Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Well thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s really a pleasure today to introduce a guest who I actually have not got the chance to introduce in this House in the 18 years that I’ve had the privilege of sitting there, and that is my mother, who is sitting up in the west gallery. My mom, Lorna, came down, and she’s here for the opening of the Assembly. So I would ask all members to join with me in welcoming my mom.

And accompanying my mom is actually, I think, her adopted granddaughter for many years now, who is also my chief of staff, Emma Long. So join in welcoming my mom, Lorna, and Emma to their Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Advanced Education.

Hon. Ken Cheveldayoff: — Well thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I think we’ll all be interested to see how well-behaved the member from Meadow Lake is today. So it’s great to have his mom in the legislature as well.

Mr. Speaker, to you and through you, I want to introduce to you three good friends of mine sitting in the gallery. No stranger to this legislature, Gord Wyant, the former member for Saskatoon Northwest and also former minister of Advanced Education. Yesterday in the Speech from the Throne, advanced education was highlighted. Gord was the author on the government side of the multi-year funding agreement, which we’ll be hearing more about here in this legislature as well.

Wade MacBain joins us today. He comes to us from Nova Scotia, a long time ago. He’s made Saskatchewan his home. He’s an entrepreneur, a volunteer, and has added so much to his province of Saskatchewan. He’s now an executive with VersaBank.

Joining them is Kirsten Marcia, the CEO [chief executive officer] of DEEP [Deep Earth Energy Production Corp.], the geothermal. Members from both sides of the House, I think, have had an opportunity to tour that facility and see the innovation in leading-edge technology that Kirsten is implementing in our province.

So to all colleagues, please help me in welcoming these three outstanding individuals to their Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Chief Mistawasis.

Don McBean: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my great honour to join in welcoming Gord Wyant. He represented Northwest from 2010 on. You go back further, he was a school board trustee when I joined Saskatoon Public Schools. He was a city councillor for quite a while. And what a thrill it is for me to be here and welcoming Gord. Thank you very much.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Cypress Hills.

Doug Steele: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take this moment to introduce a young fellow at the back here. Everyone knows him, the Hon. Fred Bradshaw, the amazing butter tart, brownie maker. He proved himself again today; he brought us a whole bunch of snacks and that type of thing. So I’d like to ask everyone to help me welcome Fred back to his legislature. Thank you.

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

Joan Pratchler: — I’d also like to welcome a guest to the legislature. To you and through you, I’d like to introduce Tracey McKee. She works in the child care sector and is the director of Wise Owl daycare here in Regina. Her organization has been around for 43 years, and they have 51 spaces here in Regina. They have 25 staff. And welcome, Tracey, to your legislature. And with that I’d like to invite all members to join me in welcoming Tracey to her legislature.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Weyburn-Bengough.

Michael Weger: — Yes, good morning. And thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to introduce my second-oldest daughter Meaghan Weger to the legislature. Meaghan has now moved up to Regina. She’s attending the U of R [University of Regina] in pre-social work. And we’re very proud of her. And of course she’s accompanied by my wife, Cara, as well. So I’d ask all members to join me in welcoming Meaghan to her Legislative Assembly.

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

Noor Burki: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, it’s my pleasure to have a class over here from Harvest City school, about 10 students, grade 10. They are accompanied by a very incredible teacher, Hayleigh Piok. Thank you very much for coming to the Legislative Assembly.

I will be just saying two highlights about this school: that I was a driver educator for this school for almost 13 years, and the second one is that school is one of the most diverse schools in the province, well, in Regina for sure. I will say that I will join all the members to join me to welcome all future faces to their Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Canora-Pelly.

Sean Wilson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, I’d like to introduce two very special people up in the crowd. Up on the far left is Dwayne Mydonick. He’s in your gallery. Dwayne Mydonick, he was the guy that helped me reassemble all the signs after the 100‑mile-an-hour wind last year.

And next to him is Keri Gardner. Keri is one of my constituency assistants in Preeceville, but in addition to that, she’s the administrator for the village of Buchanan where I originally came from before I got into this. So I invite all members to welcome both of them to their Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina South Albert.

Aleana Young: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of the official opposition, it’s my pleasure to also rise and recognize Kirsten Marcia, pioneer of geothermal here in Saskatchewan — I’ve had the privilege of following your career for the past 15 years and all the incredible work that DEEP is doing — as well as Wade MacBain, known entrepreneur and community leader, here in the legislature.

And of course former minister Wyant and former member opposite Fred Bradshaw, who folks tell me is a pretty good guy but unfortunately a bit of a crooked shot. So with that, on behalf of the official opposition, I ask all members to join me in welcoming these folks to their Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — Well our Minister of Health isn’t here to introduce his dad. I like the guy though so, Mr. Cockrill, welcome here all the way from British Columbia. So on behalf of the legislature, welcome to Saskatchewan, and good to have you here today.

PRESENTING PETITIONS

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

Brent Blakley: — Good morning, Mr. Speaker. I rise in the Assembly today to present a petition calling on the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan to implement rent control.

These residents of the province of Saskatchewan wish to bring attention to the following: Saskatchewan leads the nation in average rent increases; Saskatchewan’s average rent continues to increase, rising 4 per cent just last year; average rent in Regina has gone up 3.9 per cent in the last year and 5.4 per cent in Saskatoon; rent control would protect tenants from excessive and unreasonable rent increases; British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island have all implemented rent control.

The prayer reads as follows:

We respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to immediately protect tenants and implement rent control.

Mr. Speaker, the signatories today reside in Saskatoon. I do so present.

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

Bhajan Brar: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the Assembly to raise the issue for a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan to address the child care crisis.

We, the undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan, wish to bring to your attention the following: that renewing the $10‑per-day child care deal is necessary for children, their families, and child care providers; that the $10 child care deal serves as critical infrastructure vital to our economy; that the creation of an equitable funding formula and a recruitment and retention program are necessary to address the crisis in our child care system; that educators deserve a salary grid and a pension and benefit program that recognizes experience and education; and that child care centres impacted by the delay in getting a federal-provincial deal and the existing inequitable funding formula require emergency funding to continue current operations.

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to immediately collaborate with child care stakeholders to address the challenges of funding and the recruitment and retention of early child care educators, and immediately sign the $10‑per-day child care deal.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This petition has been signed by residents of Saskatoon. I do so present. Thank you.

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

Tajinder Grewal: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to present a petition to adequately fund post-secondary institutions.

The undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan wish to bring to your attention the following: that since 2018 tuition has increased by 34.2 per cent in Saskatchewan and that Saskatchewan has the second-highest tuition in Canada; that post-secondary students are already under financial pressure with the rising cost of living, rising cost of rent and food, with many working multiple jobs and relying on student loans; that in order for Saskatchewan to lead in innovation and economic success, Saskatchewan must prioritize the success of post-secondary students and that includes properly funding post-secondary institutions.

And with that, Mr. Speaker, I will say the prayer:

Respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to immediately provide adequate funding to post-secondary institutions to ensure that costs are not passed on to tuition fees.

The petition has been signed by residents of Regina. I do so present.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Walsh Acres.

Jared Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to present our petition calling for the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan to fix the crisis in health care.

The undersigned residents would like to bring to our attention the following: that in the past five years health care closures across rural Saskatchewan disrupted services for a total of 8,613 days; that 3,953 of those days were disruptions in Saskatchewan emergency rooms, and for the first time an emergency room in one of our major cities shut down due to staff shortages; that it is unacceptable that women in this province are being forced to travel out of province for routine breast cancer diagnostic care; and that Saskatchewan people deserve to have adequate and accessible health care where and when they need it.

I’ll read the prayer, Mr. Speaker:

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request that the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to immediately address the short-staffing crisis in health care and work with health care workers on solutions to improve patient care.

Mr. Speaker, the signatories today reside in Saskatoon. I do so present.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Athabasca.

Leroy Laliberte: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to present a petition to the Government of Saskatchewan to step up for Indigenous students in Saskatchewan.

We, the undersigned, call on the Saskatchewan government to take immediate action and stand up for Indigenous children and vulnerable students by advocating for the full restoration of funding previously supported by Jordan’s principle. Jordan’s principle was established to ensure that First Nations children had equitable access and services they need, including supports in schools.

I’ll read the prayer:

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan stand up for Saskatchewan and advocate for restoration of federal Jordan’s principle funding to support Indigenous students in schools, to ensure the education support workers and resources, staffing they need to keep the classrooms safe and support every student’s learning journey.

[10:15]

The signatories are from Pierceland and Waterhen Lake. I do so present.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from . . . [inaudible interjection] . . . Adjusting the chair. I already broke the rules today too but there we go.

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Speaker Goudy: — First day back after summer holidays. So I recognize the member from Saskatoon Stonebridge.

Toronto Blue Jays Playing in World Series

Darcy Warrington: — Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the shadow minister for Parks, Culture and Sport to recognize and appreciate the achievements of Canada’s team, the Toronto Blue Jays.

After dismantling the Yankees and winning a thrilling seven-game series against the Seattle Mariners, the Jays are headed back to the World Series for the first time in 32 years. This great feat will inspire the next generation of Canadian baseball players the same way that Joe Carter and Roberto Alomar did in the ’90s.

With everything that has happened the last year between us and the Americans, we’re so glad that Canada’s team won the American League pennant with a Canadian, Vladdy Jr., winning series MVP [most valuable player]. We already have a Canadian heritage moment with the Springer dinger, and our entire nation is ready to get excited. Bring it home boys. Saskatchewan and Canada are cheering you on.

A Jays poem from Regina:

’Twas the day before game 1 and all through the House,

MLAs were all stirring, for the Jays not a mouse.

Our flags and our jerseys and hats worn with pride,

Knowing soon World Series champs in Toronto reside.

The children all gathered round TVs at dinner,

Will cheer for the Blue Jays, more dingers from Springer.

On Varsho, on Scherzer, on Kirk in blue caps,

Will soon send the Dodgers for a long winter’s nap.

LA hears our cheers from Outlook to Ontario.

We call your Ohtani and raise you Guerrero.

Get excited. Let’s go Jays!

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Dakota-Arm River.

Celebrating Education Week

Barret Kropf: — Mr. Speaker, Saskatchewan schools are giving our students their best start, and I’m pleased to be on my feet this morning to acknowledge that this week is being recognized as Education Week here in Saskatchewan. This year’s theme for Education Week is “Seeds of Learning, Roots to Success.”

This theme reminds us that a quality education means providing a place where students can grow, build skills, and acquire knowledge, establishing a foundation for lifelong learning and success.

Mr. Speaker, our government continues to put students first by promoting outcomes in K to 3 [kindergarten to grade 3] literacy, investing in new schools, adding more teachers, and putting more supports in places like the specialized support classrooms so more students can receive space, support, and the resources they need to succeed.

This week we celebrate the important role education plays in the development of well-being for all learners. On behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan, I want to thank our teachers, our school staff, the division staff, and all those who are part of this inspirational part to supporting our students.

And I’d like to encourage everyone to take the time to extend a thank you to a teacher or a staff member and celebrate all that they do. Happy Education Week everybody.

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

Raising Awareness during Invisible Disabilities Week

Brittney Senger: — Mr. Speaker, this week is Invisible Disabilities Week, a time to recognize the many people in Saskatchewan living with conditions that are not immediately visible but that significantly impact their daily lives.

Invisible disabilities can include mental health challenges, chronic pain, brain injuries, neurological conditions, and many others. These are real, often debilitating conditions, yet those living with them are frequently met with misunderstanding, stigma, and a lack of support.

Mr. Speaker, in Saskatchewan, too many people living with invisible disabilities are falling through the cracks. Whether it’s facing a lack of understanding and empathy from others, waiting months for mental health services, navigating complex systems to access support, or facing barriers to workplace accommodations, these individuals are left to advocate for themselves.

Mr. Speaker, everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and supported. That means ensuring everyone has access to health care, improving accessibility, and ensuring government programs are designed in consultation with people who have disabilities.

This week let us recommit to building a province where every person is seen, heard, and treated with dignity and respect.

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

Regina Breast Health Centre Offers Streamlined Cancer Care

Blaine McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recently had the opportunity to tour the new breast health centre in Regina and found myself very moved and continuing to think about it weeks later. As someone who has breast cancer in the family, I know how gripping it is. The diagnosis and treatment is extremely difficult. And then the fear the rest of the women in the family live with is a lifelong plight.

Since opening on April 23rd of this year, the centre has had over 1,328 referrals as of October the 14th. Urgent biopsies are available within the target of three weeks. As well, surgical times are now within target. Our government’s $8 million investment in this clinic has provided a state-of-the-art facility to the women of southern Saskatchewan.

This clinic has a unique and well-planned format bringing all supports for women together in one location, including brand new seed localization technology which allows tumours to be precisely identified up to 30 days before surgery.

I had a breast cancer survivor tell me how dignified the new clinic is. Breast cancer is a very personal diagnosis and this clinic offers privacy at every stage, and the design is bright and welcoming.

I’d like to thank Kerri Hysuick and Richard Dagenais for the great tour and the excellent work that their team is doing to bring this new clinic format to life. They are providing timely care and answers for the women of Saskatchewan like never before. Mr. Speaker, the women of Saskatchewan will receive the strong, safe, and secure care they deserve when they need it most.

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

Addressing Homelessness

Vicki Mowat: — Homelessness is one of the most pressing and complex challenges facing communities across Saskatchewan. And after 18 years in government, the Sask Party government has completely failed to address homelessness.

