a place of strength. And it is today. Tripling our export value wouldn’t have happened under the members opposite, Mr. Speaker. It took the election of President Trump for them to change their values in the last 18 days.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Mount Royal.

Trent Wotherspoon: — What a weak response from a leader that’s been weak in front of these threats, who’s been missing in action, and who’s failing Saskatchewan people. And that’s on full display with this budget.

Speaker Goudy: — You can call a response “weak,” but not the person “weak.” Thank you.

Trent Wotherspoon: — Weak response. A failed budget. It doesn’t focus on the future. It’s not even based in reality. This budget has no plan for our economy and pretends like the last three months and the threats haven’t even happened. No measures to protect workers, ag producers, industries, our economy, with respect to the tariffs.

How can that Sask Party government be so reckless, bringing forward a budget with nothing at all to protect Saskatchewan from these threats?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Jim Reiter: — Mr. Speaker, that just simply isn’t the case. Mr. Speaker, the member opposite criticizes, says there should be a contingency in the budget like some of the other provinces, which are just simply putting a contingency in. That increases the amount of their deficit.

We’re fighting this from a position of strength. We’re in a strong fiscal position, Mr. Speaker, so that we can weather any potential long-term tariffs, which are ridiculous. We should be a free market country, a free market continent, Mr. Speaker. It’s good for Saskatchewan; it’s good for Canada. Good for the United States and Mexico as well.

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite was criticizing the Premier, talking about his response. This is the leader who led trade missions around the world to expand our markets, which the members opposite criticized. This is the leader — the Premier — who opened trade offices in our major trading networks and expanded trade around the province from $17 million a few years ago to 45 million, Mr. Speaker. That member should apologize.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Mount Royal.

Trent Wotherspoon: — Clearly we need to expand trade in a much more significant way, and we have to build the transport infrastructure — rail and port capacity and pipeline capacity to get there — another area this government has failed. But this budget, you know, it fails the moment and the challenges we face.

Other provincial governments have stepped up on this front with their budgets, Mr. Speaker. BC [British Columbia], Alberta, Nova Scotia, you know, they all have contingency funds to deal with this challenge. Nothing from this government, just a couple pages in there basically to say that they have no plan. And they don’t even incorporate the impacts, the fiscal and economic impacts of the tariffs, into the budget.

Mr. Speaker, as a result, this budget’s like the greatest work of fiction. How does the Finance minister expect Saskatchewan people to believe his budget when it’s so completely out of touch with reality?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Jim Reiter: — Mr. Speaker, I have already addressed on the contingency side, the best way to prepare for that is to be in a sound fiscal position, so we can meet it with a position of strength. And that’s exactly what we’re doing.

The member opposite’s comments about infrastructure, though, Mr. Speaker, if it wasn’t so sad, it would be amusing. They were opposed to pipelines. They were opposed to trade offices. They were opposed to the Premier’s trade missions, which is all in Hansard. It’s on public record. Now suddenly in the last 18 days, they’ve discovered the importance of having other markets around the world. They’ve discovered the importance of pipelines, Mr. Speaker. Well welcome aboard, folks, but it’s a long time coming.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Mount Royal.

Trent Wotherspoon: — Mr. Speaker, he wants to talk about our fiscal position, from the government that quadrupled our province’s debt. You know, that Finance minister had a real opportunity with his first budget in this important role at this critical time, a real opportunity to show some leadership and offer some reassurances to the people of this province, to the producers of this province. But he failed.

Now is not the time to just close your eyes and cross your fingers and hope for the best. It’s time for action to protect Saskatchewan people and our economy. How is it that that Finance minister has failed so miserably in bringing forward a budget that has failed to step up and protect the economic interests, the jobs, and the producers and the industries in this province?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Jim Reiter: — Mr. Speaker, the Finance critic covered a wide range of issues in that question. I’ll cover the ones that come to mind. First and foremost, the protecting people — the best way to do that is on affordability measures. There’s a lot of affordability measures in this budget, new and also the ones existing. Two billion in every budget over the last number of years, Mr. Speaker.

The one that comes to mind most frequently, Mr. Speaker, is income tax cuts. That’s what helps the people of this province. It lets them keep more of their money in their pockets to spend in the areas that they think are most important. That’s what’s important to the people of this province, plus the attention to health care and education and safety, Mr. Speaker.

The member was talking about debt. On debt, Mr. Speaker, that’s for capital costs. That’s for hospitals and schools, Mr. Speaker, because we have to serve a bigger population. Just announced yesterday by Stats Canada — one and a quarter million people. Never would have happened under the NDP.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

Funding for Health Care

Vicki Mowat: — Mr. Speaker, health care in Saskatchewan is dead last. People are facing the longest waits in ERs [emergency room] and surgeries, and women are being sent out of province to get the care they need. That’s if they can afford it. Emergency rooms close without warning. Front-line workers are burnt-out. I could go on.

[10:45]

And yet on page 27 of the Sask Party government’s bogus budget, it’s very clear that health care is being cut. 8.022 billion was spent last year. 8.004 billion is being spent this year. Can the Minister of Health rise in this House and tell people of Saskatchewan how he can justify cutting health care even further?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Mr. Speaker, the member opposite will note that the budgeted number that we presented yesterday in the provincial budget is higher than last year’s budgeted number. Last year’s actual . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Order.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Last year’s actual forecast recognized utilization pressures that we saw within the health care system, Mr. Speaker, because we know how important it is to provide care to Saskatchewan people when and where they need it.

For the opposition to say that what we’re seeing is a cut in health care, Mr. Speaker, tell that to the 10,000 families that will now have their continuous glucose monitors covered for those living with diabetes. Tell that to the 12 families in Meadow Lake who will now have access to more dialysis services in Meadow Lake. Tell that to the 12 families in Fort Qu’Appelle who will have access to more dialysis services, Mr. Speaker.

What we’re seeing in this year’s budget, Mr. Speaker, for health care is not a cut. It is an expansion of services to give care to Saskatchewan people when and where they need it.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Fairview.

Vicki Mowat: — It would appear that the Minister of Health doesn’t understand his own budget, Mr. Speaker. It’s basic math — $17.1 million less this year than last year.

Saskatchewan Union of Nurses president, Tracy Zambory, called the budget profoundly disappointing. She added that there is nothing in this budget to make nurses want to stay here in Saskatchewan where we so desperately need them.

Did the minister sleep through his budget deliberations, or does he simply not care about Saskatchewan’s front-line health care workers?

Speaker Goudy: — I appreciate good questions, but let’s be careful on casting aspersions. Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, I would note when it comes to supporting front-line health care workers in this province, part of the actual spend in the previous fiscal year was really around one-time payments on back pay for contracts to health care workers in this province, recognizing their importance in our system and making sure that we continue to be an attractive place to practise here in Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to enhancing opportunities for front-line health care workers, and especially nurses in particular, I would note in the budget presented yesterday, enhancing 65 nursing positions in 30 rural communities to ensure that folks in our province whether they live in a small city or a large city, Mr. Speaker, that there are nursing positions in their community so that they can have care close to home.

I would draw attention to the 27 nurse practitioner positions newly funded in this budget, Mr. Speaker, to ensure that your family, my family, other families in this province have access to a primary care provider.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Centre.

Overdose Deaths and Treatment for Addictions

Betty Nippi-Albright: — Mr. Speaker, Saskatoon is in a drug overdose crisis. The fire department reports 19 overdoses a day, nearly 400 this month alone. And those are just the overdoses we know about. I know there are so many more that go unreported.

Earlier this month, Mr. Speaker, I attended three funerals for young people under 20 years old who died of drug overdose. They had their whole life ahead of them.

To the minister: how many more of our young people, our future, will die before you take responsibility and do something about it?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Remote and Rural Health.

Hon. Lori Carr: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, every loss of life due to overdose is a tragedy, and I extend my condolences to all of those who have felt the impact of overdoses, drug toxicity, and addictions. It is important to remember that no illicit drugs are safe, and there is no safe . . . of illicit drugs, Mr. Speaker.

We are very concerned about the recent increase of overdoses in Saskatoon and area and the impact that it is having on individuals, families, and the community at large, Mr. Speaker. We’ve been engaging with Mayor Block in the city of Saskatoon. Most recently the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, the Ministry of Health, the city of Saskatoon’s emergency management organization office have been meeting to discuss measures to address the significant increase in overdoses over the past few weeks and the impacts that it’s having on police, ambulance, and the health in Saskatoon. As a result of these discussions, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency has activated a provincial emergency operations centre. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Centre.

Betty Nippi-Albright: — Mr. Speaker, this government is choosing to fund virtual treatment, which we know does not work. I’m a recovering alcoholic and a former addictions counsellor, so I know that doesn’t work. How is Zoom going to help somebody recover from drug addiction? Nothing in this budget addresses that.

How many people are going to have to die? How many? So many more will die because this government won’t act. Will the minister stand and tell the families who have lost loved ones that died from drug overdose why she continues to fail so badly in her job?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.

Hon. Lori Carr: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I do thank the member opposite for the question, Mr. Speaker. And as I said in my previous answer, every loss of life from an overdose is a tragedy.

Mr. Speaker, we as a government have been moving to something called a recovery-oriented system of care. It is a program that takes that individual, embraces them in a treatment centre, and will work with them, whether that be 28 days, 60 days, 90 days — whatever it takes for that individual, Mr. Speaker.

And then they have the opportunity to move into sober living, where they will be wrapped around with supports, with the whole goal of having them get back into their communities. Because what we want to see for our families are these individuals living healthy, safe lives back in their communities. It’s all about the individual and the families that they’re going to return to and live in those communities as healthy individuals, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Eastview.

Funding for Education

Matt Love: — Mr. Speaker, this budget cuts money from health care, this budget cuts money from mental health, and this budget cuts from education. It’s right there in black and white. There’s less money for education in this year’s budget compared to what was spent last year. The Sask Party government simply is not focused on the future.

Does the minister really believe that cuts are the solution to the crisis that his government created in our classrooms?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Education.

Hon. Everett Hindley: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And to correct the member opposite, there has not been a cut. There is a continued investment into education — more support for classrooms, more support for teachers and educational assistants and other professionals in the education sector, and most importantly more support for our students.

This education budget builds on last year’s record increase of 8.8 per cent, Mr. Speaker, for school divisions with an increase of $186.4 million, which is another 8.4 per cent over the previous record budget in education. This budget delivers on our Throne Speech commitment to add more specialized support classrooms, Mr. Speaker, by adding the first 50 of the 200 that we’re going to be doing over the next four years.

And, Mr. Speaker, there is funding attached to improving K to 3 [kindergarten to grade 3] literacy, which is going to be so important to help support the teachers to make sure that students in our classrooms right across Saskatchewan have every opportunity to succeed in class right from day one and all the way through K [kindergarten] to career. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Westview.

Social Housing Units

April ChiefCalf: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this budget does nothing to support our kids and nothing to support the most vulnerable people in our communities. We are in a homelessness and housing crisis in this province. Rent prices have skyrocketed in Saskatoon, up 10 per cent just this last year. And with 2,500 vacant Sask Housing units across this province, this government wants to pat itself on the back for planning to repair only 285 of those.

Mr. Speaker, how can this government continue to ignore this housing crisis which is so visible in our communities?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Social Services.

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When it comes to affordable homes and social housing, this government takes that issue very seriously. In this budget we have committed additional dollars for renovations and repairs to homes in Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert, and other centres around the province. There are 285 going to be started very shortly. That is going to add to the inventory that we have available.

Vacancy rates in Regina have actually decreased over the last few months, and that’s something that tells us that we’re doing the right thing when it comes to housing, and ensuring that we’re giving people every opportunity to obtain safe and permanent housing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — Why is the member on her feet? Oh, sorry. I guess I need to say something before you stand. She’s keeping me on my toes, right?

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Energy and Resources.

Saskatchewan Joins Governors Coalition for Energy Security

Hon. Colleen Young: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today, the province of Saskatchewan officially joined the Governors Coalition for Energy Security. We are now the second province and the 14th government to have joined this new organization.

The Governors Coalition for Energy Security was formed to help tackle the high costs of energy and its impact on citizens. Initially it was an American-focused group but has now expanded to include Saskatchewan and Alberta. Currently the United States members of the coalition are the governors of Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Indiana, Wyoming, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Virginia, South Dakota, and New Hampshire. This participation demonstrates the importance energy security plays in the lives of Americans and Canadians every day.

Mr. Speaker, Saskatchewan exports 21 million cubic metres of oil to the United States every year. About 1 in 20 homes in the United States are powered by electricity produced by Saskatchewan uranium. We have 27 of the world’s 34 critical minerals. Ninety per cent of the potash that the United States imports is from Saskatchewan. All these transactions and more are essential for North American energy security and affordability for all of our citizens.

Our province is and will continue to be one of the most attractive jurisdictions for oil and mining investment, thanks to our stable regulatory environment and commitment to sustainable resource development.

Mr. Speaker, as we all know, Saskatchewan has a great story to tell, and the Premier and this government have been doing just that. Over the last number of months, our government has met with hundreds of trade partners, industry representatives, and labour groups in Canada and the United States. The Premier has met with governors, senators, representatives, secretaries, and officials from the United States government, making the case that North American energy security is achievable when we have free and fair trade.

Today’s announcement of joining the Governors Coalition for Energy Security demonstrates that politicians on both sides of the 49th parallel care about reliable, affordable energy security for all their citizens. Mr. Speaker, Saskatchewan has what the world needs and we play an important role in the quest for North American energy security, which is something that is impossible without a strong relationship with our biggest trading partner. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina University.

Sally Housser: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I’d like to thank the minister and her staff for providing an advance copy of that statement prior to the sitting.

I agree wholeheartedly with the minister on the importance of energy security on both sides of the border. Our world-class resources, not only in oil and gas and potash and uranium, but increasingly in critical minerals, are so key to Saskatchewan’s energy future and our economic sovereignty.

Many governors from our key state trading partners have shown leadership and friendship in the face of chaos and aggression at the federal level, so we absolutely welcome this and any effort that increases stability and security for our energy sector during these challenging times. Thank you.

[11:00]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Leader of the Opposition.

Carla Beck: — Mr. Speaker, prior to orders of the day, I seek leave to move a motion under rule 61.

Speaker Goudy: — Will the member briefly state the purpose of the motion and read the text of the motion.

MOTION UNDER RULE 61

Canadian Sovereignty and Response to Tariffs

Carla Beck: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will.

We’ve just seen vigorous debate in this Assembly, and that’s important. This motion that I’m about to present is also important. And I would like to see unity in this Assembly in responding to the continued threats to our sovereignty coming from Donald Trump.

We should all in this Assembly, across this province, be able to say loudly and proudly that we will never be the 51st state, and if leave is granted, I would propose to move the following motion:

That the Assembly condemns the Trump administration for proposing the annexation of Canada as the 51st state and imposing tariffs on Canadian goods; and

That in the opinion of this Assembly the Government of Canada should neither impose export taxes nor limit exports of natural resources produced in Saskatchewan.

Speaker Goudy: — The Leader of the Opposition has requested leave to move without notice a motion of urgent and pressing necessity under rule 61. Is leave granted?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Leave has been granted. The member may proceed.

Carla Beck: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to all members for granting leave. Mr. Speaker, I stand in this House today understanding and recognizing the gravity of the situation that we find ourselves in. It can be said that this is an unprecedented crisis. A crisis that faces the people of Saskatchewan, industry, and jobs here at home and across this country. A crisis that’s already having an impact. We face tariffs that threaten to destroy our economy, threaten whole communities, even threats to our very existence as a country.

Now I think how we got here is something that can be discussed and will be discussed for years to come. But I’m not most interested in that. I’m interested in where we go from here to build a future for this incredible country in this incredible province.

I think all members here know that Donald Trump has repeatedly mocked the border between Canada and the United States. Mr. Speaker, it is an invisible line, but it is not imaginary, and you’re going to darn well know when you’ve crossed it. Donald Trump has crossed the line.

Earlier this week, he told Fox News that Canada was always meant to be the 51st state, and last week his secretary of state actually came onto Canadian soil and repeated those threats. The list of threats goes on and on.

Mr. Speaker, threats to our sovereignty, our economic future, weren’t funny the first time, and they’re still not funny. Let’s be clear: this is a fight that we didn’t pick, that none of us want. But while we didn’t pick this fight, it is a fight that we can not back down from.

Members of the Trump administration have mused that Saskatchewan and Alberta are the weak links in the chain, that we would be the first to join the United States, and then the other provinces would follow. I don’t think that that’s the case. That is not what Saskatchewan people want. I see people right across this province standing up loudly and proudly for their province and their country, belting out the national anthem, hanging flags from their homes. This morning I was driving through Douglas Park, saw a big sign in the picture window that said, “Elbows up. Buck hard.” That’s what we need to do right now.

I see pride and I see love for this country on this side of the House, and that gives me so much hope in uncertain times. We’re offering the chance for the Premier and his ministers to join us and the people of this province. Over and over we’ve called them to condemn the comments about our country made by Donald Trump, to stand united, put aside any political differences in the face of this unprecedented threat.

Now until today, we’ve seen the Premier refuse. He actually mocked our motion, mocked this very notion as just words. Mr. Speaker, words matter. Leadership matters. And what we do in this Assembly, Mr. Speaker, it matters. The people of this province are listening and they’re watching. They will watch how each and every member of this Assembly votes.

It is a privilege to stand in this House, Mr. Speaker, and I will close with this. I love this country. Canada will never be the 51st state. Let’s all of us be strong, be united, the True North, Mr. Speaker, strong and free.

In closing, I will move:

That the Assembly condemns the Trump administration for proposing the annexation of Canada as the 51st state and imposing tariffs on Canadian goods; and,

That in the opinion of the Assembly, the Government of Canada should neither impose export taxes nor limit exports of natural resources from Saskatchewan.

Speaker Goudy: — The member has moved:

That the Assembly condemns the Trump administration for proposing the annexation of Canada as the 51st state and imposing tariffs on Canadian goods; and

That in the opinion of the Assembly, the Government of Canada should neither impose export taxes nor limit exports of natural resources produced in Saskatchewan.

Is the Assembly ready for the question? I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And I do want to thank the Leader of the Opposition for bringing forward a motion on a topic that is so very important not just to families in Saskatchewan in communities right across our great province but, Mr. Speaker, to families across Canada and, dare I say, to families across North America as well, Mr. Speaker.

And I’ll maybe bring just a little bit finer point as to what is actually happening in Saskatchewan with respect to a plan. There’s much in the way of words that we hear, yes, out of the White House, Mr. Speaker, and we had a discussion about those words on the floor of this Assembly in question period.

We are hearing also words across Canada, Mr. Speaker. What Canadian families and what Saskatchewan families, I would say, really need at this point in time and are asking for at this point in time is for all levels of government to, yes, work together, but to come forward with a plan, a plan, and put it into action, Mr. Speaker.

Because the president is saying what he is saying, Mr. Speaker, it’s our response as Canadians that really matters. And the plan that we have as Canadians and of Saskatchewan, the province of Saskatchewan, is very much a part of that plan moving forward. Our response in this case matters, Mr. Speaker.

And far be it from me to be expected on the floor of this Assembly to be quoting a former Liberal prime minister. But I think it was Jean Chrétien that recently said, Mr. Speaker, that we as Canadians . . . You can’t be smart and angry at the same time. We certainly need to be smart at this point in time, Mr. Speaker, in particular those at municipal, provincial, and federal levels of government in the response that we have. It needs to be appropriate, it needs to be measured, and it needs to be effective most importantly, Mr. Speaker.

As we said, from the provincial perspective, Mr. Speaker, our goal is to not have tariffs imposed on us, whether they be the three levels of tariffs that are coming from the American administration and, more specifically, the president of the United States of America; whether it be counter-tariffs from our federal government; or whether it be the Chinese canola tariffs, Mr. Speaker. Which I would say need to be discussed more as they are very much the most urgent and impactful tariff for the province of Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker, as well as Atlantic provinces in the case of seafood and provinces like Manitoba when it comes to the pork tariffs that are included in there as well, Mr. Speaker.

And so I want to outline just a little bit of what Saskatchewan’s plan is, Mr. Speaker — has been, is, and will be and continue to be into the future as we approach a very, very uncertain time, Mr. Speaker.

And I’d say first and foremost that plans started with the introduction of a budget yesterday, Mr. Speaker, which was balanced. Very unique in Canada to bring forward a balanced budget at any level of government in today’s day and age. In fact at the provincial and federal level, this province may stand alone in having the only balanced budget in the nation of Canada, Mr. Speaker. What a position of strength to come at this very unprecedented, uncertain time, Mr. Speaker, from this province.

We heard the former Finance minister, the federal Finance minister talk about, you know, keeping our powder dry and ensuring that we have the fiscal strength to address what may or may not be coming from, at that time, President-elect Trump with his threat that he campaigned on and continues to threaten to follow through on, Mr. Speaker — with the tariffs on not only Canada and Mexico but on many other countries around the world, as we see a very determined effort to change the US [United States] trade relationship with essentially the entirety of the world, Mr. Speaker, starting with our continent of North America.

So I would start with some of the effort that has really been the focus of this government dating back to about November 7th, 2007. It was this government that very much came in, had the honour of forming government on that very day, came in with a very pointed effort to advocate and represent globally, in global markets, on behalf of the industries that are creating wealth. The industries that Saskatchewan families, Saskatchewan people are working in, Mr. Speaker — the mining industry, the ag industry. We see a very vibrant oil and gas industry, Mr. Speaker. The mining industry is expanding to new products and expanding within the products that we have, Mr. Speaker.