In my home city of Saskatoon, homelessness has tripled in two years. In Saskatoon Fairview, residents have voiced serious concerns about the shelter located in Fairhaven. While there is no question that shelter space is urgently needed, concentrating more than 100 beds in one location has created ongoing safety concerns for nearby families.

For years I have called on the Sask Party government to take leadership over the homelessness crisis in Saskatoon. Recently I sent my fourth letter to the Minister of Social Services, this time to request that the government cap the number of beds in Fairhaven, distribute resources more evenly across the city, and meaningfully consult with local residents before establishing new shelters.

In the official opposition, we continue to press for affordable and supportive housing. Saskatchewan has more than 2,000 public housing units sitting vacant. These are homes that could be renovated and used to help get people off the streets. We also continue to urge the government to restore direct payment to landlords under SIS [Saskatchewan income support] and expand social service supports. Every person in our province deserves a safe place to call home. It’s time to step up.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Yorkton.

Economic Indicators Show Positive Momentum

David Chan: — It’s another great day in Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker. I have got some exciting news to share with the Assembly on the state of our economy. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week Statistics Canada released data showing that Saskatchewan is first in building construction investment month over month.

We’re also outpacing all other provinces in the number of housing starts. In the first nine months of 2025, housing starts have increased almost 50 per cent compared to the same period in 2024. More people are choosing to work and put down roots in our community.

Our real GDP [gross domestic product] is now at an all-time high of 80.5 billion in 2025, Mr. Speaker — over 80 billion in GDP — an increase of 2.6 billion over last year.

The world is choosing to invest in Saskatchewan. Stats Canada projects that private capital investment in this province is going to reach over 16 billion in 2025, a 10 per cent increase from 2024.

The number of jobs keeps growing alongside our population. Nineteen thousand full-time jobs year over year have been added, and we have the second-lowest unemployment rate in Canada. Mr. Speaker, our economy is strong, and we’re going to continue to build on this momentum to deliver for the Saskatchewan people. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Batoche.

Opposition Position on Provincial Issues

Darlene Rowden: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This year’s NDP [New Democratic Party] convention has shown once again how lost and reckless they really are. They will say one thing in press releases and media scrums, but once the doors are closed their worst instincts come out on full display.

They passed a resolution at convention to end the coal industry, calling it the dirtiest form of electricity generation. Mr. Speaker, jobs that feed and heat thousands of homes in our province are not dirty jobs.

The NDP want you to believe they support nuclear, but they proposed a resolution opposing nuclear. They want people to believe they support our resource industry but proposed a resolution that would lead to tax hikes on our largest employers.

And while they say they support mandatory rehabilitation when appropriate, they put forward a resolution saying this strips individuals of their autonomy and dignity.

Mr. Speaker, strong leadership is saying the same thing in every room, and what we have seen is a lost and reckless NDP that will say one thing but will do another. Under this Premier, Saskatchewan will be strong, safe, and secure for years to come.

QUESTION PERIOD

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

Cost of Living and Affordability Measures

Carla Beck: — Mr. Speaker, yesterday’s Throne Speech painted a rather rosy picture, and if you weren’t paying attention or you didn’t know better, you might believe that everything is just fine.

But Saskatchewan people, Mr. Speaker, they know better. They report the highest rate of financial insecurity in the entire country. Earlier this week, Statistics Canada released the inflation numbers. Saskatchewan has seen the highest growth in grocery prices and the second-highest climb when it comes to the cost of rent.

Mr. Speaker, after 18 years in power, the Sask Party has nothing to offer those who are struggling to pay their bills. The question is, why is this government not offering anything to people in this province who are struggling just to make ends meet?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Mr. Speaker, well we certainly have heard from Saskatchewan people with respect to the challenges that we in this province and across this nation are facing as families, Mr. Speaker, with increasing inflation at the grocery store and housing.

Mr. Speaker, I would just say that in the most recent election in the province of Saskatchewan the people of this province made a choice when it comes to relative affordability plans. Between the members opposite, Mr. Speaker, and a fifth-term Saskatchewan Party government in Saskatchewan, that choice was very clear, Mr. Speaker. And those commitments that were made in that campaign were followed up by this Deputy Premier, our Minister of Finance, in the budget, Mr. Speaker, and I would say in this particular Throne Speech that was released yesterday, Mr. Speaker.

“Strong, Safe, Secure” was the title of that Throne Speech, Mr. Speaker. It’s a strong economy. It’s safer communities, and it’s securing our future. Securing our future with investments in education and health care, Mr. Speaker, all the while ensuring, ensuring that our great province continues to be the most affordable place in Canada to live.

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

Impact of Tariffs on Agricultural Producers

Carla Beck: — Mr. Speaker, they’re failing to provide relief to those who are struggling with the cost of living. They’re also failing to provide relief to Saskatchewan farmers who are struggling, farmers who are facing the brunt of Chinese tariffs on our canola. Tariffs that are only in place because of the federal government’s tariffs on Chinese EVs [electric vehicle]. Chinese EVs — something they couldn’t say in their Throne Speech.

Let’s keep it simple. The Chinese EV tariffs need to go. And Saskatchewan people, Saskatchewan producers, deserve a leader who’s going to clearly fight for them, not flip-flop.

Will the Premier finally and clearly call for the federal government to scrap the Chinese EV tariffs?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

[10:30]

Hon. Scott Moe: — Mr. Speaker, obviously the Leader of the Opposition did not read the Speech from the Throne. Because in the third paragraph it starts to talk about our trade relations with China, Mr. Speaker, specific to EVs and canola, the EV and canola situation as well as pulses, pork, and seafood as well, as we are Canadians, Mr. Speaker.

I would then point the member that is heckling as well, Mr. Speaker, to page 4, where we again talk in six different occasions in this Speech from the Throne on the importance of removing the EV tariffs, Mr. Speaker. The federal government removing the EV tariffs so that we can open up our trade relations with China not only to the level that we had with respect to exporting them canola, pulse crops, and pork from this province specifically, but expanding the value of those exports into countries like China, United States, and the other 160 countries that we export to around the world, Mr. Speaker.

This government, the Saskatchewan government has been very clear from the very beginning — literally the day, the day that the anti-dumping investigation was announced by China, which was just a few days after the federal government announced EV tariffs, Mr. Speaker — and informed the federal government with respect to what the consequences will be to the canola industry and the Saskatchewan and Canadian agriculture industry, Mr. Speaker.

What has not been clear is why it took the NDP leader over seven months to make any comment on this on behalf of Saskatchewan producers at all.

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

Carla Beck: — Mr. Speaker, I thought I tossed in a pretty easy pitch here to the Premier — scrap the EV tariffs. But he can’t say it, Mr. Speaker. He’s waffled on this issue for a year, and he’s failed to stand up for Saskatchewan farmers.

Mr. Speaker, our producers feed the world, but they can’t do it with a boot on their neck. Since China imposed these tariffs, not a single shipment of canola has gone to China. It’s sitting in bins while the bills for producers in this province are piling up and piling up.

Will the Premier explain to struggling producers why he has failed them so badly?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Mr. Speaker, there is a failure of Saskatchewan producers and all of those that work in the export industry across Canada, Mr. Speaker. It’s the members opposite and their party, not just provincially but nationally, Mr. Speaker.

It’s this government, it’s this government, Mr. Speaker, that’s the only government that has been on the ground in China. Only one government in the last six years has been on the ground in China, Mr. Speaker, alongside the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, advocating on behalf of Saskatchewan farmers and the 200,000 Canadians that work in the canola industry, Mr. Speaker.

That government, upon returning from China, was very quickly in Ottawa talking to the Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Trade on what needs to be done moving forward to remove these counter-tariffs that China has imposed on our industry, Mr. Speaker. Sitting alongside us was the canola producers association from across this province and across the nation. Sitting alongside us was the exporting industry, Mr. Speaker, and all the partners in that industry, Mr. Speaker.

No one on this side of the House, the Government of Saskatchewan, has not flip-flopped. We’ve been clear from the very beginning. The flip-flopping, Mr. Speaker, is the members opposite last September when this discussion started and the EV tariffs were imposed, Mr. Speaker. What were the members opposite doing? Campaigning on closing provincial trade offices across this world, Mr. Speaker. That is a flip-flop.

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

Letter from Health Care Staff and Provision of Health Care

Carla Beck: — Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised, Mr. Speaker. That Premier said two different things on two different call-in shows just this morning. Mr. Speaker, food, shelter, health — after 18 years this government is failing on front after front after front.

Let’s talk about health care. Earlier this week 450 front-line health care workers, doctors, nurses at the Royal University Hospital wrote an open letter outlining deplorable conditions. That’s right, Mr. Speaker, 450 doctors, nurses, even medical directors say that they’ve been proposing solutions to this government for over 18 months.

Why will no one in that government listen to these incredible front-line workers who are desperately trying to provide care to people in this province that they deserve?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — May I start off by just saying thank you, not only to these 450 front-line health care workers, Mr. Speaker, but to the tens of thousands of health care workers that are offering services in communities right across Saskatchewan. Let me say thank you for what you do each and every day. There isn’t a family that doesn’t in some way require those services at some point in time, including mine, Mr. Speaker. And I just want to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for the work that each of you do.

And there are investments that are being made, not just in the health human resource plan to bring more people into our health care delivery services, into the Saskatchewan Health Authority, but new and innovative ways to deliver health care. Most notably, here in Regina with the opening of an urgent care centre, 41,000 patients have been seen in that urgent care centre. It’s rivalling numbers of the emergency rooms here in Regina, Mr. Speaker.

And very shortly in Saskatoon we see the construction of not one urgent care centre, but we will see the opening of two of those urgent care centres, Mr. Speaker, to alleviate some of the pressures that we are seeing in our emergency rooms. Mr. Speaker, that’s investment that is necessary alongside the investment that we are making in each of our front-line health care workers across the province.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Walsh Acres.

Jared Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Based on that response from the Premier it is clear that they do not recognize the urgency of the crisis at the Royal University Hospital. Maybe, maybe they should try reading that letter signed by 450 health care workers. I’m going to read a quote: “Systemic inefficiencies are leading to unsustainable pressures on staff, increasing risk of patient harm, and exacerbating moral injury across the emergency sector.”

After 18 years, Mr. Speaker, our health care workers are at their breaking point and patients are being harmed. How does this Premier have the audacity to stand up in this House and defend this horrible record?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Well thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, earlier this week I did receive the letter from 450 front-line health care workers who work at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon. And you know, Mr. Speaker, when I read through the letter, I agree with much of the challenges they identified.

You know, Mr. Speaker, I think we agree on a lot. We want to improve patient flow, in Saskatoon especially, but right across the province, Mr. Speaker. We want to make sure that nurses and other front-line health care workers feel safe when they go to work, Mr. Speaker, and these are workplaces that are free of violence, Mr. Speaker.

And, Mr. Speaker, another interesting point in the letter was also expanding virtual care. That’s something that we’ve done across the province to keep rural emergency rooms open, something that the opposition, Mr. Speaker, has opposed every single step of the way.

But when it comes to Saskatoon, Mr. Speaker, we’re making significant investments in Saskatoon City Hospital to improve patient flow for all residents.

Speaker Goudy: — Just going to remind us that when someone’s giving a question or a response, we all need to listen. You’ll have your opportunities to ask those questions, to give those responses.

I recognize the member from Regina Walsh Acres.

Jared Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So according to the minister there, everything is great. That’s why 450 health care workers sent a letter to him begging for help.

The minister is normalizing the unacceptable conditions in Saskatchewan’s hospital. Again don’t take my word from it. Let’s quote from the letter: “Hallway nursing has become a normalized crisis response, but it places both patients and providers at significant risk.”

Vulnerable patients, elderly stroke victims, and human biowaste should not be in the same hallway in a hospital. That is not normal. That is not safe. But it’s what we’ve got after 18 years of Sask Party government. Is the minister going to listen to desperate health care workers and get their patients out of hospital hallways today?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Well, Mr. Speaker, I know this is our first day back here in session, Mr. Speaker, but you know, my colleague the Minister of Rural and Remote Health and I have been touring the province over the last several months, touring health care facilities in cities large and small, Mr. Speaker, talking directly to front-line health care workers and hearing their challenges.

And, Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is right. There are challenges in the system. But this is exactly why we’re taking action to deal with those challenges, and at the end of the day put patients first to make sure that patients get the best care possible, Mr. Speaker.

Again, specifically in Saskatoon, Mr. Speaker, I look at the $60 million we’re investing in Saskatoon City Hospital to realign services there to add 109 acute care beds and take services that quite frankly don’t belong in a hospital and putting them out in community making them more accessible to patients, Mr. Speaker.

These 109 new acute care beds in Saskatoon City Hospital are going to improve patient flow across all three hospitals in Saskatoon, Mr. Speaker. Again, making sure that patients have access to the care they need when they need it.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Walsh Acres.

Jared Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, it isn’t just health care workers who are sounding the alarm. Patients are speaking out too. Guy Pollock, an immunocompromised patient who has spent days in a busy hallway at Saskatoon’s Royal University Hospital, feared for his life. He estimated that nearly 2,000 people walked by his bed in the hallway during his time at RUH [Royal University Hospital]. He says, “I was really, really scared and petrified that I was going to catch something bad that might end my life.”

To the Minister of Health: why does he think it’s okay for an immunocompromised patient to receive care in the hospital’s hallway?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — You know, Mr. Speaker, I haven’t had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Pollock directly, Mr. Speaker. But I would say, you know, if that was my family member, if that was my relative, Mr. Speaker . . . I think we all in this House, and all across the province, we want the best possible health care for the people of this province, Mr. Speaker.