As well as, you know, all of the industries that are supporting those export industries, whether it be manufacturing, lawyers, doctors, car dealers — all supporting the very source of how our wealth arrives here in the province, which is exports. We export stuff to many, many countries around the world and, in turn, provide food, fuel, and fertilizer to those very countries. And I would say, in particular in the case of North America, Saskatchewan is integral in providing food and energy security.

Mr. Speaker, when you hear Secretary Burgum and others, Secretary Wright, in the Trump administration talking about energy dominance, Saskatchewan’s a part of that. North American energy dominance, Mr. Speaker, in the oil and gas that we provide to the midwestern refineries, in the uranium that we provide for clean nuclear power to not only Canadian nuclear plants but US nuclear plants and others in many other areas of the world.

Mr. Speaker, looking ahead to the critical minerals, and more specifically the rare earth elements that will be part of batteries that are going into cars and other sources, Mr. Speaker, Saskatchewan very much is part of today’s energy mix in providing that energy security, that energy dominance from a North American perspective, but very much is going to be a part of that energy security and that energy dominance for years and decades into the future for our children and grandchildren to be able to create wealth in those industries, Mr. Speaker.

And so very early in the administration in 2007, in the new government, the Saskatchewan Party government that formed then, there was a priority made on engaging. That has been advanced in the last number of years with nine trade offices, Mr. Speaker. It’s been advanced with the missions that ministers of STEP [Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership] and other officials partner with industry, Mr. Speaker, and we go to countries around the world and we create that industry-to-country relationship. We work on that province-to-country relationship. And we support the ambassador and high commissioner’s office in that nation-to-nation relationship as well.

And that is working. As we see, our exports in this province in ’07 were $17 billion, Mr. Speaker. Ag exports alone, I think, two years ago was $20 billion, Mr. Speaker. The last three years going, our total exports in this province have been just under $50 billion, Mr. Speaker, 17 to almost $50 billion.

[11:15]

Now we see new mines coming on — BHP, a uranium mine in process, a copper mine in process. We see investments in the forestry industry. We see investments in the canola crush industry, the protein fractionation industry, all climbing the value chain in each of those industries. And so it is, I think, very much the case that in Saskatchewan as these billions of dollars of investment come forward, we are going to see that export value continue to climb. That means jobs. That means opportunity. And that is very good for the people that live in Saskatchewan and the people that will live here in the future, Mr. Speaker.

So first, in 2007 things changed in Saskatchewan by advocating representing on the industries that are creating wealth in Saskatchewan. Two, Mr. Speaker, this is a government that has, from day one, been supportive of pipes, ports, and rail — not only the construction of that infrastructure but the seamless operation of that infrastructure, so that we can continue to be regarded as a sustainable, reliable partner in providing that food and fuel security, wherever that may be in the world, Mr. Speaker.

That is not always the case, and this is where there are some divergences over the last 10 years in political parties, whether it be at the federal level, the various provincial levels as well. And we’ve all seen the discussion, and I won’t get into the details. And this is where there has been an awakening, Mr. Speaker, in the last . . . I use the term “18 days” here in the province, but an awakening by many governments that over the last decade have been opposed to and have actively campaigned against and have actively, when in government, put in place regulatory burdens, regulatory hurdles that are preventing this very infrastructure from being built and operating and allowing us to access the world and in many cases allowing us to actually offer energy and food security to other Canadians and not be part of that North American energy security and ultimately North American energy dominance conversation.

And so there is an awakening and very much a changing of position, Mr. Speaker. And the term we use in our office is that for a period of time — and I would urge everyone to think of our what was a Liberal government and then a Liberal-NDP minority coalition, and the decisions that they have made, Mr. Speaker — when I say this following term: you can ignore reality for a period of time, but you cannot ignore the consequences of reality.

And what we have happening right now very much, Mr. Speaker, is the consequences of reality. Mr. Speaker, we are not truly energy independent in this nation because of our inability to get this type of infrastructure built across the nation of Canada, Mr. Speaker. And I am happy to hear that that discussion is changing today, Mr. Speaker, and we need to act on it. We need to act on it.

And, Mr. Speaker, you’re going to see over the course of this session in the next number of weeks a government in this province that is going to double down on our efforts to advocate and to move the conversation along on the importance of this type of infrastructure — pipes, ports, and rail and the very efficient operation of all of it — so that we can be that reliable trade partner and provide that sustainable supply to not only ourselves as Canadians, ourselves as North Americans, but to other countries around the world.

Mr. Speaker, we’re going to continue, through those international trade offices we have, to reduce our reliance, reduce our reliance on the United States. We’re one of the least reliant provinces on the US today. About 55 per cent of our exports actually go to the US. Much of that is oil, Mr. Speaker. Much of that is oil — the most sustainable oil you can find on earth by the way — but much of it is oil.

Mr. Speaker, we’re going to continue to diversify markets where we can using the missions, using the trade offices that we can. That’s why you’ve seen our Minister of Agriculture touching base with those markets. Mr. Speaker, myself was in Mexico, the third partner to the USMCA [United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement]. Our Minister of Trade and Export has been abroad. The Minister of Energy and myself were actually in Houston talking with other folks from other parts of the world — the Emirates, India as well, at that energy show, as well as some folks from the president’s cabinet, Mr. Speaker.

And so we’re going to continue to work on diversifying our exports, work that has been undergoing for the last 18 years, Mr. Speaker. Again criticized by the members opposite often but, Mr. Speaker, investment and work that has been ongoing for 18 years, Mr. Speaker. And we’re happy in the last 18 days to have the support of the members opposite in that space.

Mr. Speaker, here’s the canary in the coal mine when it comes to environmental regulations that are resulting in inflationary pressures for families and, I would say, job loss in Canada. And certainly are resulting in a lack of investment in certain industries across Canada, and I would highlight the energy industry but there are many others.

We have been, since before it was even implemented, against the carbon tax, Mr. Speaker, and we continue to call on the removal of the entirety of the carbon tax on everything for everyone across this nation, Mr. Speaker. And you will see us actively taking steps and looking at what opportunities we have in Saskatchewan to ensure that that is the case for Saskatchewan families.

And I would point recently to our decision to remove that tax from how we heat our homes in this province to match a decision, a very divisive decision that the federal government had made on heating oil in Atlantic Canada, Mr. Speaker.

We now see the federal government has taken one step in this space, and we would encourage them to take the rest of the steps: not only remove all of the carbon tax on all products for all Canadians, Mr. Speaker, but change Bill C‑69 so that we can get pipeline projects approved and built in this nation, mining projects built and approved in this nation, so that we can ensure there is security of investment for the energy industry in this province and in this nation, Mr. Speaker.

We would implore on the federal government whoever they are — I suspect we’re going to be into a writ campaign very shortly — whoever they are to, Mr. Speaker, remove the clean electricity standard and the layering of these regulations, Mr. Speaker.

And this is the epiphany that some political parties have had in the last 18 days with the election of President Trump, as they are actually fundamentally changing the values of their party. You can ignore reality, Mr. Speaker, but you cannot ignore the consequences of reality. And that’s what the Liberal-NDP parties of this nation and this province are realizing most recently.

More recently, Mr. Speaker, we’re going to continue to advocate not only on Saskatchewan’s behalf like we have for 18 years now, Mr. Speaker, despite the criticisms of the opposition, but continue to advocate alongside other premiers, continue to advocate alongside our federal government, whomever they are, Mr. Speaker. We don’t agree with very much of what comes out of the federal government over the last 8 to 9, 10 years, Mr. Speaker, and we’re actually quite hopeful for a change. And that might be a question over the next while is, you know, who are we all going to vote for in this Assembly, Mr. Speaker, in this federal election. Because I think it’s a true testament of the values that you have as an individual and the values that you have as a party, Mr. Speaker. But we’ll get to that in the days ahead.

We are going to continue to align with the federal government, whomever they are today and whomever they might be in four to five weeks, Mr. Speaker. We’re going to continue to work with other provinces. As you saw, the alignment of provinces with some of the counter actions that were taken, Mr. Speaker, in our liquor stores which are provincially regulated across the nation, Mr. Speaker, but also in the case of procurement, Mr. Speaker. And our minister of Saskatchewan Builds corporation has been looking into future contracts as well as asking questions about current contracts, about the Canadian content and how we’re actually going to push that Canadian content up wherever we can.

Mr. Speaker, most recently, and I’ve said this a number of times, with the export value in this province going from 17 to $50 billion, in how we are going to support workers. We need to be innovative in how we support workers through a very tumultuous time.

Of the five tariffs that are there, the one that is in effect now is the aluminum and steel tariff. We have a steel industry here that is employing literally thousands of people in various communities, Mr. Speaker. And you saw our Minister of Crown Investments come forward with I think was a very innovative way to pull forward procurement contracts to ensure that they have the security to keep those folks employed, Mr. Speaker, to provide stability for steelworkers here in Regina and across the province of Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker. And I commend not only the minister, but I commend all of those folks that are working in that industry. And we’re going to do our level best, do all we can to ensure that they have the stability of employment moving forward at very tumultuous times.

Now, Mr. Speaker, if we get to the reciprocal tariff space on April the 2nd with the United States, and I said there’s five tariffs we’re facing. There’s a fentanyl border tariff, Mr. Speaker. There’s aluminum and steel tariffs which I just spoke of. There’s the reciprocal tariff on April the 2nd that the president says he’ll make a decision and will impose on Canada and Mexico, as well as other nations around the world. Four would be the counter-tariffs of the federal government, and I’ll come back to that. And then five is the most urgent and pressing tariff and one that I have asked our new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, who I see skating with the Edmonton Oilers today. So we do agree on some things, Mr. Speaker. We do agree on the team that we cheer for. And I’m all perplexed here now, Mr. Speaker.

But I have asked Prime Minister Carney to most certainly, you know, reach out and offer a path forward, and offer at least a conversation that Canada, should he be the prime minister after the election, that he is committed to ensuring that there will be the removal of the tariffs, those canola tariffs at 100 per cent that are going to be so impactful to Saskatchewan farmers and I would say to the Canadian canola crush industry.

In fact by the time we’re through the writ campaign, we’re going to see the full impact of that. And if that phone call, if that effort is not made by our current sitting, albeit new Prime Minister, and if those job losses are experienced in this province and in this nation prior to the end of the writ, that is at the feet, Mr. Speaker, of Mr. Carney and, I would say, Jagmeet Singh, Mr. Speaker. Therein lies the question on who you are going to support in this next election, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I spoke of the counter-tariffs, and coming back to that, we see the US full reciprocal tariffs in Canada. The threat is about $600 billion of goods. That $600 billion of goods are goods that are flowing from Canada to the United States of America. The very near-term impact is going to be on American families and American jobs.

Mr. Speaker, 10 to $15 billion of oil flows into refineries in Ohio, Illinois, in Oklahoma, Louisiana, as well as Texas, Mr. Speaker. Those refineries in Ohio are entirely dependent on Western Canadian crude coming into those refineries. You cannot switch out and replace for lighter US crude. It takes billions of dollars and a number of years to make those retrofits, Mr. Speaker. That oil is going to flow, and if it does not flow, US families are going to pay more or they aren’t going to have access to it because the refineries will not run without Western Canadian oil, Mr. Speaker. And so if there is a tariff on that product, Mr. Speaker, that is going to have an impact on American families.

By extension, counter-tariffs are on products that are coming from the US north, Mr. Speaker. And this is where we’ve had discussions with the federal government. They’ve moved forward on about $30 billion worth of products now that have counter-tariffs. That would move to 155, Mr. Speaker. And there’s been much work done by the provinces and the federal government on the list of products that are in there.

And we’re supportive of these moves, should they be necessary, to date and into the future to 155. Those are very targeted because those products, Mr. Speaker, not only do we have other options as Canadian families and Canadian industries, but if you go beyond that 155, you start to have a very real impact on the cost of living in Canada, and you start to have a very real impact on how we conduct business and employ people here in Canada. And so these by their very extension are going to have an impact on Canadian families.

And we, at the very core, are not supportive of counter-tariffs. However we do understand that these very targeted measures may be necessary should we be facing one of the most significant trade challenges that we have faced with our two largest trading partners on earth, Mr. Speaker.

And last but certainly not least — sorry, two points, and then last, Mr. Speaker — is with respect to the renewed interest on interprovincial trade barriers, of which there are three CFTA [Canadian Free Trade Agreement] exemptions, Mr. Speaker.

Credit to all, and some provinces have a long ways to come in this space, a lot further than maybe Saskatchewan, Alberta, and a few others, at reducing . . . And the federal government has reduced over half of their interprovincial trade barriers, and so credit where credit is due. That’s the first interprovincial trade barrier. And other provinces will be in that 10 to 20, 30, 40 exemptions that they will have in the Canadian Free Trade Agreement. I think we’re down to seven, if I’m correct there. We’ve got it down, reduced to seven or four or somewhere in that space. So other provinces are much higher than that. Canada had 40; they’re down under 20, I think, now. So credit where credit is due, but they could still come a little bit further.

The second interprovincial trade barrier is just simply regulatory challenges. When we have a regulation come in in one province in one year, 10 years later in another province, Mr. Speaker, those need to be aligned whenever. And we as ministers in the government should always be asking our ministries, when we’re looking at new regulations, is can we align them. Rather than bring them in different than another province, can we align them first with neighbouring provinces but also with other Canadian provinces, Mr. Speaker?

And I would say the largest interprovincial trade barrier that we have in this nation is our inability, going back to infrastructure projects like building pipelines, that is the largest and most significant interprovincial trade barrier that we have.

Last but not least, we’ll never be supportive of export tariffs. An export tariff on the products that we produce — whether it be oil, whether it be potash, whether it be ag products, whatever it might be — that drastically impacts Canadian jobs. There will be job loss due to that, and any federal government that introduces export tariffs, Mr. Speaker, will understand the full opposition that the Government of Saskatchewan has in that space.

Mr. Speaker, I would close with this, that would introduce an amendment, Mr. Speaker.

[11:30]

That all the words after “That the Assembly” be replaced with the following:

confirms Canada will never be the 51st state; and further, that the Assembly supports the Government of Saskatchewan’s tariff response as follows:

That the Government of Saskatchewan:

(1) is aligned with all other provinces in the need to take counteraction against unjustified tariffs, including stopping the purchase of US alcohol and reviewing all government procurement to prioritize Canadian suppliers, with the goal of reducing or eliminating US procurement;

(2) supports efforts to increase procurement from Saskatchewan-based employers, like the recent announcement by Saskatchewan Crowns to increase procurement of steel from Evraz in Regina;

(3) supports the federal government in the use of targeted counter-tariffs;

(4) does not support the use of export tariffs;

(5) will continue to work alongside all other premiers, federal ministers, and the Canadian business leaders to engage with the US government at all levels to emphasize the harm tariffs will cause to US businesses, workers, and consumers;

(6) continues to support the expanding vital infrastructure projects, including ports, pipelines, and rail, including their construction and seamless operations, and will work to provide swift approval of any projects that pass through Saskatchewan;

(7) continues to reduce Saskatchewan’s reliance on exports to the United States by increasing Saskatchewan’s exports to other countries through international trade missions and trade offices; and

(8) supports the complete removal of the federal carbon tax on everything for everyone, including removal of federal industrial carbon tax that negatively impacts Saskatchewan businesses and jobs and drives up the cost of Canadian-made products.

I so move.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the Premier:

That all the words after “That the Assembly” be replaced with:

confirms Canada will never be the 51st state; and further, that the Assembly supports the Government of Saskatchewan’s tariffs response plan as follows:

That the Government of Saskatchewan:

(2) supports efforts to increase procurement from Saskatchewan-based employers, like the recent announcement by Saskatchewan Crowns to increase procurement of steel from Evraz in Regina;

(3) supports the federal government in the use of targeted counter-tariffs;

(4) does not support the use of export tariffs;

(5) will continue to work alongside all other premiers, federal ministers, and Canadian business leaders to engage with the US government at all levels to emphasize the harm tariffs will cause to US businesses, workers, and consumers;

(6) continues to support expanding vital infrastructure projects, including ports, pipelines, and rail, including their construction and seamless operations, and will work to provide swift approval of any projects that pass through Saskatchewan;

(7) continues to reduce Saskatchewan’s reliance on exports to the United States by increasing Saskatchewan exports to other countries through international trade missions and trade offices;

(8) supports the complete removal of the federal carbon tax on everything for everyone, including removal of the federal industrial carbon tax that negatively impacts Saskatchewan businesses and jobs and drives up the cost of Canadian-made products.

Is the Assembly ready for the question? I recognize the member from Regina South Albert.

Aleana Young: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s always a privilege to be able to rise and enter debate in this beautiful Assembly. And today in particular it’s thrilling to be able to talk about the necessity and the imperative that exists in Canada right now to be building, to be expanding pipelines, rail lines, transmission lines; twinning the Trans-Canada Highway.

Mr. Speaker, this is a serious moment in Canada, a serious moment in the world. It is also a time and an opportunity for us in Saskatchewan and Canadians to build this country, control what we can control, build our economic infrastructure, and truly build economic and national security here in Canada. And Saskatchewan is a critical part of that. We’re a landlocked province. We’re at the heart of this country. Our role, our markets, the opportunities that we have here in this beautiful province to contribute to that security for Canada are unmatched. And these words that we speak, as the Leader of the Opposition said, these words, these ideas, they do matter.

I disagree with the Premier. I respect democracy. I value this institution. I value the entries and the words of my colleagues, even members opposite. And that is what this moment calls for. This moment calls for building. It calls for unity. Doesn’t call for procedural shenanigans or inside baseball. This is a time for leaders.

Members opposite, often they like to focus on the past. A revisionist history, I might suggest. In my office, Mr. Speaker, like a good New Democrat, I’ve got a picture of Tommy Douglas up. You know what he’s doing? Turning on the first pipeline in Saskatchewan. I’ve also got a picture of Allan Blakeney up in my office. Great man, great premier. Built this province. You know what he built? He built the potash industry. He built the uranium industry. He built an oil company here in Saskatchewan.

Premier Roy Romanow. Premier Roy Romanow, the greatest economic manager this province has ever seen, Roy Romanow. And Janice MacKinnon, Finance minister, was good enough for members opposite for their Economic Impact Assessment Tribunal. I’d like to see them criticize the financial and fiscal acumen of that government and their commitment to building this province.

And Premier Lorne Calvert. Excellent leader, built a boom. Built this province’s social infrastructure with the support of the resource industry, support he was so proud of. Growing the enhanced oil recovery projects in Weyburn, growing our markets, growing our production — that is the legacy of the Saskatchewan New Democrats. That is our history, and it is one we are gosh darn proud of.

So I don’t know, Mr. Speaker. Maybe it’s the government of Woodrow Lloyd that the members opposite are so concerned about when they look to the past. All respect to the ghost of Woodrow Lloyd.

But, Mr. Speaker, those are our priorities. Those are our values. That is what we have been focused on, on this side of the aisle. And as the Leader of the Opposition said, her first move, our first move when Donald Trump started threatening our country was to extend our hand to say, let’s work together; this is bigger than partisanship. And what have we seen, Mr. Speaker?

Again, a focus on shenanigans, on inside baseball. And you bet, to the government members: we’ve got a job to do. We will criticize your excess. We have a respect for taxpayer dollars. We’ve respect for people of this province. This is a government, Mr. Speaker, that couldn’t manage their way through a boom at the best of times. So you bet, some of the comments that have been made here about 18 days, I point you again to the proud history of not just our party but this province.

And members opposite can roll their eyes, but the people of Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker, are not foolish. They know this too. And they do not want a government that’s focused on division, focused on pettiness. And you would think that members opposite would recognize that, sitting here in the House right now having glibbed their way to their first loss in their party’s history. People of Saskatchewan are not foolish.

So it’s great that members opposite, you know, have found Evraz on a map two years later. It’s great that members opposite have decided that we should in fact prioritize procurement from Saskatchewan companies. Welcome. We’re happy to have your voices join ours.

But, Mr. Speaker, this is a time for leadership. This is not a time for silly games. We won’t be playing those. And a word of caution to the members opposite, if they’re interested in playing those silly games: they have many, many more skeletons in their closet, Mr. Speaker, many more deficits, many more tax hikes, many more first priorities.

This is a time for change.

Speaker Goudy: — I just caution the member, the use of some of the terms — shenanigans, mentioning that someone might have bones in their closet — that’s certainly accusing them.

Aleana Young: — All right, Mr. Speaker, no more bones — promise. But this is a time for change. These are serious times, needs serious leadership here in Saskatchewan and across Canada.

Mr. Speaker, we can’t be fighting about the past, but members on this side will defend our history, will defend the great people of this province, our ancestors who built this province. We’ll be focused on the future.

Speaker Goudy: — Sorry. I recognize the Minister Responsible for CIC [Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan].

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to rise in debate on this important topic. It really is. I think I’m going to start actually by picking off where that member left off — talking about serious leadership for a serious time.

And I can’t tell you, Mr. Speaker, having sat with the gentleman sitting in the chair two over from me for 13, 14 years in this place about serious leadership, about somebody who takes this job with his heart and soul, who loves this province with his heart and soul and puts in literally 16, 18 hours a day — we’re either texting or we’re on the phone until 11 at night and we’re back again at it at 6 in the morning — that’s the commitment that this man has to the job that he occupies. And to somehow suggest that that is not the case is really a disservice to the effort that those who . . . the current occupant, but those who have come before as well put into this job, because it’s not easy. It’s not easy. There are a lot of tough days.

And you know, we have gone through an incredibly challenging probably eight years that our Premier has been in that chair, some of the probably most challenging governing scenarios provincial governments have ever actually faced in the history of our federation, Mr. Speaker. And we have approached all of those with an attitude of seriousness, an attitude of making sure that we are taking into consideration all of the interests of our province, and making sure that we’re heard as well. Whether it be at the national level, whether it be internationally, Mr. Speaker, that is the approach that we take on all of these things.