That’s exactly again, Mr. Speaker, why this government makes decisions to put patients first. This is why we’re making investments in Saskatoon not only at Saskatoon City Hospital, as I previously canvassed in an answer, but also at Royal University Hospital, Mr. Speaker.

In terms of improving patient flow, in terms of improving EMS [emergency medical services] offload delays, investments being made in the renovation of the intensive care unit, again, to make sure that there’s patient flow and we can get patients into rooms as soon as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Walsh Acres.

Jared Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Guy was one of the eight patients lining the hallway that day. This is the system Saskatchewan people have come to expect after 18 years of Sask Party government.

This is another quote from Guy:

If I get a slight infection, I have horrible breathing problems. So I’ve pretty well been isolating for the last few years with my bad COPD to stay away from anybody who might give me a cold.

And yet he is forced to spend days receiving care in a hallway in the hospital. What is the minister doing to address the concerns at RUH?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, certainly when I’ve had the opportunity to speak to patients all around the province . . . Whenever patients, Mr. Speaker, are dealing with chronic diseases like COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease], that’s extremely challenging, and I empathize with Mr. Pollock on that. That’s exactly why, specifically on COPD, Mr. Speaker, we’re introducing a COPD pathway to better improve patient access around the province.

But going back to Saskatoon, Mr. Speaker. Going back to Saskatoon, as I’ve previously outlined before, the investments that we’re making at RUH around the ICU [intensive care unit], around improving EMS offload delays — which are down 50 per cent year over year from last year, Mr. Speaker — as well as increasing acute care capacity in Saskatoon City Hospital, these are investments that are going to make a difference for patients, Mr. Speaker.

We’re pretty close to having 40 of those 109 beds ready to go this week, Mr. Speaker, at Saskatoon City Hospital. Again, that improves patient flow at all three Saskatoon facilities.

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

Supports for Post-Secondary Institutions

Tajinder Grewal: — Mr. Speaker, post-secondary education is critical to our economic future and to solving major challenges in health care, affordability, and so much more. It’s also how we keep young people, our future leaders, right here in Saskatchewan.

But over the past 18 years, the Sask Party government has failed to fund post-secondary schools, and now we are seeing the impact. In recent weeks we have seen four rounds of layoffs at Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

Can the minister tell us exactly how many staff have lost their jobs at Sask Poly?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Advanced Education.

Hon. Ken Cheveldayoff: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and it’s always a pleasure to talk about our institutions and our students on the floor of this legislature. Because as you heard in the Speech from the Throne yesterday, it’s this government that puts our students first. We are giving them a head start and ensuring that our institutions are amongst the most well funded in the entire country.

[10:45]

Of course we’re concerned about layoffs. We’re concerned about the federal government’s decision to put a cap on international students that is affecting every, every institution in the country. We will stand by our institutions. We will make sure that they make those difficult decisions, and we will be there to fund them in the future.

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

Tajinder Grewal: — Mr. Speaker, I am not surprised that the minister didn’t answer my question. The answer is 128 — 128 employees fired because of this government’s complete failure to properly fund Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the students it’s educating. For many their last day at work is the day before Christmas.

But this is not isolated to one school. We hear reports of more layoffs on the way at other schools in the days to come. Staff are turning up to work worried they will be met with a pink slip.

Can the minister tell this House how many people are going to lose their jobs before he will step in and do his?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Advanced Education.

Hon. Ken Cheveldayoff: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. All members know or should know that institutions are arm’s length from the government. They make their own programming decisions based on demand, and of course we’re making sure that we’re working with them.

Members heard yesterday in the Speech from the Throne the reference to the multi-level funding agreement that was put in place. That was a game changer for those institutions in our province.

The member opposite talks about tuition increases and affordability. Under the NDP tuition increased in their 16 years of government by 228 per cent. Shame on them, Mr. Speaker. Shame on them.

What we will do is to continue to work . . . Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. We will continue to work with our institutions to make sure that they are amongst the best funded. They are partners of ours. They are facing some difficult decisions.

The federal government made the decision without any consultation with the province. It wasn’t the Saskatchewan institutions that were responsible for the abuse that took place. Thank you.

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

Tajinder Grewal: — Mr. Speaker, education is a provincial jurisdiction. We cannot build a bright future without vibrant and supported post-secondary schools. During this Premier’s time in office 52,000 more people left Saskatchewan for other provinces than those who came here. We see young people leaving Saskatchewan at a record rate, and this government and this minister don’t even seem to care.

What does the minister say to all of those young people who are leaving our province because of the cuts to post-secondary under his watch?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Advanced Education.

Hon. Ken Cheveldayoff: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And with all due respect, again with those numbers it shows that the NDP are lost and bewildered with this topic, Mr. Speaker. I’ll remind the House, I’ll remind the House just one year ago in the election that took place, the NDP did not mention advanced education in their platform. Not once, Mr. Speaker. Not at all.

And again, we will continue to stand with our institutions, and we will continue to put students first in Saskatchewan. We will make no apologies for that. We will work through the difficult times. We will work through the best of times. We will be there with our students. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — And I recognize it’s our first day back and everybody likes to get their words out, but please, let’s listen with respect to the people who are giving answers and giving questions.

I recognize the member from Regina South Albert.

Removal of Carbon Tax

Aleana Young: — Well thank you, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Another thing that is hard to keep up with is the Sask Party government’s position on the Sask Party’s carbon tax. Now, Mr. Speaker, at budget time, the Sask Party government planned $431 million of revenue from the Sask Party carbon tax. And then a couple weeks later they said it was cancelled. Great news, Mr. Speaker — Saskatchewan would be the first carbon tax-free jurisdiction in Canada.

[Applause]

Aleana Young: — But wait, Mr. Speaker, wait. Oh, day one, they’re clapping for themselves already. They told us in Q1 [first quarter] that they’re still planning $466 million in revenue from that apparently cancelled carbon tax. And now the Throne Speech said again that the Sask Party government is now asking the feds for control over their own carbon tax.

So, to the Minister of Environment, has the Sask Party carbon tax been cancelled? Yes or no?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member of CIC.

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Well thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and I am excited to talk about Saskatchewan being the only carbon tax-free province in the entire country. And you better believe, Mr. Speaker, that’s due to the leadership of our Premier and our Minister of Finance and decision taken by this government, despite the opposition, and support for the carbon tax for the last decade by the members opposite, Mr. Speaker.

In fact, Mr. Speaker, we’re going to be proceeding with that carbon tax-free status here in this province as we go forward. We removed the carbon tax from our power bills, Mr. Speaker.

And, Mr. Speaker, their only plan on power is to shut down 1500 megawatts of generation, put 1,100 people out of work, and devastate two communities.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Athabasca.

Support for Indigenous Communities

Leroy Laliberte: — Mr. Speaker, I have a simple question for the Minister of Government Relations. Why is it that in the 18‑page speech, his government only mentioned the word “Indigenous” once, and it only was in reference of the homeless people here in the province?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Government Relations.

Hon. Eric Schmalz: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had the opportunity across this province this summer, Mr. Speaker, to attend and have conversations in communities — in northern communities, Indigenous communities across this province, Mr. Speaker — working with organizations like the Ya’ thi Néné Lands organization, Mr. Speaker, visiting communities like Sandy Bay, communities like Pelican Narrows, communities like La Ronge, La Loche, working with Indigenous communities in order to ensure a bright economic future for their community, as well as the communities across Saskatchewan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Government House Leader. Why is the member on his feet?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Mr. Speaker, I seek leave to move a motion regarding the sessional agenda.

Speaker Goudy: — The member has requested to move a motion to adjust the sessional agenda. Is leave granted?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

MOTIONS

Changes to Parliamentary Calendar

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move:

That notwithstanding rules 6(1) and 14(3) of the Rules and Procedures of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, for the fall period of the second session of the thirtieth legislature, the Assembly shall sit on Friday, December 5th, 2025, with the following provisions:

(1) The ordinary times for the daily meetings and adjournments of the sittings of the Assembly on Thursday, December 4th, 2025 shall be 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Friday, December 5th, 2025 shall be 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.;

(2) The daily order of business prescribed under rule 14(3)(a) shall apply to Thursday, December 4th, 2025, and the daily order of business prescribed under rule 14(3)(b) shall apply to Friday, December 5th, 2025; and finally

(3) In accordance with rule 3(2), the 25th and final day of the fall period of the parliamentary calendar shall be Friday, December 5th, 2025.

I so move.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the Government House Leader:

(1) The ordinary times for the daily meetings and adjournments of the sittings of the Assembly on Thursday, December 4th, 2025 shall be 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday, December 5th, 2025 shall be 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.;

(3) In accordance with rule 3(2), the 25th and final day of the fall period of the parliamentary calendar shall be Friday, December 5th, 2025.

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried. Why is the member on his feet?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Mr. Speaker, I seek leave to move four subsequent motions in relation to the motion that was just passed.

Speaker Goudy: — Is leave granted?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Government House Leader.

Amendments to Rules and Procedures

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The first motion is as follows:

That rule 3(2) of the Rules and Procedures of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan be amended by omitting clause 3(2)(b) and inserting the following:

(b) except when the 25th sitting day falls on a Monday, then from the fourth Tuesday of October for 25 sitting days.

I so move.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the Government House Leader:

That rule 3(2) of the Rules and Procedures of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan be amended by omitting clause 3(2)(b) and inserting the following:

(b) except when the 25th sitting day falls on a Monday, then from the fourth Tuesday of October for 25 sitting days.

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried. I recognize the Leader of the Opposition . . . She’s recognizable too, but now I will recognize the Government House Leader.

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The second motion reads as follows:

That rule 6(2) of the Rules and Procedures of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan be omitted.

I so move.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the Government House Leader:

That rule 6(2) of the Rules and Procedures of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan be omitted.

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried. I recognize the Government House Leader.

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The third motion reads as follows:

That rule 14(3)(c) of the Rules and Procedures of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan be omitted.

I so move.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the Government House Leader:

That rule 14(3)(c) of the Rules and Procedures of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan be omitted.

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried. I recognize the Government House Leader.

[11:00]

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank my colleagues for the indulgence. The fourth and final motion is:

That the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly shall ensure the Rules and Procedures of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan as amended are printed and republished in English and French.

I so move.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the Government House Leader:

That the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly shall ensure the Rules and Procedures of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan as amended are printed and republished in English and French.

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Why is the member on her feet?

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

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

MOTION UNDER RULE 61

Effects of Tariffs on Producers’ Access to Chinese Markets

Carla Beck: — Of course, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. This is an important motion, and I think and I hope that this is something that we can all be united on in this Assembly regarding the devastating impacts of the Chinese tariffs on Saskatchewan producers. Should leave be granted, Mr. Speaker, I would seek to move the following motion:

That the Assembly calls upon the Premier to clearly and unequivocally call for the Government of Canada to immediately remove its tariffs on electric vehicles from China to restore market access for canola, pea, and pork producers 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 my thanks to all members for granting leave. This is a critical time in our province, Mr. Speaker. I suspect members on both sides have had conversations with producers, with exporters, with processors who understand and are desperately concerned about the urgency of the situation that we’re in.

Let’s be clear about that situation. Last year the federal government imposed tariffs on Chinese EV vehicles. Those who remember what happened in 2019 reasonably foresaw what was going to happen, and we subsequently saw tariffs, counter-tariffs on canola meal, canola oil, and most recently on canola seed.

Mr. Speaker, you don’t have to drive very far in this province on a summer’s day to understand, to see the importance of canola. Not only does it mark the landscape across this beautiful province, it has been consistently the crop for producers that pays the bills, that provides financial stability to many farms, many communities in this province, consistently delivering year after year. An incredibly important crop to producers, but as I said, also to those exporters, to those processors, canola crush plants.

And the access to the Chinese market is critically important to the future of canola in this province. Producers know that. Exporters know that. Processors know that. The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities certainly knows that. Last week they wrote a letter saying:

Since the imposition of tariffs stemming from Ottawa’s dispute with China over electric vehicles, not a single shipment of . . . [Chinese] canola seed, oil, or meal has entered the Chinese market.

Mr. Speaker, the situation is critical now. As we move forward in the weeks and months to come, it is only going to become more desperate. What we need right now is for both sides of this House to clearly and unequivocally state that we want to see those EV tariffs scrapped so that we can provide some certainty for producers in this province who right now are seeing loans come due, are seeing the bills stack up, and who are looking forward to next year with an incredible amount of concern. This needs to be fixed.

Let’s be clear again: we are in this situation because of the imposition of EV tariffs on Chinese vehicles. We need to see those EV tariffs scrapped. It’s as simple as that. Some things are complicated, Mr. Speaker. For the leader, for all leaders in this province this shouldn’t be difficult. This is not complicated. Let’s state clearly here today — all members on both sides — that we want those EV tariffs scrapped.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I so move:

I so move.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the Leader of the Opposition under rule no. 61:

I recognize the Minister of Trade and Export Development.

Hon. Warren Kaeding: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly appreciate the fact, the effort now, the opposition has an interest in our canola industry, in our ag industry. Canola is by far the most important commodity that we’ve got, grain commodity that we’ve got right now in the province, Mr. Speaker.