And I can tell you what the exact wrong approach to take. I think, you know, former prime minister Chrétien talked about you can’t be smart when you’re angry. That’s true. You also, Mr. Speaker, you can’t panic. You can’t panic. You have to be very aware of what’s in front of you. You have to know what the facts are that are in front of you and you have to respond to those facts as they arise.

And this is kind of a weird analogy, but I was actually watching the show — Will Ferrell, I’m a huge fan of his. Semi-Pro, one of the movies that probably doesn’t get as much attention as some of the other Will Ferrell movies. Scene where he’s actually wrestling a bear — Jackie Moon, his character — and the bear escapes, and it was all . . . What does the character do? Well he yells, “Everybody panic. Everybody panic.” They’re in a crowded arena. Well that kind of reminds me to a degree of what we’re hearing from the opposition: everybody panic, everybody panic.

What this time demands isn’t panic, Mr. Speaker. What this time demands is a plan, and that’s what we’re putting in front of the Assembly. And it’s a plan that is based on values that we have held for 18 years, Mr. Speaker, that we have been honoured to serve on this side of the House, a plan that is based on values.

On that side of the House they have new values, brand new values. I actually . . . The 18 years I’m sitting here, I can remember them having the complete opposite values through the vast majority of that period of time.

[11:45]

And thank the Premier for moving the amendment as well. And we’re going to go through . . . I think I’ll probably go through these points, Mr. Speaker, and speak to them and how they reflect the values that we have had as a government and as a party through the last 18 years, and how we’ve applied those values to our role as government.

The first one is the alignment with other provinces, the need to take counteraction against unjustified tariffs, including stopping the purchase of US alcohol and reviewing all government procurement to prioritize Canadian suppliers with the goal of reducing, eliminating US procurements. So we’ve been undertaking this.

Actually we have been working really hard on this, Mr. Speaker, and I won’t take credit for it. It was my predecessors that had sat in the Chair of the Crown Investments Corporation ministry. But we had worked and have worked really hard at making sure that firstly, we are procuring from Saskatchewan. Secondly, if not available that we would procure from within Canada. And only if absolutely unavoidable, that we would procure from outside of Canada. And only 3 per cent of procurements through all of the major Crowns, Mr. Speaker, actually were procured from the United States. We’ve been very, very successful on this regard.

And I would actually add to that, even. In the context of the demands to eliminate all internal trade barriers, I’ll tell you, one of the exemptions that we have included — or a handful of exemptions — has been around Crown procurement. And suddenly with new values on the other side demanding that all internal trade barriers be eliminated, they’re demanding that we not have an exemption for Crown procurement, Mr. Speaker. I don’t think they actually knew that that’s what they were demanding, but that is what they were demanding, Mr. Speaker. I can tell you right now, we’re going to keep that exemption in place. We’re going to keep that exemption in place, Mr. Speaker.

And as far as coordinating with other premiers, Mr. Speaker, as far as coordinating with other premiers and with the national government, our Premier is the longest serving premier in Canada. Our Premier has an incredibly respected voice at that table, and our Premier uses that voice to make sure that not just our interests are respected, but the national interest is respected as well. So I want to thank him for that.

As far as the second point in the amendment and our plan, this is our plan, Mr. Speaker: that we would support efforts to increase procurement from Saskatchewan employers, specifically referencing Evraz. We had a great day the other day, Mr. Speaker, at the Evraz steel mill. It was a great day. And it was the culmination . . . [inaudible interjection] . . . You know, members can heckle, and this is real stuff, Mr. Speaker. This is important things. These are important decisions for literally hundreds of people who work at that facility.

We’ve been working . . . This has been not just an overnight. This has been a number of weeks to how we get to the point that we were at just a few days ago, to getting to that point, Mr. Speaker, where we were able to make that announcement with Evraz corporate leadership, with the United Steelworkers. We’d been working on this and what we had to do in terms of working with the private sector as well and other companies too. There were a lot of moving parts in this.

So I want to thank our partners. I want to thank them — I want to thank Evraz; I want to thank JNE; I want to thank Brandt — because this was a very significant and large project, along with our team at SaskPower and SaskEnergy as well. But that announcement is going to mean people keep working. And it’s because we were able to, through the strength of our economy, advance some of the procurements of what would likely have taken place over a significantly longer period of time, such that those folks are going to continue to have that opportunity to work, Mr. Speaker.

No. 3: “Supports the federal government in the use of targeted counter-tariffs.” I think the Premier spoke very well to that. There have been lengthy discussions at the first ministers’ table about what the . . . and very, very delicate negotiations around what some of those counter-tariffs are to make sure that we are targeting the appropriate goods and the appropriate states, and even the appropriate districts, to have maximum impact on decision making in the United States. And I won’t get into great detail on all of that because there was a lot of work that went into that between federal officials, provincial officials across the country, to make sure we were maximizing our leverage on targeted counter-tariffs.

As far as not supporting the use of export tariffs, obviously we’ve been very, very clear that we do not support the use of export tariffs. And I’m still concerned though, Mr. Speaker, I’ve got to tell you, I actually am still concerned about the fact that the national government refused to take the option off the table. And former prime minister Trudeau was very clear in not taking that option off the table. We have not yet heard from Prime Minister Carney as far as what his inclination would be on export tariffs.

And let’s be clear what that means. An export tariff would be a tariff on exports of commodities almost entirely from Alberta and Saskatchewan. It would be a tariff targeted at our resource industries here. The energy sector and potash would probably be the primary with uranium as well being subject to that tariff.

There’s only one party that has not just supported an export tariff but demanded it. Jagmeet Singh has demanded that an export tariff be placed on Western Canadian exports in order to support Eastern Canadian industries. We believe that would be a catastrophic endeavour for the unity of this country. And the only party that is calling for that is the NDP, Mr. Speaker.

So we’re very concerned. I mean if there’s an election coming up here right now, if we were to have a configuration of the House with the NDP holding the balance of power as they do in the current configuration of the House, in coalition government really with the Liberals, and they put that as a condition of their support, it would happen. It would happen. And that is something we continue to be very concerned about.

No. 5, Mr. Speaker: we’re going to “continue to work alongside all the other premiers, federal ministers, Canadian business leaders to engage with the US government at all levels to emphasize the harm tariffs will cause to US businesses, workers, and consumers.”

This is why our Premier has been in Washington twice. This is why the Premier and the Minister of Energy were just in Houston and, I would add, criticized by New Democrats for meeting with Republicans in the context of those meetings, Mr. Speaker.

Who do they expect us to meet with? The House and the Senate obviously are majority Republican at this point with a Republican administration. Of course, of course we’re going to be meeting with Republicans as a part of that engagement effort, Mr. Speaker, building on relationships that we have worked really hard to build over the past 18 years whether that be in the Senate, whether that be members of the House conference, whether that be at the governor level, whether that be former governors who are now cabinet secretaries.

We are going to engage. And this has been a major effort that we have undertaken, not just in the last 18 days having discovered new values, but over the past 18 years because they are our values, Mr. Speaker.

And as far as the tariff item as well, I’d be remiss to not touch on this because I really do think it shows priorities and values of both the current national government and its coalition partner in the NDP.

There were tariffs that were put onto Chinese electric vehicle exports. How many Chinese electric vehicle exports are there to Canada? The answer is literally zero. A hundred per cent tariff were put on. Why were those put on? Well basically to virtue-signal protection for an electric vehicle industry in Ontario and battery industry in both Ontario and Quebec. That was the reason that they were put on.

Those were demanded and cheerleaded by the NDP, Mr. Speaker. And what has been the impact of those electric vehicle tariffs from China? Of which there are none, so no real-world consequences. What are the real-world consequences to our Western Canadian farmers? A 100 per cent tariff on Canadian canola.

This is the most acute tariff issue that we have in front of us right now. Because I could tell you I know my producers back home in northwest Saskatchewan, many of whom farm canola amongst other crops, they’re literally getting zero dollars right now. You can’t sell canola right now. And the impact on that over the long term would be a profound one. I mean, the Chinese market accounts for a very large portion of international exports, and that canola space goes into the Chinese market.

We’ve worked really hard on building new markets for canola, and I want to give a lot of credit to industry associations for working on that as well. Because I think canola oil is a superior . . . It is a superior product to soy or palm or some of the other alternatives that are used in other parts of the world. Really it’s been a big part of our engagement with countries like Vietnam and Indonesia, is how do we displace palm and soy oil for canola oil. And the entire objective of that engagement effort has been to diversify canola exports away from China into these other countries.

These have been our values from the very beginning, Mr. Speaker. And I can tell you all of the international engagement trips that we’ve undertaken — the Minister of Agriculture, former minister of Agriculture; I know Minister of Trade; I undertook a number of these — these were a very, very specific component of those international engagement missions, is how do we diversify our canola exports away from the Chinese market into other markets. And the primary one actually is the United Arab Emirates, is actually where we’ve been able to most successfully diversify canola exports from.

Their old values, Mr. Speaker, led them to vociferously criticize those efforts, vociferously, unequivocally condemning this government for those engagement efforts in working to diversify our canola exports into other markets around the world . . . Well you know, they can heckle, but they actually know that’s true, Mr. Speaker. They have been massively critical of our efforts to diversify those exports around the world.

In addition to that, Mr. Speaker, we’ve worked really hard on forming . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Order. Order.

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’ve worked really hard on our broader diversification efforts across both the ag space and our other exports around the world. It’s why we have opened nine international trade offices, which have been incredibly successful. They really have been. Our program is really a model for other jurisdictions around the world. And I want to thank our staff who work in those offices.

When we were forming these, the NDP literally accused our officials who work in these offices of being partisan hacks. That’s literally the word they used for it, Mr. Speaker. These are professional public servants who are doing their very best day in and day out in providing leadership, working with our companies to provide new trade opportunities. And they’ve done a great job.

I can tell you India’s a wonderful example of this, Mr. Speaker. We’ve been criticized for the trips that we have made to India and setting up our office in India. India’s one of our most important export markets and one of the ones where relationships probably matter as much or more than any other personal relationships matter, as much or more than any other. And this is the largest country by population in the world.

When we go to India, we are sitting down with Union ministers at the most senior level. You know, Minister Piyush Goyal, for example; Minister Jaishankar, the foreign minister. Well just as an example, Prime Minister Harper was actually just in India in the last couple of days, met with Minister Goyal, and you know, what was the discussion about? It was about Saskatchewan. That was what the discussion was about.

For ministers at that level in India to even understand the differentiation within our federation is a remarkable thing, but to understand the very granular importance of that bilateral relationship has resulted in . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Order.

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Has resulted in some very real and tangible benefits for this province that accrue directly at the farm gate for our ag producers, Mr. Speaker. That’s why we do these things. Those are our values. They have new values, Mr. Speaker; those have always been our values.