Just alone in my constituency I have three crush plants within 35 miles of where our farm was located. I think all of us have friends and relatives growing canola. Probably 50, 60 per cent of their cash flow is generated from canola. Canola has become the largest ag export product that we currently have in our ag export portfolio.

But I do want to get a couple of positive points on the record as well, Mr. Speaker. And one of them being — certainly recognizing the issues that we’ve got with China, trade issues that we’ve got with the US [United States] — the outstanding work that has been done by our nine trade offices out there, Mr. Speaker, in what they’ve been able to do to help diversify our exports right now.

What we’ve seen just in a January to August time frame, Mr. Speaker, is actually — what have we got? — just about a 12 per cent increase over last year in our ag exports, which is remarkable considering two of our biggest trading partners, you know, are giving us some grief, Mr. Speaker.

You know, we’re now seeing efforts made into Southeast Asia. I know I had the pleasure of spending almost the month of September in seven different countries in Southeast Asia and looking at the incredible opportunities that we have in that region of the world to expand the current amount of trade that we are dealing with, or that we’re certainly working with in that area.

But we’re even seeing interest in Algeria, certainly in Japan. Peru, Italy are now becoming major import destinations of Saskatchewan ag commodities. And with that we’re also seeing an increased interest in canola seed, in canola meal, and canola oil, which are again three very important commodities, ag commodities, that we’ve got in this province, Mr. Speaker.

China is our number two export destination. It is a huge market. We’ve got over 1.4 billion mouths to feed there. US still number one, likely always will be number one just because of the proximity, the integration of the market that we’ve got between our two countries. But China is the number two and certainly very, very important when it comes to trade in canola. I believe now Saskatchewan represents over 35 per cent of the trade that Canada currently does with China. The number I had I believe was around $3.4 billion.

And this is where I’m having some trouble understanding our opposition’s response to trade issues. The shadow minister of Trade, I think it was — now what was that, in March? — actually when questioned if we should be doing trade with China, she said, “I really don’t know.” Our second-largest trading partner and we have this response from our shadow Trade minister: I don’t know if we should be doing business with our second-largest trading partner. So this is what’s a little perplexing when we’re starting to hear now the interest, and I believe it’s genuine interest, when it comes to canola trade.

I do believe, Mr. Speaker, that we do have to kind of review where this government has been from literally the day that there was a threat of tariffs being imposed on our industry. So let’s go back to — I believe it was September, September 24 — China announces anti-dumping investigation into Canadian canola seed.

Day after, previous minister of Trade and Export, previous minister of Ag jointly sent a letter to their federal counterparts asking to quickly resolve this issue because they knew where this was headed — a day after that announcement was made. I believe that same day Premier Moe, our Premier, shared a letter on social media calling for a quick resolution, laying the blame on the federal government’s electric vehicle tariffs.

Mr. Speaker, I think we also have to remind everyone the Liberal government of that time was a Liberal-NDP coalition government. There was an opportunity for pushback at that time to make a statement, to take a position.

March 8th . . . well actually January 15th, Mr. Speaker, as well, recently appointed into the position of Trade and Export, I had the opportunity to recognize this is going to be a serious issue. We then — between that, the US tariffs — our ministry, Trade and Export Development quickly got a round table of our valued ag sector together to just understand what their concerns, what their thoughts, where their fears were on where tariffs were headed, both on the US side and on the Chinese side — January 15th.

March 8th. Premier put out on social media, Saskatchewan’s canola industry directly “in the line of fire” of Canadian tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, stating that this disproportionately affects us in Saskatchewan because 55 per cent of the canola trade, I believe, comes from Saskatchewan. So this is going to have a huge profound effect on our producers here.

March 10th. Premier calls on the new Prime Minister, Prime Minister Carney, for a plan to deal with canola tariffs. What is our federal government’s plan?

March 12th. This is now seven months after the initial threat of tariffs on canola. Our Opposition Leader now puts her first post out about Chinese tariffs. So unfortunately this is a little late to the party. We’ve already decided that we have a number of critical issues that we need to get out in front of.

Since then the Minister of Ag and myself have met with the consul general of China to Canada a number of times. We’ve met with the ambassador of China to Canada, the Premier and I, once. And on each one of those occasions we were told: thanks for your interest; absolutely this is so critical to both our countries; however it is your federal government that needs to get in front of our national government to have that discussion, that it needs to happen at that federal level.

[11:15]

So all through the summer we’ve made multiple calls. We’ve had engagements with stakeholders. I know again Minister of Ag has had a number of engagements with his colleagues at the federal level, with his stakeholders, with canola growers, pulse growers. We can’t forget the pulse growers in this as well, again another very important part of our ag exports here. Pulse growers are as affected by this as well, Mr. Speaker.

The Premier has continued to call. He’s been on record a number of times stating that EV tariffs need to be removed. In fact we’ve even . . . We don’t do this often but even agreed with our NDP government in Manitoba. We both agree this is detrimental to our canola industry. EV tariffs need to come off.

So, Mr. Speaker, finally seemed to be a bit of inaction by our federal government, but we finally we were able to . . . We made the decision. Somebody has to go to China. Somebody has to set the table to ultimately get this conversation in public at that national level. So with the help of our trade office we were able to facilitate a number of very, very high-profile engagements. Weren’t able to spend a lot of time there, but the meetings that we did have were very, very influential, I believe, in setting the table for that next level of discussions.

From what we understand now those discussions are going to be happening in November with our federal government, with our federal colleagues, and ministers of trade, agriculture are going to have further engagements with the Chinese government at their national level to get out in front of these tariff issues.

So, Mr. Speaker, I believe we recognize the issues. We recognize the value, the importance, and have from day one on this issue. So certainly with that though, I would like to present an amendment to the motion that was presented, Mr. Speaker. And in that amendment I want to include:

That all words after “The Assembly” be removed and replaced with:

Calls for the Government of Canada to immediately remove its tariffs on electric vehicles from China to restore market access to canola, pea, and pork producers in Saskatchewan,

And that this Assembly commends the Premier for the early and consistent leadership he has shown by calling on the federal government to remove its EV tariffs, by being the first Canadian premier in six years to lead a trade mission to China and by raising this issue with the Prime Minister and federal government on numerous occasions including at a meeting with the Prime Minister and canola industry leaders immediately following the Premier’s return from China.

I so move this amendment, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — The question before the Assembly is the proposed amendment moved by the Minister of Trade and Export:

That all words after “The Assembly” be removed and replaced with:

Calls for the Government of Canada to immediately remove its tariffs on electric vehicles from China to restore market access for canola, pea, and pork producers in Saskatchewan,

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — I would certainly expect when the Speaker is reading something that at least we don’t chatter back and forth.

. . . by being the first Canadian premier in six years to lead a trade mission to China and by raising this issue with the Prime Minister and federal government on numerous occasions including at a meeting with the Prime Minister and canola industry leaders immediately following the Premier’s return from China.

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

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

Trent Wotherspoon: — Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker. What a disappointment here, Mr. Speaker. The Leader of the Official Opposition rose on the first day, at the earliest opportunity, to stand up on one of the most important issues to this province and to producers and to our country, and laid forward a straightforward motion and statement that sends a united message to Ottawa and a clear message about having the backs of producers.

In her remarks, Mr. Speaker, in fact . . . And we can get into this. Although this government’s been slow and weak and inactive on this file, this leader went straight forward so that we could have a united Assembly on a very straightforward message. Because, Mr. Speaker, this goes beyond any of our political and partisan interests. This is the provincial interest, this is the interests of producers, and this is Canada’s interests. And that leader took that approach, and she brought forward a motion and remarks that should have been able to be supported by everyone in this Assembly.

Now let’s just look at those remarks. These guys felt a need to amend them, and I’ll get into what they were trying to do to fluff the feathers of the Premier and to boast at a time that producers need someone to have their backs and to understand what’s at stake.

Real straightforward and simple, the motion was:

That Assembly calls upon the Premier to clearly and unequivocally call on the Government of Canada to immediately remove its tariffs on electric vehicles from China to restore market access for canola, pea, and pork producers in Saskatchewan.

What a steady, principled, straightforward statement from the Leader of the Opposition on the first day of this Assembly. What bridge-building and uniting remarks from the leader, who actually went out of her way to not, to not drag this provincial government that’s been late to the game, weak and ineffective in this most critical argument, in this most critical battle for Saskatchewan producers.

You know, and then the minister gets to his feet. And I like that minister. I think he’s a good guy and often I think he’s quite effective in his role. But what an unserious and tacky entry from a minister of the Crown at a critical time for producers, a government that has made it about themself to prop up the Premier, to prop up their own partisan and political interest ahead of the interests of producers in our province and our country, Mr. Speaker.

You know, and I guess it was clear to anyone who observed what we saw, this government’s really insecure on this matter. And there’s reason for this. Producers are paying the price now. It was signalled a long time ago what the impacts of the imposition of these tariffs on Chinese EVs, what those impacts would be for producers.

Of course we know that those were called for by the federal Conservative leader Poilievre. They were instituted by Trudeau. And we cautioned right away that this was the wrong approach and the impacts were going to felt by producers. We spoke up then — August 2024 — and reached out to the producers of this province at that very time and worked with producers.

We’ve brought this matter forward into this very Assembly in spring of last year, to the floor of this Assembly, bringing it to question period, but not a peep from that weak and ineffective government on this front. They couldn’t muster the courage to stand up for producers on this front, Mr. Speaker.

They’ve been late to the game, very weak in their entries, Mr. Speaker, and now they’re making it all about themselves and trying to fluff the feathers of the Premier, Mr. Speaker, at a time where we need to have the backs of producers in this industry in this province, Mr. Speaker.

The impacts, if we let these tariffs and duties persist, are being felt by producers now. And it’s a horribly and unfair, disproportionate hit that producers in this province, in this industry, and the thousands of workers, and the very proud canola crush industry in this province that they’re paying, Mr. Speaker. And it’s not fair, and it’s not right.

We see it with the pea price, Mr. Speaker. The pea price has plummeted. And you think of the producers that have gone out, put that crop in the ground, done all that hard work, and made that investment. The pea price has plummeted. They deserve market access and they deserve a fair price, Mr. Speaker, just like the canola producers do all across this province, just like all those that work in canola crush and in processing, all those that work in exporting this very important, very proud Saskatchewan crop to this world, Mr. Speaker.

At this moment, Mr. Speaker, it should have been very easy for this entire Assembly to support the very unifying and straightforward motion from this Leader of the Opposition. We’ve seen the members opposite flip-flop in their positions on this. They haven’t been able to muster a statement to call on the federal government to scrap the tariffs that have been placed on Chinese EVs, to scrap the tariffs and duties that are disproportionately hitting our producers and our industries. They didn’t say a peep about this on the floor of the Assembly, Mr. Speaker, in the last Assembly when pushed directly about the tariffs on EVs. They didn’t say a peep in the federal election when again the federal leaders like Poilievre supported the Chinese EV tariffs, or the federal government as well.

This is one of those matters where we need to set the politics aside and stand up for this province and the producers who make it strong, Mr. Speaker. And I’m disappointed with that minister because what it does is it weakens our entries. It weakens our entries because this should be straightforward. There’s no reason for us to be sending mixed messages to Ottawa or the world on this matter. It should be clear, Mr. Speaker.

And for that minister and for the government to fail to have the backs of producers in this clear way at this time is disappointing. Instead we see them come to this Assembly and, you know, the front bench prop up and lift up the Premier while the backbench fans him and feeds him fruit. You know, that’s pathetic and weak, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — A number of times it’s been mentioned, fluffing feathers and feeding and fanning. I think we need to keep our comments in a way that we would be expected to as hon. members of this Assembly. So please continue on.

Trent Wotherspoon: — I’ll wrap this up here, Mr. Speaker. I’m disappointed that we didn’t just stand as an Assembly and support this straightforward motion to have the backs of producers and to get a win for producers at this critical time while producers, as has been mentioned, have done all that hard work, made that investment, got that crop off, and now deserve market access and deserve a fair price.

Instead they don’t have market access, Mr. Speaker. They’re being deprived of the price that they deserve at a time that all the bills come due. This motion that was brought forward by the leader should have been supported by all, and it’s pathetic and weak that instead this provincial government, Mr. Speaker, would make it about their own political interests, failing to have the backs of producers in this critical industry at this very important time.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — I am pleased to enter today’s debate, and I thank the members opposite for bringing forward this motion. And I’ll speak to it directly in just a couple of moments, Mr. Speaker.

However I would just go back through some timelines, and I’ll do this in pretty short order, Mr. Speaker, starting with going back to 1928. That’s when a young couple immigrated to the community where I live in Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker — Shellbrook.

Their names were Fred and Olga Solovonuk. Mr. Speaker, they brought with them a number of cigarette canisters that were filled with Polish canola at the time. And as you know, with Polish and Argentine canola in this province they bought a farm, homesteaded a farm just outside of Shellbrook, about 3 miles out.

And in 1930 they started to grow that canola. They harvested it, they shelled it, and were able then to make seed to expand the start of this canola industry and start really, at least on the Polish canola side, the inception of that crop into our province, Mr. Speaker. Started very, very near to the community where I still reside today.

And, Mr. Speaker, there was a number of documents as well with a timeline on a board that was in the Shellbrook museum for a number of years. It was written and summarized by a couple of local folks that lived right in that area, Adele Sokolowski and Ken Miners, Mr. Speaker.

[11:30]

And now as the museum closed in Shellbrook, all of Fred Solovonuk’s photos of his farm, the history, the rich history that was documented in that museum, as well as a canister of that original Polish canola was actually sold in an auction, Mr. Speaker. And I would say, to some degree fortunately, my wife’s husband was able to purchase those products. Mr. Speaker, they now reside in the Premier’s office in the province of Saskatchewan.

And I tell that story because I think it’s indicative to the commitment of these government members that essentially represent each and every canola producer in the province of Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker. Essentially each and every canola exporter in the province of Saskatchewan is represented by a government MLA [Member of the Legislative Assembly] in Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker.

So bring us forward from 1930 to just this past year, Mr. Speaker. I hear that the first opportunity there was conversations raised around the canola tariffs that were put on by the Chinese government . . . The first opportunity for that, I would say, was September 3rd of last year, Mr. Speaker, when the Minister of Agriculture wrote and reached out to the federal Minister of Agriculture saying, you have moved forward in late August — August the 26th — on these Chinese tariffs on EVs; the consequences certainly are going to fall on the canola industry and the ag industry in our province of Saskatchewan.

That letter and that communication happened almost immediately. That was the first opportunity to engage on what we now know is a very detrimental policy with respect to the impact it’s having on Saskatchewan producers, not just canola producers but pulse as well as pork producers.

Mr. Speaker, after August the 26th, September 3rd, China did launch their anti-dumping investigation. As I said, our Minister of Agriculture wrote to his federal counterpart at that very time. As I said in question period, what were the members opposite doing? They were campaigning on closing provincial trade offices around the world.

Mr. Speaker, that is actually what they were doing. We’ll hear that they were representing the ag industry, representing how we create wealth in this province, but it actually is not the case. They were campaigning on closing our provincial trade offices around the world and using words like it was “lost” and “reckless spending.” Well truly that is not the case, and you can ask anyone in the ag industry, or more broadly the exporting industry, in this province and in this nation just how effective those offices have been. And I’ll get to that in a moment as well, Mr. Speaker.

The first opportunity to speak out was over a year ago. September 3rd last year, the Government of Saskatchewan did. The first noise that came from the members opposite, Mr. Speaker, was March the 12th, over seven months late, Mr. Speaker. March the 12th of this year was when the first comments by the NDP came. In fact two weeks later, at the end of March, the critic for the NDP had said this: we’re not sure if we should be working with China in any way.

We’ve seen that on numerous occasions, Mr. Speaker. The members opposite want to pick and choose where they’re going to sell their products around the world. “We’ve got our elbows up; we don’t want to sell to the United States of America.” That’s our largest trading partner. “We don’t want to trade with China.” Questions on the public record of whether we should be trading with China at all. We’ve seen other comments more recently, Mr. Speaker, about other countries in the Middle East and around the world by members opposite.

And I really think that this begs the question today. Whether it be the media or every resident in this province, the question that they need to be asking the NDP leader, the Ag critic, and any NDP member provincially in this province is . . . The first question is, why did you want to and why did you campaign on closing trade offices around the world? Why? Why, Mr. Speaker?

And the second question, the second question . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Order. Order. I’d like to call the members please to order. There’s been comments made that this was not the intention. But this is a debate of details; it’s not intents. So I think the Premier is in line. It’s to be debated. The details, the facts — that’s what we’re doing here is debate.

So, Premier, please continue on.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said, there are two questions. The first that I would hope Saskatchewan residents, in particular those in the ag industry — or 200,000 Canadians actually could ask this question that are working in the ag industry — is, why did you campaign on closing the provincial trade offices that are operating globally, including the one in China?

Mr. Speaker, the second question . . . [inaudible interjection] . . . It’s a fair question, Mr. Speaker. And there’s two.

The second question is, why? Understanding the importance of agriculture to the economy of Saskatchewan, to the very vibrancy of how we create wealth in community after community across this province, including our largest urban centres, why did it take you seven months to speak out on the consequences of the EV tariffs, the steel and aluminum tariffs, and what the repercussions were going to be to Saskatchewan agriculture?

So why close provincial trade offices, Mr. Speaker, is the question. And why, Mr. Speaker, did it take you seven months to defend Saskatchewan’s very spinal cord of our economy? Fair questions, Mr. Speaker, that Saskatchewan people will have for the members opposite. I’ve asked them here.

Mr. Speaker, I’ll pull ahead. I’ll pull ahead. As I’ve said, Mr. Speaker, in the last six years there’s been one provincial delegation to China to advocate on behalf of trade in general, but more specifically on behalf of Saskatchewan agriculture and our canola, pulse, and pork farmers, and that is this government, Mr. Speaker. That’s this government, Mr. Speaker.

We had the opportunity to . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — It kind of excites me that there’s lots to be said on both sides, but we have to wait our turn and that’s the beauty of debate. If you have a concern about what the Premier is saying, then the opposition have their opportunity to stand up and question that in your turn. But please let’s not be so much back and forth. It’s not succeeding at anything.

So, Premier, please continue.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Mr. Speaker, through engagement with the Saskatchewan trade office we were able to secure meetings that the embassy to date had not been able to secure in China, Mr. Speaker. Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Speaker, an organization known as GACC [General Administration of Chinese Customs] — not Global Affairs Canada but the general administration of customs, China, Mr. Speaker — those are the two organizations that are responsible for the meal tariffs, the oil tariffs, as well as the canola seed tariffs, as well as pulses, seafood, and pork.

And we were able to secure both of those meetings through our provincial trade office and bring along the federal government, with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, who joined us. And we were thankful for his attendance.

On returning — this is important as well, Mr. Speaker — on returning from that mission, we very quickly turned around and found our way to Ottawa, where we met alongside the canola producer associations across the province and across the nation as well as our exporting entities, Mr. Speaker, who are employing people not just in this province, but across Canada.

And the Minister of Trade, the federal Minister of Trade, the federal Minister of Agriculture, the Parliamentary Secretary that joined us on that mission, as well as the Prime Minister, Mr. Speaker, met with them to brief them on what the path forward looks like, the importance of sitting down with the Chinese government, having a negotiation on reducing EV tariffs, reducing and eliminating canola, pork, and pulse, and seafood tariffs, Mr. Speaker, but also keeping in mind what the reaction may be from our largest trading partner in the United States of America because we continue to need access for our agricultural industry in that market as well.

And I would say this, Mr. Speaker. Much is changing in today’s day and age, and there are consequences, direct and indirect, to all of the decisions that are being made. We have, over the course of the last 10 years, had some challenges in this province with our federal government doing things to us that are impacting our export-based economy, impacting the oil and gas industry, Mr. Speaker, regulations that have come down that haven’t been in the interest of how we create wealth in this province.

And I would say we had a Prime Minister and a government that was supported lockstep every step of the way by the NDP, Mr. Speaker. That was our challenge the last decade, Mr. Speaker, was the Liberal-NDP coalition doing things to industries that were creating wealth in Saskatchewan and other provinces.

Today we have a different challenge, and I would say it’s a challenge where we have an opportunity to really come together, not just across the aisle of this legislature, but across our nation. Because today what we see, Mr. Speaker, are foreign leaders, international leaders from other countries that are imposing things on us as Canadians, our Canadian economy, the way of life and the quality of life that we have in Canada, Mr. Speaker.

And we need to come together as Canadians, work together to ensure that we are defending the very interest, the very fabric of what it means to be a Canadian. And yes, us in Saskatchewan are very proud Canadians, Mr. Speaker, and we are going to work alongside the federal government. And we’re going to support our federal government in their negotiations with the United States of America. And I talked to Minister LeBlanc two days ago about some of the opportunities that we have, Mr. Speaker.

We are going to work alongside our federal government, our Prime Minister. And I talked to him yesterday morning about our relationship with China, Mr. Speaker, and I would just say this. There are questions, legitimate questions for the members opposite, but I truly thank them for bringing this motion to the floor because of the importance of this motion to more broadly the province of Saskatchewan, how we create wealth. But the importance of this motion to all of those 200,000 Canadians that work and derive their income from the canola industry, that is very real, very real in this province of Saskatchewan and in this nation of Canada, Mr. Speaker.

We are very much at the forefront of global agriculture right here in Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker, whether it be the sustainable production, the most sustainable production of canola, peas, wheat, and all of the other crop products that we have, the ambition we have in climbing that value chain with selling ingredients as opposed to traditional agri-food products, Mr. Speaker, creating value for Saskatchewan people and Saskatchewan families, more value. And you’re seeing that in the value of our exports, Mr. Speaker.

And I would just say this. I will be supporting the amendment, not the main motion, Mr. Speaker, because it goes further and deeper with respect to this government’s stance that has been solid from day one, Mr. Speaker. We need to remove the EV tariffs so that we can remove the canola tariffs, the pulse tariffs, and the pork tariffs, Mr. Speaker, that are having an impact on Saskatchewan families.

And I would say this as well. This is a government that will always support the Saskatchewan ag industry, Mr. Speaker, always have the backs of the Saskatchewan ag industry as well as the 200,000 Canadians that directly or indirectly are benefiting from this very vibrant industry that originated in many cases just three miles from where I grew up, Mr. Speaker.

Again I’m going to be supporting the amendment and not the main motion.

Speaker Goudy: — The question before the Assembly is the proposed amendment moved by the Minister of Trade and Export as read.

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Some Hon. Members: — No.

Speaker Goudy: — Call in the members.

[The division bells rang from 11:42 until 11:44.]

Speaker Goudy: — The question before the Assembly is the amendment as read. All of those in favour of the amendment please stand.

[11:45]

[Yeas — 33]

Moe

Harrison, D.

Kaeding

Marit

Cockrill

Reiter

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

Speaker Goudy: — All of those opposed please stand.

[Nays — 24]

Beck

Ritchie

Burki

Nippi-Albright

Mowat

Wotherspoon

Love

Teed

Young, A.

Clarke

Laliberte

McPhail

ChiefCalf

Sarauer

Blakley

Grewal

Brar

Gordon

Warrington

Pratchler

Housser

Senger

Roy

McBean

Principal Clerk: — Mr. Speaker, those in favour of the amendment, 33; those opposed to the amendment, 24.

Speaker Goudy: — I declare the amendment carried. So the question before the Assembly now is the motion with the amendment. So all of those in favour?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Some Hon. Members: — No.

Speaker Goudy: — Call in the members.

[The division bells rang from 11:49 until 11:50.]

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

[Yeas — 33]

Moe

Harrison, D.

Kaeding

Marit

Cockrill

Reiter

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

Speaker Goudy: — All of those opposed to the motion as amended please stand.

[Nays — 24]

Beck

Ritchie

Burki

Nippi-Albright

Mowat

Wotherspoon

Love

Teed

Young, A.

Clarke

Laliberte

McPhail

ChiefCalf

Sarauer

Blakley

Grewal

Brar

Gordon

Warrington

Pratchler

Housser

Senger

Roy

McBean

Principal Clerk: — Mr. Speaker, those members in favour of the motion as amended, 33; members opposed to the motion as amended, 24.

Speaker Goudy: — I declare the motion as amended carried. Why is the member on his feet?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Mr. Speaker, I seek leave to move a motion of transmittal.

Speaker Goudy: — The Government House Leader has sought leave to move a motion of transmittal. Is his request granted?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Government House Leader.

TRANSMITTAL MOTION

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move a motion of transmittal:

To send the Hansard of today’s debate on the motion before the House to all agricultural organizations across Saskatchewan.

Speaker Goudy: — Order. It’s been requested by the Government House Leader, leave to move motion of transmittal:

To send the Hansard of the debate to all agricultural organizations across Saskatchewan.

Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion of transmittal?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

SPECIAL ORDER

ADDRESS IN REPLY

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Weyburn-Bengough.

Michael Weger: — Good morning, Mr. Speaker. You can read it on a billboard on the outskirts of Lang as you drive into the heart of my constituency on Highway 39 — three simple words that highlight our government’s promise for the future. And that, Mr. Speaker, is a province that is strong, safe, and secure.

Yesterday we heard a Throne Speech that concluded by highlighting how the people that built our province saw opportunity. And I agree that it is up to us to continue to find opportunity. We need to expand the opportunities that we have in this province as we produce the food, fuel, and fertilizer that the world needs.

So, Mr. Speaker, I would say to you, who better to bat leadoff than the member from Weyburn, the Opportunity City? It is a great honour to be selected as the first member to reply to the Throne Speech, and I thought that the fact that I am from the Opportunity City probably had a lot to do with this selection. That, and I do believe the Premier has a deep admiration for lawyers. I thought I might strike out with that joke but I got a few laughs, so I’ll keep swinging.

Mr. Speaker, I jotted down the majority of my remarks on Monday evening after the Toronto Blue Jays punched their ticket to the World Series for the first time in 32 years, so please forgive me for the numerous baseball references that I have in this reply. And this achievement by the Blue Jays also gave me a good reason to find my Toronto Blue Jays bow tie.

It has almost been a full year since I was elected and given the great honour of serving and representing the constituents of Weyburn-Bengough, and I look forward to continuing to serve these constituents. First and foremost, thank you to my constituents for putting their trust in me, and thank you to those that have supported me during this year.

I want to take advantage of this opportunity to be the first to thank the staff in this building for making the past year a great experience. From the security guards welcoming us into the building each morning and wishing us a good night when we leave, to the cleaners, caretakers, cafeteria staff, tech support, librarians, Clerks, and Pages: thank you. And thank you to our caucus office staff, starting with our caucus office manager, Kim; Cien; Marita; Troy; the two Mat(t)s; and our new caucus chief of staff, Gene Makowsky.