So point 7 in our plan, Mr. Speaker, or point 6 around vital infrastructure projects and really around pipelines. We have always had the same values. We have been in favour of pipelines in every direction, all of the above, from day one.

[12:00]

We’ve been advocating for those. And not just advocating. Where we’ve had regulatory authorities, we’ve expedited approvals. We’ve done all of those things so that these pipelines can go forward.

Well you know, this one’s a touchy one for the NDP actually. It’s interesting. It’s a very touchy one for the NDP because now they’re desperate to act like they’ve been supporters of pipelines. And anybody watching, you can hear like how touchy they are about this. But the reality is that they have . . .

Speaker Goudy: — Sorry, I’m just going to ask for, you know, quiet in the House. I am also going to mention to the minister, I’m just not sure . . . I’m having a hard time with that one, but just being able to say what other people value or don’t value. So if we could move forwards on that, would be great. Thanks.

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On pipelines, and you know, obviously they are very touchy about that. Our record is incredibly clear, and their record is incredibly clear as well. They have voted against pipelines every chance they’ve had, Mr. Speaker.

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Boy, I’m not sure how it works in your homes, but if someone says let’s have order and two seconds later, I don’t know what’s going on there. But please let’s keep order and let the minister finish his remarks.

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — So on pipelines, Mr. Speaker, we obviously are very supportive of pipelines going forward — Energy East, Northern Gateway, all of Keystone XL, all of the above. And I’ll leave it at the fact that I think the public know where the other folks are at on that.

As far as no. 8, which is the item of removing the carbon tax, I would say on this as well there has been a very clear distinction about what we support, Mr. Speaker. The Premier is probably the best example in the entire country. He was the very first one who . . . was in the room when it was announced at an Environment ministers meeting by, at that point, Catherine McKenna, and behind closed doors. The Prime Minister, I think, rose almost simultaneously in the House of Commons to announce unilaterally, with no consultation with provinces, that they were imposing a consumer carbon tax on the country.

Our Premier walked out of that meeting and was very clear with the national media assembled outside but also with people in this province — he was Environment minister at that time — that under no circumstances at any point would we ever accept a federal carbon tax being foisted on this province and we would do everything that we could to fight it. And it is remarkable we are being proven almost hourly we were right. He was right.

Because I can remember what the aftermath of that was. We were the only province, the only province to oppose the carbon tax being instituted in that federal parliament, the only one. And in fact we were criticized by the members opposite who at that point had a different view of the world apparently. I think they actually don’t have a different view, but they claim to. So they had a different view of the world at that point, and they were incredibly critical.

Sitting right there, listening day after day after day to NDP members standing, demanding that we sign on to the Trudeau carbon tax, that any efforts we were making to fight the carbon tax, it was pointless; it was hopeless. There is absolutely no reason you should be fighting the Trudeau carbon tax. Well as it turns out, we were right.

But there’s more to go yet, Mr. Speaker. Because we still have the Liberals and NDP running in this election coming up — it sounds like we’re going to have an election call here on the weekend — are running on keeping the industrial carbon tax. This is the hidden carbon tax that they imposed on provinces, Mr. Speaker. This is the hidden carbon tax. Carney actually came right out and said, well yeah, we’re going to take off the commercial carbon tax, but what we’re going to make up for it is by jacking up the industrial carbon tax. So this is actually what you pay on your SaskPower bill. That’s the industrial carbon tax.

So what they are proposing, what the Liberals are proposing and running on, supported by the NDP in doing it, is actually taking the consumer carbon tax off on the one hand and raising the industrial carbon tax on the other, hoping that people don’t actually know that they will still be paying the industrial carbon tax. There’s a reason why we put “federal carbon tax” on the bills that go out to our ratepayers, because it’s a real tax. So we need to get rid of that tax as well, Mr. Speaker, and the Premier alluded to some things that are under consideration on that front as well.

But you know, one of the things . . . Actually watched the speech last night from the 1984 acceptance speech that Ronald Reagan gave to his party leading into the 1984 election. So the background to this, Mr. Speaker, was running against Democrats, Ronald Reagan running for re-election.

The Democrats were behind. The polls were showing at kind of 52 to 40, you know, they were way back, 12 points behind, right around that 52 to 40 per cent of the popular vote range, Mr. Speaker. So the Democrats were desperate. They were desperate. They were heading into their convention in San Francisco where basically they swallowed themselves whole. They changed all of their values, Mr. Speaker, all of them, and they adopted the Reagan platform. And this was at their convention.

So here’s what President Reagan — who believed in free trade and free markets and a great relationship with Canada — here’s what he said heading into that convention where he was ahead 52 to 40:

I’ve been campaigning long enough to know that a political party and its leadership can’t change their colors in four days. We won’t, and no matter how hard they tried, our opponents didn’t in San Francisco. We didn’t discover our values in a poll taken a week before the convention. And we didn’t set a weathervane on top of the Golden Gate Bridge before we started talking.

Well 4 days, maybe 18 days in this case, Mr. Speaker. But our values have never changed. Our values have been the same. And if you go by history in that election, well what ended up happening? Reagan ended up winning a massive majority. The Democrats lost badly and their own supporters didn’t believe them. The Democrat supporters didn’t believe them that they had actually changed their values, and they were mad at them for talking about it.

So you know, there is going to be an opportunity here though. We have a federal election coming up here. You know, I think a number of these policies are going to be on the ballot. A number of these policies are going to be on the ballot, represented by different leaders. Who supports pipelines? Who supports energy infrastructure? Who supports trade? Who does those things, and which parties do not?

I can tell you who I’m going to be voting for. This is going to shock colleagues probably. I’m going to vote Conservative in this election. I am. I am. We’ve seen the alternative, the Liberal and NDP government. I’m not sure that it was very good for Saskatchewan. I’m really not sure it’s been very good for this province.

They’re going to have a choice as well. They can vote for Pierre Poilievre. I don’t think they will. The member for Meewasin just said he’s voting for Jagmeet Singh, I think I heard, Mr. Speaker. And I guarantee you . . . Oh, no he’s voting . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Today is the first day of spring. So I know I remember my kindergarten days, but let’s all get through the day. Please listen, and that’ll be good. We’ll be hearing the good words from the minister. So please proceed.

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — He actually corrected that. He says he is voting for Pierre Poilievre, so I’m sure his constituents will be happy to hear that.

But the reality is that we are going to have a choice. And this choice is going to be incredibly consequential for what the future of our province is going to look like. There are going to be different options on the ballot. I would really hope that they get the question about who they are actually going to be supporting because I actually suspect that all of them are going to be voting for Jagmeet Singh.

That tells you where their values are. Our values have always been clear. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — Well there we have it. So it has been moved by the Premier, this amendment:

That all the words after “That the Assembly” be replaced with:

confirms Canada will never be the 51st state; and further, that the Assembly supports the Government of Saskatchewan’s tariffs response plan as follows:

That the Government of Saskatchewan:

(2) supports efforts to increase procurement from Saskatchewan-based employers, like the recent announcement by Saskatchewan Crowns to increase procurement of steel from Evraz in Regina;

(3) supports the federal government in the use of targeted counter-tariffs;

(4) does not support the use of export tariffs;

(7) continues to reduce Saskatchewan’s reliance on exports to the United States by increasing Saskatchewan exports to other countries through international trade missions and trade offices;

Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the amendment?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Some Hon. Members: — No.

Speaker Goudy: — All right. The amendment motion is not carried. We have two . . . Oh, sorry, ask for a recorded division. Recorded division. I recognize the . . . Call in the members. Sorry.

[The division bells rang from 12:12 until 12:14.]

Speaker Goudy: — All those in favour of the amendment please stand.

[Yeas — 31]

Moe

Harrison, D.

Marit

Cockrill

Hindley

Harrison, J.

Jenson

Young, C.

Cheveldayoff

Keisig

Thorsteinson

Martens

Hilbert

Steele

Schmalz

Ross

McLeod, T.

Carr

Wilson

Weedmark

Beaudry

McLeod, B.

Crassweller

Kropf

Weger

Patterson

Bromm

Rowden

Chan

Gartner

Kasun

[12:15]

Speaker Goudy: — All those opposed to the amendment please stand.

[Nays — 25]

Beck

Burki

Nippi-Albright

Mowat

Wotherspoon

Love

Teed

Young, A.

Laliberte

McPhail

Breckner

Sarauer

Conway

Blakley

Grewal

ChiefCalf

Jorgenson

Brar

Gordon

Warrington

Pratchler

Housser

Senger

Roy

McBean

Principal Clerk: — Mr. Speaker, those in favour of the amendment, 31; those opposed to the amendment, 25.

Speaker Goudy: — And first I want to apologize that, you know, read through . . . I’m not always the sharpest fellow. When I had said that it was not carried, I apologize. I was not listening to one side or the other. I was following my notes, which . . . Well if you want to switch around, I some days would love that.

But anyways, obviously, clearly it was carried. And the motion now reads:

That all the words after “That the Assembly” be replaced with . . .

Not all of that. I am sorry, everyone.

The motion as amended:

confirms Canada will never be the 51st state; and further, that the Assembly supports the Government of Saskatchewan’s tariffs response plan as follows:

(2) supports efforts to increase procurement from Saskatchewan-based employers, like the recent announcement by Saskatchewan Crowns to increase procurement of steel from Evraz in Regina;

(3) supports the federal government in the use of targeted counter-tariffs;

(4) does not support the use of export tariffs;

(7) continues to reduce Saskatchewan’s reliance on exports to the United States by increasing Saskatchewan exports to other countries through international trade missions and trade offices;

Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion as amended?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Some Hon. Members: — On division.

Speaker Goudy: — Call in the members.

[The division bells rang from 12:22 until 12:23.]

Speaker Goudy: — All those in favour of the motion as amended please stand.

[Yeas — 56]

Moe

Harrison, D.

Marit

Cockrill

Hindley

Harrison, J.

Jenson

Young, C.

Cheveldayoff

Keisig

Thorsteinson

Martens

Hilbert

Steele

Schmalz

Ross

McLeod, T.

Carr

Wilson

Weedmark

Beaudry

McLeod, B.

Crassweller

Kropf

Weger

Patterson

Bromm

Rowden

Chan

Gartner

Kasun

Beck

Burki

Nippi-Albright

Mowat

Wotherspoon

Love

Teed

Young, A.

Laliberte

McPhail

Breckner

Sarauer

Conway

Blakley

Grewal

ChiefCalf

Jorgenson

Brar

Gordon

Warrington

Pratchler

Housser

Senger

Roy

McBean

[Nays — nil]

Principal Clerk: — Mr. Speaker, those in favour of the motion as amended, 56; those opposed, 0.

Speaker Goudy: — I declare the motion carried.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

SPECIAL ORDER

ADJOURNED DEBATES

BUDGET DEBATE

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Jim Reiter that the Assembly approves in general the budgetary policy of the government.]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Mount Royal.

Trent Wotherspoon: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to enter back into debate here today on the budget, about the challenges we face and the priorities that we need to advance. You know, of course, I spoke substantively yesterday on many of the aspects that weren’t here. A large feature there is just a government that’s been unwilling to recognize the economic threats that were in tariffs and the impacts of those tariffs on Saskatchewan. And I’m willing to stand up against that. I’m willing to stand up against the US president, against Trump, on this front.

And we see it again here today, Mr. Speaker. We saw it just moments ago where this government was unwilling to stand up and use their voice to condemn the incredibly wrong-headed, inappropriate, unacceptable statements of the president, Mr. Speaker. And we saw them go to great lengths here to contort themselves and switch around a motion, Mr. Speaker, to prevent them from having to say anything tough to President Trump, which is I guess a reflection of who these guys are, a shadow of their former selves, Mr. Speaker, and weak in face of these challenges.

Now it seems that the member for Meadow Lake is going to threaten J.D. Vance with some sort of tickle fight and whisker rub, Mr. Speaker, in face of . . .

Speaker Goudy: — Okay, I allowed the member to get away with some things yesterday because we were full in the Chamber. And I would expect today that the member will hold his words to what would be expected for the hon. members on both sides of the House.

Trent Wotherspoon: — Mr. Speaker, we have unprecedented threats on our sovereignty and on our economy coming from an ally, a neighbour, a friend, and it’s completely unacceptable. And we should be strong and steely in our resolve and firm in our words how unacceptable this is, how clear we are that we will never be the 51st state, that we won’t be treated in these ways, and that we’re going to stand up for Saskatchewan people and workers and producers and industry and our economy across this province.

Of course this budget does none of those things, Mr. Speaker, but it is an honour to enter into this budget debate. I do so on behalf of the good people I represent, the constituents across Regina Mount Royal, Mr. Speaker. And I want to thank them for entrusting me to represent them in this Assembly.

[12:30]

As such, you know, we will continue to point a path forward for government that would make a difference in people’s lives. We’ll call out this budget that really defies reality, Mr. Speaker, that’s not based in the facts of what we face and that certainly doesn’t plan for the future.

I do want to recognize as well Jannet Shanks, as often we do. Just an incredible constituency assistant, servant of the people, Mr. Speaker, who goes out of her way to extend care and compassion and some of the best advocacy and service to those that we’re entrusted with the responsibility of serving, Mr. Speaker. And I want to thank Jannet Shanks for her incredible leadership and service to the good people that we represent.

I also want to just identify family, obviously as the members do in these moments. Just thanks so much to our family and to our extended family, to my parents and Stephanie’s parents, my sisters, and you know, the whole team.

And of course to Stephanie and William for being such awesome partners in life and as well in this service and in this work, Mr. Speaker. Of course, Stephanie is a dedicated teacher and teacher-librarian, Mr. Speaker, who works hard in that role and cares about what her and her staff team and what education provides to students, Mr. Speaker. Works incredibly hard on those fronts, Mr. Speaker.

And Willian, you know, he’s working hard in school and leaning into so many other good activities. Loving hockey these days, Mr. Speaker, still. Big playoff game tonight, Mr. Speaker, over at the Co-operators. It’s do or die, Mr. Speaker, so I hope we’re playing still on the weekend. But also loves the outdoors and arts and all these things, and it’s just awesome to watch him grow and to have him involved in all this work. And our families are a big part of supporting our service and supporting that work.

Mr. Speaker, I’ve been pretty clear about where this budget misses the mark. You know, nothing with respect to an economic plan. No plan around tariffs. No measures to step up and help and build out some of the transportation infrastructure that would support trade, Mr. Speaker. No incorporation even of budget impacts as a result of tariffs.

Every other province, of course, is stepping forward and incorporating the impacts of tariffs in some way or another. Contingency plans are part of that in most provinces, Mr. Speaker. But certainly incorporating the fiscal and economic impacts of tariffs into the budget is simply the duty of the Finance minister and of a government who’s entrusted with that responsibility.

And you know, it’s just completely wrong and unacceptable that this government would bring forward a budget that doesn’t incorporate the reality that we’re facing, let alone have a plan to be there for our economy, for workers, for producers, for industry across Saskatchewan or for people and families and seniors who are also caught up in more increases to their cost of living, beat-up savings and pensions, Mr. Speaker. And a government that, during a time of unprecedented cost-of-living challenges, has only made things worse.

Now they’re looking another challenge in the eye here with respect to potential cost-of-living increases as a result of this trade war. And they have a government that hasn’t been there for them in the past but has only made things worse with more taxes and more costs, Mr. Speaker. And you know, it leaves people in a very vulnerable spot, in a stress spot when they look at what they’re facing on these fronts, Mr. Speaker.

Of course we look at the budget through the lens of health and education. Those actions just aren’t there. We see a cut to the health funding, and you know, it’s hard to imagine that a government would choose to cut health funding at a time where families can’t access a family doctor, or anyone that’s rolled into an ER at a time where they need care and they’re there and see the overwhelmed ERs or the hospitals, Mr. Speaker, or those that are waiting on the longest surgery wait-lists in Canada, often in agony as they wait, or you know, so many women now that aren’t provided basic cancer care, Mr. Speaker, who are sent to Calgary, out of province on their own dime to have a mammogram or for a breast biopsy.

This is a system that has really been broken — health care — by the current government, and cuts like this and a failure to have a plan to build a labour force and bring these solutions home just don’t cut it with Saskatchewan people, Mr. Speaker.

Same in education. We need an adequate budget. This government that drove us to last place in per-student funding, you know, Mr. Speaker, and that’s created serious pressure in classrooms, the classrooms right across the schools that I represent, Mr. Speaker. It does nothing to provide those supports, Mr. Speaker, to build some of those back. It does nothing to enable some of the renewal of infrastructure.

I mean, something you’ll have heard me talk about lots in this legislature was the closure of Dieppe School, of course, Mr. Speaker, and you know, that happened under the cuts of this Sask Party government. That school still stands there. Regina Public Schools still retains it and maintains it and holds it there. It’s very important to the community of Dieppe, Mr. Speaker. Very important as well, it served Westerra in such a good way.

But it makes no sense for the school boards to be shorted of the resources they need. We need to be investing in education to make sure that every last classroom has the supports in place to support student learning, and we need the investment in place to allow school boards like Regina Public to be able to reopen Dieppe School to serve the broader community, Mr. Speaker.

I look forward tonight, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to be hanging with the community. And it’s perfect timing with budget. Tonight it’s the Rosemont Mount Royal Community Association AGM [annual general meeting]. I look forward to being there. And like the work that these community associations — I represent various communities; this is one large one — the work they do, the service they provide is absolutely remarkable, and the dedication. I look forward to joining them, Mr. Speaker.

Good timing as well with budget. Certainly I’ll look forward to any of the questions and insight they have on those fronts as well. But they’re very much representative of all the communities I represent. Dieppe-Westerra, Mr. Speaker. Certainly Normanview West and Prairie View. Across further west to Fairways West and Westhill and Edgewater, Greenside Terrace. These communities are all enriched by the service and the volunteerism and the care of neighbours and service, Mr. Speaker.

And I want to thank all those community associations across their respective communities, and I look forward to joining one here tonight. The crew I join here tonight, Mr. Speaker, it was just a couple weeks ago . . . We’ve started a bit of an annual tradition together where towards the end of the Outdoor Hockey League season — for which I continue to be lucky enough to be a volunteer coach with — towards the end of the season the community association and the SCCs, the local school community councils, they come together and provide chili. And we bring community together, no cost, and serve up lots of food and incredible fellowship as well, Mr. Speaker.

That’s just a demonstration of what community’s all about. And I’m damn lucky to work with all of these good people. And I know it’s also a reflection frankly of communities across Saskatchewan — rural and urban, south and north. This is what Saskatchewan is all about, Mr. Speaker.

I touched on yesterday obviously like just the reckless plan to have . . . or lack of plan, to not respond to the economic challenges and tariffs in this budget. I mean, it’s totally unacceptable. I touched on the health and education inadequacies, Mr. Speaker. I touched on the lack of affordability that’s been offered up by this government, a government that’s mismanaged our finances, whose mismanagement, scandal, and waste has really come home to roost. And you see it in the debt numbers that have ballooned by this government, but you also see it — and this is real impact — in the costs that have then been pushed onto Saskatchewan people, which are totally unacceptable.

You see it in the budget where we’re now spending over a billion dollars in debt servicing, Mr. Speaker, an increase of over $100 million. That’s a billion dollars not going into priorities of Saskatchewan people. Or you see it in all the taxes that have been imposed at a time where families can least afford it, Mr. Speaker. And certainly now is a time where families are really in need of relief, where they need to have a life that’s more affordable. There’s inordinate pressure and hardship on people that are working so damned hard just to care for their families, right, and to put food on the table. And so a government should always be working to make things better, not tougher as we’ve seen from this government.

So I highlighted yesterday the fiscal, just, record of this government, which of course is a really, really poor one, Mr. Speaker. One of mismanagement, one of not getting it done during the best days in this province’s history, not able to save a dime, draining every dollar that was there, piling on debt and more, and then sticking people with the costs in taxes.

But I also want to focus in on the shadow responsibility just a bit further, as I did yesterday, around agriculture, Mr. Speaker, a responsibility I share with our leader on this front. And it’s fair to say that this is a challenge time for agriculture in this province in face of these threats. We have many, many industries that are directly impacted by the unacceptable threats and actions by the US, the actions by China and it impacts the farm gate, impacts hard-working producers all across this province, Mr. Speaker.

You know, we can look at the impact on canola alone — a collapsing price, a loss of $2 a bushel already, Mr. Speaker, which is really huge. You know, that’s significant and those are real losses, real costs for producers across Saskatchewan, and represent huge uncertainty as well for producers as they go into a growing season. There’s pressures like this right across commodities, pressures as well on the beef and livestock sector, Mr. Speaker.

You know, with respect in a very focused way to canola, certainly, I mean, this was signalled in August of last year that China may retaliate in some way. And you know, it’s frankly really disappointing that our provincial and federal government didn’t step up and work to resolve this before producers were left to take the hit.

We’re here where we are now, but you didn’t hear much from this provincial government, Mr. Speaker, in the months since August when this was intimated. Now it’s producers that are left with the impacts, and we need a steadfast focus and serious action from this provincial government with the federal government to resolve this trade matter, to end this absolutely unacceptable tariff on canola by the Chinese government, Mr. Speaker.

They need to be engaged. There needs to be action on this front. There needs to be resolution. And as I’ve said, as we’ve said, we are supportive of Canada cancelling their tariff on Chinese EVs [electric vehicle] if that’s a tool to work to resolve this matter. But plain and simple, the provincial government, the federal government, they need to get serious on this. They need to get it resolved because it’s producers that are paying the price right now, Mr. Speaker.