And a very huge thank you to our past caucus chief of staff, Ang Currie, for all of her guidance and kindness that she showed toward the 16 new Sask Party MLAs that entered this building for the first time a year ago. I think I speak for all of us when I say that I don’t think we would have found our feet as quickly as we did if it wasn’t for Ang.

To my family and friends that have supported me, thank you. In the past year I’ve had some unexpected but very informative political discussions with many friends and clients that otherwise would not have been interested in talking politics. I hope that my election has encouraged some people to take a new interest in politics, and I encourage my friends and family to continue having these conversations. These conversations can be the source of good ideas.

To my parents, John and Elaine Weger, thank you. The time we have spent discussing politics has increased exponentially over the past year, and I will always find our discussions to be worthwhile, even if they often end with my mom taking a big sigh and saying, “I don’t know what you’re going to do.” Well, Mom, I’m going to leave it better than I found it, and that’s a promise.

Thank you to my wife, Cara, and our four children. I hope that being an MLA has allowed me to show my children that if you want to make a difference, sometimes you have to make sacrifices. There has been time away from home, missed hockey games, and weekends at the lake cut short or not able to happen at all. We have let this political life take over our family at times. NewsTalk radio is on in the truck during almost every family trip, and our evenings end with a recorded version of Global News and then CTV News at 11:30. I know it hasn’t all been easy, but thank you for letting me pursue this career, and thank you for letting me fully experience this province and its people. Your support is so appreciated.

Mr. Speaker, I chose to become a member of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly so that I could learn as much about our province and its people with the optimistic view that, with this gained knowledge, I could contribute to making our province an even better place to work, live, and play. I have been very blessed over this past year to travel throughout my constituency and at times throughout the province to build my knowledge, to help me better understand our challenges and our strengths.

[12:00]

And the conclusion I have reached is that our people are our greatest strength. I have met some amazing people in my constituency and throughout the province that contribute to ensuring that we have the strongest economy in Canada, and I have met many people that ensure that our communities are safe and secure. Let me tell you about some of these amazing people and what I have learned from them.

I will start with my colleagues, the fellow Saskatchewan Party MLAs. I’m so proud to be a part of this team led by our team manager, the Premier. And, Mr. Speaker, over the past year I have closely watched our Premier and some of our starting lineup — cabinet ministers — in action. I have watched our Premier lead a trade mission to Japan and China to strengthen our relationship with two of the province’s largest trading partners. Mr. Speaker, as we’ve heard again today, this was the first time a Canadian premier has conducted a trade mission to China in six years.

This is also the same Premier that has set out to reset our province’s relationship with Ottawa by giving the Prime Minister our Strong Saskatchewan, Strong Canada plan. This is a premier that is committed to ensuring we have the strongest economy in Canada.

At the end of July I was also able to participate and watch the cabinet minister, an MLA from Estevan-Big Muddy, chair the 79th annual CSG [Council of State Governments] Midwestern Legislative Conference in Saskatchewan. At this conference, her well-selected initiative, North American Energy Security: Powering the Future, put our province and its deep resource potential on display for more than 450 state and provincial legislators. And I’m sure most of our guests went back to their homes in the United States and other provinces with an understanding that when it comes to energy, our province has what the world needs. This four-day conference was an excellent way to showcase the province and the strongest economy in Canada.

In the middle of January I was lucky enough to accompany the Minister of Crown Investments Corporation on a tour of the Boundary dam and Shand power stations near Estevan. The day before, while touring the Poplar River power station, the minister announced that he would be directing SaskPower to create a plan for power generation that could include extending the operating lives of its coal-fired power plants, and he committed to an answer prior to July 1st.

On June 18th, through a letter distributed to all SaskPower employees, the minister hit a home run as he announced the Government of Saskatchewan’s decision to extend the life of SaskPower’s coal-generating power assets. By extending the life of our coal-fired power plants, we are ensuring that our residents and businesses will have access to reliable and affordable electricity that is necessary for a strong economy.

And just this past Monday we watched the Minister of Crown Investments Corporation announce the Saskatchewan First Energy Security Strategy and Supply Plan, which outlines the province’s approach to power generation and transmission, which includes the goal of building a power system that includes nuclear energy. This plan will support a strong economy by utilizing our amazing Saskatchewan uranium resources and provide for energy security to 2050 and beyond. I would consider that announcement a grand slam.

Mr. Speaker, I hold the honour of being appointed the Legislative Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Corrections, Policing and Public Safety. This appointment gives me the unique opportunity to observe the Minister of Justice, Corrections, Policing and Public Safety in action. And I will say, Mr. Speaker, I don’t believe there is another person in this province more committed to ensuring our communities are safe and secure. I guess you could say that he wants every resident to feel safe at home.

Mr. Speaker, our province is faced with an unprecedented overdose crisis, and this summer we were faced with an unprecedented wildfire crisis. And when tasked to respond, the minister has done just that. Among multiple legislative, regulatory, and policy measures, the minister has implemented The Safe Public Spaces (Street Weapons) Act to give law enforcement another tool to help address drug possession and usage.

In this session, the minister will also introduce the response to illicit drugs (RID) Act to take further action to protect Saskatchewan families and communities from illegal drugs. This minister is committed to getting drugs out of the hands of criminals and getting those criminals off the streets.

In dealing with the unprecedented wildfire crisis, our Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety also worked tirelessly to respond and provide support for wildfire evacuees. This involved constant communication with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency and multiple press conferences in order to make the public aware of the steps taken and financial assistance available for those affected by the wildfires.

As the minister’s Legislative Secretary, I am lucky enough to get to pinch-hit for the minister from time to time and attend functions, news conferences, and meetings when the minister is unavailable to attend. This puts me in direct contact with the men and women in law enforcement that have committed to keep our province safe.

I have met with conservation officers at their annual awards night. I have attended the Saskatchewan marshals service swearing-in ceremony in Prince Albert, two Saskatchewan Police College swearing-in ceremonies. I have attended the RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] sunset service, the RCMP national memorial service at Depot Division in Regina, and I have attended the Saskatchewan police and peace officers memorial in front of this building. Two weeks ago I was also able to attend the Saskatchewan marshals all-staff meeting. Attendance at these events has taught me about the dedication that it takes and the sacrifices that these men and women make to keep our communities safe.

To learn even more about how our government can support our law enforcement officers, I have toured the police detachments and participated in ride-alongs in Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, and North Battleford, and one fly-along with the Regina Police Service Cessna.

Mr. Speaker, these experiences have shown me that we have some amazing individuals working in law enforcement in this province. And we remain committed to hiring 100 additional municipal police officers, 14 safer community and neighbourhood personnel, and 70 officers within the Saskatchewan marshals service.

And, Mr. Speaker, I just want to take an extra moment to highlight and acknowledge the Saskatchewan marshals service, or SMS. Currently the SMS have 19 sworn officers. And through the hard work of Chief Robert Cameron, Deputy Chief Rich Lowen, and civilian Deputy Chief Thomas Sierzycki, they are actively recruiting and growing their force.

The SMS have their headquarters in Prince Albert, and they have recently announced their regional office being planned to be located on the Red Pheasant Cree Nation. The SMS are the first police service of its kind in the province and have a focus on high-risk and high-impact crime across Saskatchewan. Their priorities include gangs, illegal weapons and drugs, and the apprehension of prolific and high-risk offenders and wanted individuals.

The SMS is committed to supporting the police of jurisdiction at the request of the police of jurisdiction throughout the province. The SMS are truly shaping the future of law enforcement in our province and will have a significant positive impact on the safety and security of our communities.

Mr. Speaker, as I enter the seventh-inning stretch of this speech, I want to change my focus to highlight a couple experiences I have had during this past year involving the First Nations in our province. On August 23rd I had the opportunity to attend a powwow at Ochapowace First Nation, and I was invited to participate in the grand entry that evening. I had the pleasure of meeting Chief Shelley Bear, Chief Charlie Bear, and Chief Evan Taypotat. During the evening my family and I watched the various dances, and I also met previous Cowessess Chief Cadmus Delorme.

The reason this experience was so special for me is that this was my first powwow, and I was just taken back by the positive energy that existed within the powwow grounds. Witnessing the camaraderie between dancers, the discipline of the drummers, and then hearing the wise words from an Elder reminding everyone to love and support one another created an unforgettable experience.

The second significant experience to speak about began in April when a contingent of representatives from Ya’ thi Néné Lands and Resources made the long trek down to Regina to host a reception in this building. We learned about their culture. We listened to drumming, we tasted caribou meat, and we played a Dene hand game. And I will just quickly remind the members that my team won.

It was a great evening and a great learning experience. And that evening I said to myself, if I get the opportunity to ever visit the far North, I will jump at it.

Well this fall I was very excited when I found out I would have the opportunity to take an overnight trip up to the land of the Dene. The experience was unforgettable. We drank water straight from the Cochrane River, and I had a morning swim in the fresh and pristine Bompas Lake.

During the Ya’ thi Néné Lands and Resources discovery tour, I met many people that add strength to our province. I was able to meet with Chief Coreen Sayazie, Chief Bart Tsannie, and I had an extended visit with Chief Ronnie Augier in the Fond-du-Lac airport waiting room.

It was also in this Fond-du-Lac airport that I was able to take a moment to read and reflect on the Denesuline laws, as they were posted on the wall in the airport. For everyone’s benefit, I will review those seven laws with you today. They are as follows. (1) share what you have, (2) help each other, (3) love each other as much as possible, (4) sleep at night and work during the day — I could do better on that one, (5) be polite and don’t argue with anyone, (6) pass on the teachings, and (7) be happy all the time.

There you have it, Mr. Speaker. Seven keys to a strong, safe, and secure community. To everyone that helped make the experience for me what it was in the far North, I say mahsi cho.

Well, Mr. Speaker, it looks like it’s now time for me to close it out in the ninth inning as I wrap up. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to move the following motion, seconded by the member for Carrot River Valley:

That an humble address be presented to Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor as follows:

To Her Honour the Honourable Bernadette McIntyre, Lieutenant Governor of the province of Saskatchewan.

May it please Your Honour:

We, His Majesty’s dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of the province of Saskatchewan in session assembled, humbly thank Your Honour for the gracious speech which Your Honour has been pleased to address to us at the opening of the present session.

I so move. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — It’s been moved by the member from Weyburn-Bengough and seconded by the member from Carrot River Valley:

That an humble address be presented to Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor as follows:

To Her Honour the Honourable Bernadette McIntyre, Lieutenant Governor of the province of Saskatchewan.

May it please Your Honour:

I so move. I recognize the member from Carrot River Valley.

Terri Bromm: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to acknowledge that I stand here on Treaty 4 territory and traditional homeland of the Métis. Thank you, Premier, for the honour and the privilege of seconding the motion so eloquently moved by my colleague, the member from Weyburn-Bengough.

Mr. Speaker, this past year, my first year as an MLA, has flown by. It is with gratitude and humility that I stand before you today addressing this Assembly as the representative for Carrot River Valley in this, the second session of the thirtieth sitting.

[12:15]

Yesterday the Honourable Bernadette McIntyre noted, in her reading of the Throne Speech, “Saskatchewan people — determined, resilient, innovative, resourceful and strong.” I say, hear, hear. Our government will take action for the people of Saskatchewan to meet challenges and build on opportunities to ensure our economy is strong and our people and communities are safe, securing our future.

Before I respond further to the Throne Speech, I want to first recognize the people who continue to support me in my work. Mr. Speaker, this would not be possible without the love and support of my husband, Ian, and my grown children Logan and Sydney. Also assisting in supporting me during the last year are my colleagues and their staff, our caucus staff — including our previous chief of staff, Angela, and our new one, Gene — and all the staff here in the legislature. Thank you.

Acknowledgement, Mr. Speaker, also goes to Shelley Meyer and Wynonna Mroczko, my constituency assistants. Shelley has been serving in this capacity for 25 years. Wynonna started at our office in January, previously working as a ministerial assistant in this very building. They have both shown their professionalism, commitment, and caring in the work they are doing assisting the people of Carrot River Valley. I’m very grateful for their hard work and support, and could not do my job without them. Thank you both.

I am fortunate to represent and live in a rural constituency that has been my home for many years and that I truly appreciate. Over the past year I have engaged with many individuals, groups, businesses, organizations, for meetings, celebrations — some of which were milestones — tours, fundraisers, and community events.

Also after meeting with many of the leaders and representatives of the rural municipalities and communities that I serve, I see that although there are sometimes commonalities, there can be unique opportunities and challenges for us all. We, though, are all motivated to work, create, and improve to ensure families thrive, businesses grow, and our communities and municipalities flourish. Our strength lies in our resilience and our shared commitment to one another.

This summer has been the most challenging fire season in many years. But as always, the people of Saskatchewan have supported each other in countless ways. Mr. Speaker, to recognize heroic efforts demonstrated during this unprecedented season our government will be awarding Premier’s commendation award to volunteer, municipal, and Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency fire departments. This award recognizes personnel for their service and bravery while protecting Saskatchewan people and communities.

As the session begins, we acknowledge the great challenges and opportunities here in our province. Today our government is creating laws, adjusting regulations, making investments, and adding and improving services to build a strong, safe, and secure future for our province.

Saskatchewan has the strongest economy in Canada. The top three credit rating agencies have our credit rating at the highest of all provinces, and we lead the country in capital investment growth. Initiatives like the small and medium enterprise tax credit for the food, beverage, machinery, and transportation sectors and the new Saskatchewan young entrepreneur bursary to support youth entrepreneurs have incentivized investment and growth.