You know, we see the impacts on the beef side as well. You saw feeder cattle drop in a big way with the threats of tariffs, Mr. Speaker. Uncertainty in a fully integrated industry there, and an industry that needs to be supported in better ways as well. We don’t have the adequate . . . And these are some of the things that need to be done regardless of what we’re dealing with south of the border and the current threats. We need to get an actual solid backstop and work directly with livestock producers to make that happen, Mr. Speaker.

You know, if you look at livestock price insurance, for example, Mr. Speaker. Of course, you know, on most of the other programs, all the grain programs, those are cost-shared on the premium side by the provincial and the federal government. That’s not the case for the livestock sector with livestock price insurance, Mr. Speaker, and it’s a matter of equity and fairness. It’s also a matter of how critical it is to have solid backstops in place to provide protection to producers. So it’s well past time that this provincial government step up to the plate to contribute along with the federal government ensuring, you know, premiums to livestock price insurance and livestock business risk management programs to ensure they have the backstop they deserve.

I know there’s some important improvements as well with respect to AgriStability that we will push forward as well, that we’ve been advocating for, Mr. Speaker.

[12:45]

And when we look at that livestock sector as well, like we have the best beef in the world, Mr. Speaker, something we should be so proud of. Livestock producers play such an important role in maintenance of grass and native prairie, Mr. Speaker, as good stewards of the land and of wetlands. And so they play a real important role, as well as sequestration of carbon, but we need to make sure that we have the economics and the backstop that works for them.

Something that they’re up against — and so are consumers — is the anticompetitive out-of-province meat-packing duopoly in this country, Mr. Speaker, that compromises our food supply in this country and that shorts producers of a fair price on their cattle. And you know, we’ve called for action on this for a long time. We need this provincial government to also work with the federal government but critically as provincial government to use their voice and show some leadership to address those anticompetitive behaviours of the out-of-province, multinational, out-of-country meat packers, Mr. Speaker.

And in so doing when we address that duopoly and address those anticompetitive behaviours, we really need to work with Saskatchewan producers and communities and business to build up meat processing in this province; to create those jobs across this province, Mr. Speaker, small and large; to make sure that producers across this province have those options and those markets available to them that only strengthens our economy, strengthens the position for livestock producers in this province. But it also creates really good local jobs and good economic development, Mr. Speaker, and really good choice for consumers.

You know, I know a lot of Saskatchewan people that take great pride in supporting local and supporting local producers and that field-to-fork experience, Mr. Speaker. And you know, this is something that we should really be leading on. It’s an area we’ve really pushed and will continue to. I want to thank the livestock sector and producers across the province for all their voice and leadership and work on this front as well, Mr. Speaker.

And in this case, it’s about getting value and positioning our cattle producers for success, our livestock sector for success, ensuring fairness for them. But it’s also about addressing affordability and ensuring fairness for consumers who — you know, when you look at the anticompetitive meat packers and this industry — who often are subject to paying through the nose at the grocery store, Mr. Speaker. And meanwhile the livestock producer is also being shorted in the exercise, Mr. Speaker.

I want to speak as well just to something that we’ve pushed for, for a long time, but it’s just how naive frankly the country has been and certainly this province in leaning into addressing our inadequate and underperforming transportation system. You know when it comes to the rail side, it’s been with kid gloves that this government has dealt with the duopoly, Mr. Speaker. And it’s been producers that have been left paying the price. It’s been exporters all across this province who have been left paying the price.

It’s well past time that we need to lean into building out the kind of transportation system that will serve us today and well into the future, that will allow us to get our products to new markets and to diversify those markets. So serious leaning into building rail and port capacity, Mr. Speaker, as well as properly supporting shortlines in this province who play an important role in this province and can play a larger role when we look at some of the larger projects that could come online. As well as building out the movement of our energy, the movement of that oil, getting it to diversified markets, getting it to the East Coast, the pipeline to the East, Mr. Speaker.

These are very important measures for our economy and for the future. They’re important today, Mr. Speaker, because the reality, you know, the reality even without all these trade challenges that we’re facing right now is that our transportation system just hasn’t been up to the challenge.

And you see it if you get a big crop here in the province. You know, producers simply can’t get that product to market in a timely way, and when they don’t, when the shippers don’t get that grain to market, when those railcars don’t show up on time at the ports, it’s producers who pay the price, Mr. Speaker. They’re charged demurrage, of course, something we think that shouldn’t be allowed, but that’s the consequence. And they’re stuck paying that bill as that train is moved or not moving that grain to market. If that ship is there at the terminal and that product hasn’t gotten to market on time, it’s the producer who actually pays the penalty, Mr. Speaker.

I want to touch as well on just, you know, the file. Something we’ve pushed for a long time, something that the public is really calling for right now as well is that the lax approach to enforcing The Farm Land Security Act doesn’t cut it. And you know, we’ve given voice to this for a long time.

This is a government who has a law in place, the farm land ownership. We have the Farm Land Security Board, who are in such an important role and play such a vital role to all of this, but they’ve been under-resourced and haven’t been provided the tools they need to enforce this Act.

And the consequence of this is, you know, the acquisition of . . . foreign, illegal acquisition of farm land, Mr. Speaker. And you know, that’s not fair; that’s not right. It’s not in the interests of local communities. It’s not in the interest of Saskatchewan producers. It’s not fair to them, Mr. Speaker, to be competing with an illegal purchase that brings in capital from other markets, Mr. Speaker, whether that be China or whether that be the US, Mr. Speaker.

And it’s long past time that this government act on this. We’ve been calling on them for well over a decade on this front, Mr. Speaker. And there’s very common-sense measures. We’re going to have more to bring on this. We’ve been doing a lot of work with producers on this front. But you know, it’s something we’ve been calling for for years. It’s having that statutory declaration of beneficial interest or ownership attached to the land title, really is a critical piece to this. And we’ve been calling for it for years. This government’s looked the other way. They’ve brought kid gloves to this challenge. Meanwhile our agricultural landscape has had significant change. And at the end of the day, if you’re going to have a law, you need to enforce it. So this is what this government needs to figure out, Mr. Speaker.

We’ve given voice as well of course that, you know, it’s not in our interests to have this large consolidation, anticompetitive consolidation, through the merger of American multinational Bunge with Viterra, Mr. Speaker — headquartered here in Regina, an institution in this province with grain-handling facilities and operations all across this province. We know producers have been clear on this front, Mr. Speaker. And I want to thank the producers of Saskatchewan, Sask Wheat, SaskBarley, all the economists that have leaned into this, Mr. Speaker, the people of the province who have assessed this and sized it up and said, yeah, no, this isn’t in our interests.

It represents putting producers at a competitive disadvantage around things like transportation and ports. It’s a direct hit on farming, comes across Saskatchewan at a time where I can’t imagine that we’d find that acceptable. And of course it puts at risk jobs here in Regina, leadership, head office jobs in that awesome operation. I want to give a shout-out to the awesome team that leads the way and all those that work for Viterra, incredible leaders in this province, Mr. Speaker. And puts at risk all the jobs all across Saskatchewan for grain handling, and puts canola crush projects at risk and those jobs at risk at a time where we’ve got enough pressures in the world coming at agriculture. I can’t imagine how a government would think it’s acceptable to simply have a merger, that has these detrimental impacts on our economy and producers, allowed.

But they’ve been missing in action from the get-go on this, Mr. Speaker, completely silent. And, you know, we’ll continue to call for them to find their feet, use their voice. But it’s getting late, Mr. Speaker, because we’ve had the whole process with the Competition Bureau and with Transport Canada, and these guys couldn’t find their feet, couldn’t find their voice to stand up for our economy and for producers in the province, Mr. Speaker.

With that being said, I know I’m mindful of the time and that I’ve spoken a bit. I want to thank everyone that I get to work with, all my colleagues on this side of the House, our leader, the serious and caring ways that they approach their work. I want to thank members on the other side. And I’m hopeful. I know this budget’s been, you know, kind of jarring in the sense of just the disconnect and how divorced it is from reality and the challenges we face. But you know, I hope that in the coming days we can find some new approaches. I’ve found it disappointing that we couldn’t unite on some of these very clear matters that are threats to our economy and to producers and to workers and our industries. I hope to see change.

I know there’s lots of people I value and enjoy over there, lots of new backbenchers that are just kind of finding their feet. You know, I call on them to provide some of the leadership in that caucus, to recognize who they represent, never be afraid to use their voice at their caucus table with the cabinet, Mr. Speaker, if they’re sort of being pushed back or marginalized or squashed in those conversations. Don’t let that happen.

This is a very important time for our province. And as often as we can, it’s in our interests to be able to work forward in a constructive, unified way out of this Assembly. But, Mr. Speaker, clearly we won’t be supporting a budget that fails to plan for the future, that, you know, isn’t based in facts, that makes cuts in health and education. And at this point in time, I’ll move a motion to this effect, Mr. Speaker.

My motion reads:

That all words after “Assembly” be omitted and the following be inserted:

does not approve the budgetary policy of the government because it proposes cuts to health care and education while failing to respond to the threat and impact of tariffs, including those by Donald Trump; and further,

That the Assembly has lost confidence in the government.

So moved.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the member from Regina Mount Royal, seconded by the member from Regina South Albert:

That all the words after “Assembly” be omitted and the following be inserted:

does not approve the budgetary policy of the government because it proposes cuts to health care and education while failing to respond to the threat and impacts of tariffs, including those imposed by Donald Trump; and further,

That the Assembly has lost confidence in the government.

Is the Assembly ready for the question? I recognize the member from White City . . . Oh, you’ll be seconding. Okay, I recognize the member from White City-Qu’Appelle . . . [inaudible interjection] . . . It has to be the seconder. I recognize the member from Regina South Albert.

Aleana Young: — Well thank you, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I want to start by thanking you for that warm welcome to this budget response debate. And recognizing the time, I just want to take a minute — the last minute that I have — to thank all the folks who work in this building. Everyone from the folks in the cafeteria to the building staff to the wonderful folks at Hansard, as well as all of our staff on both sides of this Assembly.

Our crew in opposition is absolutely amazing. In our caucus office, we’re so lucky to be joined by some of the best and brightest that Saskatchewan has. And I also want to recognize the staff who work for members opposite. We do have the opportunity to work with your staff — often through casework, work with your offices — and the support and the relationships that we’re able to build as we’re advocating for real people in Saskatchewan is truly appreciated. So my thanks to those staff as well.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I’d also like to take a minute to thank my wonderful colleagues, many of whom are here for their first budget response. I love budget day, Mr. Speaker. It’s one of my favourite days in this House. The energy, just the presence of people as was spoken to yesterday, the leaders from all over the province who come because they care about this building, which truly is the people’s building. It’s a wonderful day. I may have some differing thoughts on the budget itself. But I wanted to thank my colleagues for what will be wonderful entries on the budget response speech as we get into it over the next week.

Speaker Goudy: — Well it now being 1:00 p.m., this Assembly stands adjourned until Monday at 1:30. Thank you.

[The Assembly adjourned at 13:00.]

Published under the authority of the Hon. Todd Goudy, Speaker

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