All of our resource sectors provide jobs and fuel this provincial growth. Regarding our natural resources, Mr. Speaker, they are abundant and diverse. Oil, potash, and uranium power our economy. In addition we have aluminum, cobalt, copper, gallium, helium, lithium, magnesium, natural graphite, nickel, and rare earth elements. Our role is to make Saskatchewan a place for resource companies to explore, to invest, to build, and develop these and other resources that we have here. Opportunities are being explored throughout the province, including in Carrot River Valley.

Our forestry sector remains an important part of our economy, and there are six major primary forest product facilities. We have over 140 secondary forestry product businesses and hundreds of supply chain businesses that provide goods and services for forestry manufacturers. I have had the opportunity to tour both Weyerhaeuser in Hudson Bay and Edgewood Forest Products in Carrot River.

The imposition of significant tariffs by the United States and China, coupled with changing world trade relationships, have created challenges. It’s evident that improved market access elsewhere is integral to our continued economic success and growth. For 18 years expanding export markets has been key to our government’s economic plan. New opportunities have been created. We currently export to over 160 countries around the world, and diversification and expansion of these international markets means Saskatchewan is better positioned to weather the current trade uncertainties.

At this time our government will work closely with the federal government to navigate these challenges created by the tariffs. Our Premier met with the Prime Minister to discuss the Strong Saskatchewan, Strong Canada plan. The Prime Minister committed to addressing Saskatchewan’s concerns and moving forward on nation-building projects that are both beneficial to Saskatchewan and Canada.

Our government will continue to make every effort to work collaboratively with the federal government toward our shared goals of a strong and growing Saskatchewan within a strong and united Canada. We will also encourage freer trade nationally within Canada and strengthen both provincial and national economies by reducing interprovincial trade barriers for goods, services, and labour mobility with a new Saskatchewan trade promotion Act.

Our government, Mr. Speaker, is committed to creating safer communities and neighbourhoods for everyone in the province. All residents deserve to feel safe and secure, and the Throne Speech pointed to several initiatives to address public safety. Our government has committed to hire 100 additional municipal police officers, 14 new SCAN — safer communities and neighbourhoods — personnel, and 70 officers within the Saskatchewan marshals service.

Our law enforcement members will have more tools to keep our communities and families safe. One of these tools is the new safe public spaces (street weapons) Act, which came into force on August 1st. This new legislation promotes safety in public urban spaces by regulating the possession, transportation, and storage of items that may be used as street weapons, such as knives, hypodermic needles, machetes, and bear spray, as well as dangerous drugs such as methamphetamine and fentanyl. These rules will apply in municipalities and First Nations that choose to opt in to this new Act.

Mr. Speaker, our tools include amendments to The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act and The Trespass to Property Act. Additionally several legislative, regulatory, and policy measures have been introduced that will help protect communities. Our government will continue to work with the RCMP, the Saskatchewan marshals service, and municipal police forces to track down, arrest, and prosecute criminals.

In addition to investing in the protection of our people and property, our government is investing in a more accessible court system; improving safety for correctional staff, offenders, and the public; supporting the Saskatchewan Ballistics Laboratory; and investing in interpersonal violence programs.

This year the Government of Saskatchewan has dedicated approximately $32 million to partners that facilitate interpersonal violence programs and services through the justice system. This includes $14.2 million per year being provided to community-based partners, annualized funding for second-stage shelters, and additional funding for victim services and other important supports.

Our government, Mr. Speaker, has a multi-ministry approach to safer communities and neighbourhoods. We will continue to work fully to implement a recovery-oriented system of care to assist people with addiction. They deserve our support, compassion, and care. Almost 300 of the planned 500 intensive recovery spaces are already available in seven communities across the province, helping patients on their path to recovery. Complex-need facilities are open in Regina and Saskatoon, with facilities planned for Prince Albert and North Battleford.

In Saskatoon the rate of self-referral to services by these patients is over 90 per cent. Our government will take the next step to provide the support and compassion and care people struggling with addictions need by introducing the compassionate intervention Act this session. Individuals whose addiction is creating a threat to themselves and others will be required to enter an addiction treatment program, ensuring they get the help they need while keeping our communities safe and secure. We will provide them a safe space and a path to get the assistance they need.

Mr. Speaker, homelessness is a significant challenge in many Saskatchewan communities. We are committed to addressing the challenges of this complex issue and are working with all levels of government as well as Indigenous and community partners. Our government has added 141 enhanced emergency shelter spaces, 30 complex-needs beds, and 155 supportive housing units as well as providing municipalities with funding for additional warming capacity through our provincial approach to homelessness. We will renew and expand this program, providing a significant increase in support by providing outreach services, enhancing public safety, and increasing our supply of supportive housing during this session.

Mr. Speaker, our government implemented the most aggressive health care human resources action plan in Canada. While every province is facing challenges with recruitment and retention of health care professionals, Saskatchewan is making progress. There are 346 more doctors, 2,083 more nurses in the province since the plan was introduced in 2022.

Our government is working to ensure everyone in the province has access to a primary health provider, either a doctor or a nurse practitioner, by 2028. I am very pleased to share that our government, in partnership with the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine, is expanding physician training opportunities for medical residents here in the province.

Beginning with the 2026 Canadian residency match system, the department of academic family medicine will add new family medicine core residency training seats — two in Nipawin, two in Melfort, and one in Yorkton.

“Where learners train strongly impacts where they practise,” said Dr. Sarah Forgie, dean of University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine. “Continuing to grow training opportunities across the province is a priority for our college, and these new resident doctor positions will strengthen health care supports for people in the area.”

I’m excited to see more training and recruitment opportunities in Nipawin in the northeast. With this addition of these new residency seats, we are building opportunities to expand patient care in rural communities in the entire region, and we encourage new residents to consider building their practice here in the future.

To strengthen primary care, we are introducing new contracts for nurse practitioners. Clinics operated solely by nurse practitioners have already opened in Warman and Martensville. The Government of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Health Authority are adding 77 new and enhanced permanent full-time positions to benefit 30 rural and remote communities. In the community of Nipawin four RN/RPN [registered nurse/registered psychiatric nurse] positions have been enhanced to create four positions, and the community of Hudson Bay will benefit from one RN/RPN position.

New urgent care centres will take pressures off busy emergency rooms while creating more access points for people who are in need of urgent, but not life-threatening, care. In Regina the new urgent care centre has treated more than 41,000 patients in its first year. The new urgent care centre in Saskatoon, being developed in partnership with Ahtahkakoop Cree Developments, is now more than 25 per cent complete.

Planning is under way for additional centres each in Saskatoon and Regina, as well as centres in Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, and North Battleford. Our government is proud of these investments we are making in health infrastructure throughout the province, and we are committed to improving access to health care for our patients.

Our government, Mr. Speaker, is investing in our children and their future. We are committed to providing the tools and opportunities they need to succeed. We have focused on improving reading levels, specifically in kindergarten to grade 3. Specialized support classrooms have expanded to every school division, and over the next four years there will be more than 200. By funding more than 500 additional teachers, more needs will be met and more support will be in place. And just this year 26 new or consolidated schools and three major renovations are in progress across Saskatchewan as enrolment continues to increase.

Our farm land here in Saskatchewan is one of our greatest resources, and this year has been challenging for many of our agriculture producers. Our government has been responsive to producers facing market- and weather-related volatility. Our agriculture and value-added agriculture sectors are powered by hard-working producers who feed not just Saskatchewan but the world. Two of these value-added agriculture businesses are Bunge canola crush facility in Nipawin and C-Merak in Tisdale, both of which I have had the pleasure of touring. A strong and vibrant value-added ag sector helps diversify our economy, contributes to GDP, creates jobs, and attracts investments.

[12:30]

Our government is meeting the needs of a growing province by building new highways and bridges, schools and hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other much-needed infrastructure.

We recognize, Mr. Speaker, that significant fundraising efforts are required by communities and local volunteers to raise the community’s share of funding needed when a new health care facility is being built. Our government will ease the financial burden on communities by cutting the community’s share of the cost of any future health care facilities in half.

Supporting our communities and municipalities continues to be a priority for our government. Mr. Speaker, in June recipients of the Community Initiatives Fund were announced. Organizations throughout Carrot River Valley, in the communities of Zenon Park, Carrot River, Hudson Bay, Tisdale, and Nipawin, received $52,680 in funding for projects that included kids’ summer programs, a breakfast nutritional program, and a community foundation. A total of 457 grants were approved for just over $6.5 million in 145 communities, contributing to their well-being.

Mr. Speaker, thanks to the Provincial Traffic Safety Fund, Red Earth Cree Nation has been granted $100,000 for street lights for road safety enhancement. Across Saskatchewan 62 projects in 61 communities were granted $1.5 million to improve traffic and pedestrian safety.

This past Monday I had the pleasure of joining the member from Prince Albert Northcote, the Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport, in Nipawin with representatives from the Royal Canadian Legion. Branch 120 received $27,500 from the Saskatchewan veteran service club support program for a new furnace, on-demand heater, upgraded flooring, and painting. Since 2019, Branch 120 has received a total of $95,572 in funding. And it was a pleasure to see the upgrades as most of those improvements are now completed.

Introduced in 2019, the program provides grants for facility upgrades and other activities to advance the work to strengthen the long-term sustainability of veteran service organizations throughout the province. More than $7.4 million in total has been allocated to 115 communities.

We are motivated to continue this work to support people and communities. Aptly our provincial motto translates from Latin to “from many peoples, strength.” Saskatchewan’s motto is a reminder that our province is made up of people from a variety of backgrounds, from communities, from countries all around the world, people with unique cultures and interests and abilities. We continue to find the opportunities in the challenges that together we face as a province. By meeting those challenges and finding those opportunities, we will secure our economy. We ensure our economy is strong, our people are safe, and our future is secure.

The Throne Speech clearly announces the objectives of the government and this legislative session: the strongest economy in Canada, the most affordable place to live in Canada. Safe communities, students that give our students their best starts, a health system that is ensuring everyone gets the care they need.

With that said, I am pleased, honoured, and grateful to second the motion in support of the Speech from the Throne. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Cumberland.

Jordan McPhail: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will say it’s an incredible honour to be able to rise from my chair this fall session and represent the good people of Cumberland. I’ve had the incredible honour of serving them as the first member of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band to serve on this legislative floor and a proud member of northern Saskatchewan, born and raised.

I’ve also had the incredible honour bestowed upon me from the Leader of the Opposition to be the shadow minister of forestry, SaskTel, and Northern Affairs. Today I’m going to respond to this government’s Speech from the Throne with a specific focus on my Northern Affairs portfolio, as I’m sure nobody in Saskatchewan hasn’t heard what a disastrous summer it has been for the people that I serve under that shadow ministry.

Before I get into my formal comments, I do want to thank a few individuals. This summer I had a ton of hard-working people that I would like to thank — first and foremost the incredibly hard-working and dedicated fire teams, whether it be from the ground, the air, in the hangars, or in the fire halls. People in the North have stepped up like no other this summer and I thank them, both as the MLA for Cumberland and as the shadow minister for Northern Affairs.

I’d also like to thank my family, as this summer was one of the busiest summers for our family between home renovations, raising a newborn, dealing with a toddler, and having to pack up and evacuate our household. And thankfully we had a home to come back to. And we had to reorganize our home of everything that we had pulled out to evacuate. My daughters and wife, I love you and thank you for the work that you have done to continue to allow daddy to do the work in this House.

To tell you a little bit about who I was before I was being able to serve as the MLA for Cumberland, I was a SaskTel tech for just over 10 years, proud Unifor Local 2‑S member, and also had the honour of representing my municipality as a councillor and some time as a deputy mayor for the town of La Ronge since 2016. During my time there we worked on incredible files — community downtown revitalization, public safety initiatives like a northern alcohol strategy, increased our local RCMP presence through advocacy and some additional dollars to fund our detachment, built new municipal shops, and managed a budget of nearly $10 million.

It was a great time to be in government, to have the ability to make the changes to the communities that I serve, and moreover know that these systems and changes that will affect the lives and the livelihoods of those who called La Ronge then and into the future.

I was the Chair of the regional fire department where we enacted emergency response plans for everything from floods, fires, pandemics, power outages, and more. This was critical work, living in our province’s North. We had plans to save municipal infrastructure when fires breached the community, ensured local businesses kept stock of things that were necessary to respond to these types of crises, and had plans to get resources as we needed them, using our networks that we built in and around our tri-community.

So why do I bore you all with this detail? Well let me tell you the story of my summer. The spring session was just wrapping up. We had heard of the first fires breaking out in the North, and it was early May. We knew this was a dry year, and we knew that this had the potential for being a bad year for wildfires.

Our team took to the feet in the legislature to ask the Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety if he was prepared for this fire season, if he was willing to coordinate this year’s fire response with local, northern, First Nations and Métis leadership. His answer was clear: we are absolutely ready.

He said that. He responded to that question while half of his water bomber fleet was grounded in La Ronge due to maintenance with no plan to bring them into operation. He went further to brag about this new plane that was going to be showing up early, in just a few short weeks, he said.

What he didn’t mention is that when that plane arrived that there was no pilot trained to fly that very plane. And that plane sat on the tarmac and nearly burned on June the 2nd in the community of La Ronge when the fires breached the community of La Ronge and went through the airport. It took the local staff acting quickly to drag the plane down the tarmac to save it.

This is a government that has been in power for 18 years, Mr. Speaker. After 18 years they have not planned, funded, or resourced our public safety to a place where we can successfully fight the blazes in northern Saskatchewan. Their inability to do so has threatened public safety, the lives and livelihoods of people who call our province’s North home, not only this summer but in the future responses in this province.

Operationally this government did not do what they should have to resource their ministry. Even if they did realize it too late, they also didn’t know when to ask for help. If they did, they would have called in federal help like the MP [Member of Parliament] had made the appeal to them multiple times.

Financially, according to court documents they overspent nearly $100 million on the procurement of the planes that were delivered to La Ronge. So when the people of Saskatchewan hear that their hospital is short doctors, nurses, care aides, mental health workers; when you hear your municipal government needs infrastructure dollars to build more homes; when you know there are boarded-up Sask Housing houses in your neighbourhood that need renovations to help families in desperate need; when you hear about your school needing repairs or educational assistants or teachers, you and every single person in Saskatchewan need to know that this Sask Party government had the money and wasted it.

If the members don’t mind I’d like to share my story of my evacuation day. It was a day that I will never forget. I woke up. I went to my office to have coffee with my CA [constituency assistant] Modeste. We started our morning briefing calls with all the northern leadership teams and the emergency operation centres. While on our first call we hear that the fire has made significant gains toward our community. The winds were slated to be near 80 kilometres per hour in town, bringing the fire closer to town. I knew in my gut, at that very moment, today was the time that we were going to be told to go.

Fortunately I had sent my girls down south the week before, as the smoke was extremely heavy in the North. And with an infant child . . . We had friends in the city that we could stay with that graciously opened their homes to us, and so my wife took the opportunity to leave a little early.

Safety of my team was also paramount. I let my CA know that I’m going to take it from here and that he needs to go home, pack up his family, and head south. Not 20 minutes later we receive an alert that the community of Sucker River, a reserve just 32 kilometres north of La Ronge, was being evacuated.

Growing up in the North, you are taught by the Elders that you take care of your Elders. You do what you can to keep people safe. So I decided to drive north across the fire to assist the chief of our nation and help evacuate as many people as we could.

While loading people into buses, an Elder collapsed while registering to leave the community. Local RCMP, conservation officers, and myself began CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation]. We worked on this man for nearly 45 minutes until the paramedics arrived. Unfortunately we were not able to save this man. His family and thoughts are with me to this day. After a few moments to gather ourselves, we continued to evacuate people from Sucker River.

When La Ronge was notified of immediate evacuation I decided to head home, as they were wrapping up in Sucker River, and help load people onto buses in La Ronge to head out. Seven thousand people left their homes, their businesses, and their belongings to flee to safety that day from my home community for the second time in 10 years. We had the Pisew fire to the west, immediately threatening our community; the Shoe fire threatening the south — the largest fire in Saskatchewan at that time — and the Ditch02 fire was crossing the only highway south of town and our only ability to get out safely.

After loading people up on buses, helping the local health care team load patients into vehicles to head to the airport only to see the flames pass the tarmac and be turned around to head back into town to load these patients onto buses and then head south, it was now my turn to pack.

I went through my house deciding whether that beautiful picture of the mountains my wife painted for my birthday, or that painting my wife made me for our first anniversary, or the sleigh that my mother dragged me around in as a young child and now what I drag my children around in the winter, would really fit in the vehicle, or if I’m really going to miss that guitar or that wood-carved lake map that I was gifted.

I wasn’t sure if I was going to truly miss those in the future and if I had to create space in my vehicle to do that. You had to create a priority list of sorts. You had 15 to 20 minutes to make that list, pack it, and put it into your vehicle. Let me tell you, the guilt that you have returning home and seeing some of the things that you left behind that you may never have seen again, is overwhelming at times.

My mother works at the local health authority and is an LPN [licensed practical nurse]. She stayed behind to help build a field hospital to treat fire teams, essential services workers. My father stayed as one of those essential services workers and fought the fire.

After loading up my gear into my vehicle, I called my father, told him I loved him, and not to do anything that would have him be reunited with my grandfather, who we lost due to cancer just a few months ago.

I went to the local hospital. I gave my mother a hug, shared a tear, and told her to make sure that she can see her grandkids again, because we all wanted to see kohkom again. I then knew that it was time to get myself to safety and to see my wife and girls again.

[12:45]

South of town I watched the Pisew fire fade into the distance in my rear-view mirror, leaving behind nearly everything that I owned, my mother, and my father. I stared out the windshield only to see the Shoe fire plumes towering into the sky. And I knew that it was now time to drive through the Ditch fire that was threatening the only community south of our hometown.

As this thought crossed my mind, people were turning around, heading back into town. The SaskAlert app had cancelled the evacuation and there was rumour building in the convoy line that it was no longer safe to travel on that highway. Vehicles were turning around, and after seeing multiple vehicles turned around, I turned back towards town as well.

I was going to get my boat ready as I thought this may have been the only route to safety at that point. I was going back to pack groceries into a boat and I was ready to live on the lake if that’s what it took. On my way back into the community, embers were falling into the ditch, and the ditch was now catching fire behind the convoy lines of the evacuees, almost trapping those who decided to stay in the line. Local civilian people had used what they had to extinguish those flames and keep the people in the convoy safe. And I thank them for what they did on that day.

I text my colleagues — most will remember that day — that I have never been more scared than that to never see my girls again. I called our leader. I told her that I may lose cell reception in the fires if they burn the SaskTel lines and wanted her to know that I was going to be on the lake if that’s what I had to do, and if I didn’t make it, to give this government some serious hell this fall. I thanked her for everything that she has done to fight for the North, that I am proud to work alongside her and this incredibly mighty team. In that moment I didn’t know whether June the 3rd was in the cards for me.

After the fire laid down for the night, the winds began to calm down, and the highway traffic was moving a little faster, I made my way back into the convoy line. It was now a little more clear that we can drive through the flames.

Once I reached the blockade the fire was on what would have normally taken about 20 to 30 minutes to drive through, about 50 kilometres of the highway, took me nearly an hour and 45 minutes. I drove through thick smoke, flames on the side of the highway. I called my wife just from the south side of Weyakwin. “Honey, I’m safe” was the greatest relief of my life.

I thank the incredible team of firefighters, pilots, police, and emergency personnel for their hard work, their dedication to community, and most of all for keeping all of us safe this summer.

After I arrived in Saskatoon at 5 a.m. I slept for an hour. My girls woke up. I gave them a hug and kissed them, told them that daddy was safe, and then got ready for a press conference just a few hours away.

Now enough about me, as my story is the same as 20,000 other people’s this year. My story is not unique. I share my experience only to shed light on what me and my brother from Athabasca, constituents, faced in the scariest and hardest days of their life. My story has a happy ending. My house and family was saved due to the hard work of local businesses, our local fire department, our local SPSA [Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency] team, and the local EOC [emergency operations centre] leadership that serves them. I cannot overstate my gratitude to them.

After evacuation we heard widespread reports of many people sleeping in their cars, not having access to food, being told to go to Prince Albert for services only to then be told to go to Kindersley or Yorkton or Estevan or Regina or, in some cases, Medicine Hat.

When arriving, some of our constituents were then told that they did not have accommodations. Some were told that they had to report to Red Cross in some cases, only to have Red Cross to tell them that they are to contact the SPSA. When they called the evacuee support line, they were told they would be contacted in just a couple of days, only to wait a week, and when they called back, were told to be patient and they would have them call them back in just a few more days.

We heard reports of evacuees also being told that if they went to the Red Cross for meals and the SPSA for accommodations, because neither of the organizations could provide and offer both, that they were committing fraud. It was pure chaos.

I also want to put into context that, at the height of this, I had 15,000 of the 17,000 people who live in my constituency evacuated. My constituency is half of the size of Italy. Nearly 90 per cent of the people who call my constituency home were living outside of my constituency.

The worst fears became real for many people in my constituency on that very same day that I evacuated. On June the 2nd, Denare Beach lost nearly two-thirds of their community. The Wolf fire had crossed the lake, burned 200 homes and the memories inside those walls to the ground. I have had hundreds of conversations with the people in Denare, Creighton, and Flin Flon and how devastating this is and was for them. They were abandoned.

While Wab Kinew called in for federal help, there was 53 fire departments on the front lines not 20 kilometres away from Denare Beach — 53 fire departments — while Denare Beach had 11 volunteer fire department firefighters, not fire departments, firefighters, fighting the fire the night that their community burned. This Premier, this minister, and this government abandoned the North entirely this summer.

I will tell you this. It was our team, our leader, who showed up for the people of the North. Our leader had called me in the early days of the crisis. “What can we do to help?” We hauled food, water, Gatorade, snacks. Whatever the community’s needs were, the front lines, the evacuees, we tried to meet those needs.

We had nearly daily press conferences calling for better from this government. We had MLAs from our team visiting evacuee sites to assess the needs that weren’t or couldn’t be met and gathered donations from community alongside many of my MLAs here in this room. And I would like to thank them for raising the awareness, supporting the people in the worst times of their lives.

We had the MLA from Saskatoon Stonebridge give impromptu concerts and guitar lessons to evacuees. The MLA from Saskatoon Westview, who’s now my seatmate, gathered and delivered donations in Saskatoon. We had the MLAs from Regina Mount Royal and Regina Pasqua gather and deliver donations here in Regina. It was amazing to see the support from my colleagues, our staff, and all of our New Democrats across this province, and local businesses show up for the people of the North. And I thank each and every one of them for their support this summer.

I know that it was New Democrats that delivered for the people of the North. It will be New Democrats who will deliver for the people in the future.

The way this government has treated the people in the North this summer, I have heard that the next time this happens — which we all know in the North that wildfires are not a situation of if it will happen, but when it will happen — they will not leave, as they do not believe they will be supported.

They don’t believe that this government is capable of humility. They don’t believe that they will listen to the people of the North and find a new way to fight these blazes. They don’t believe that they will call for help when their local teams aren’t able to keep up, regardless of whether or not they are exhausted to the point of sleeping in the ditches and on the lawns of the fire halls.

I heard some of the responses from the members opposite when I was at these press conferences to hold them accountable. I was asked about a government release claiming that I had trespassed onto government property. When our team put out the calls to demand a provincial state of emergency, to call in for federal resources, northern and First Nations leaderships, the Premier asked the question: what did they say they would do?

I challenge the Premier to open up his cell phone, ask that very question to even the likes of Google, and he would get a long list of what the Canadian resources could have done to help the fire lines.

When Denare Beach burned to the ground, we demanded answers for the people who have lost so much. They wanted this government to show up and be accountable. This is still something that they could not do. Timelines and tee times seem to take precedence over fire lines and response times, in my opinion.

The people of East Trout Lake had asked us to lobby and advocate to remove the PST [provincial sales tax] on construction labour, as the government should not profit from the loss of people’s homes in the North this summer.

I stood in Prince Albert, spoke to local media about our plan to rebuild the North, which was echoing what we heard from constituents, local businesses, First Nations leaders, and northerners. What did I hear in response to my messages for the Premier, his minister, and this government this summer? That I was lost and reckless and provided no advice or asked a question of this government.

In closing, I will tell you this, Mr. Speaker. I will not be called lost by a premier, a minister, or a government that needs a pilot or Google Maps to find the northern half of this province. I will not be called reckless by a premier, a minister, or a government that have resourced their ministry and their staff to a state where nearly half of their water bombers are grounded during the worst fires in a decade. I will not be called reckless by a premier, a minister, or a government that had families drive through smoke, flames, fearing for their lives, to be completely abandoned, living in tents, their cars, or worse.

Speaker Goudy: — I appreciate all that you’ve been saying and relaying the experience. We’ve all appreciated to hear that, and yet I think you’re beginning to . . . With your last statements, they were clearly your statements. But to be saying that anyone — government service employees, Premier, ministers — are pushing those people to be driving through the fires, I think you’re imputing upon them something . . . I know you’re emotional and we appreciate that, but I would really ask you to avoid, you know, those kinds of statements please.

Thank you very much though. We do understand your emotion and your experience, so please continue.

Jordan McPhail: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will not be called reckless by a premier, a minister, or a government that has jeopardized the safety of my constituency, not only this summer but for the many years in the future, due to their perceived disregard for the people of the North. I will not be called reckless by a premier, a minister, or a government who will not answer to the frustrations, the pain, the suffering, and the heartache of northerners after treating them the way that I had to witness this summer.

This Throne Speech will not undo what has been done this summer. This Throne Speech does not go far enough for me or the people I serve to restore trust in this government. It does not help the forestry industry bounce back from a devastating year where tariffs and wildfires destroyed their investments. It does not protect the jobs, the livelihoods, the people, and the properties of northern Saskatchewan.

And so what I will do, Mr. Speaker, is I will be moving:

That the motion be amended to have the following words:

And that the Assembly does not support the agenda outlined in the Speech from the Throne because it fails to include adequate measures to urgently address the challenges Saskatchewan people face regarding health care, tariffs, the cost of living, housing, and public safety; and further,

That the Assembly has lost confidence in the government.

Thank you. têniki. hay-hay. mahsi cho. ninanâskomon, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the MLA from Cumberland, seconded by the member from Saskatoon Chief Mistawasis:

That the motion be amended by adding:

That the Assembly has lost confidence in the government.

I recognize the member from Saskatoon Chief Mistawasis.

Don McBean: — You make me go after you?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is with great humility and still a certain amount of disbelief that I rise today in this honoured Chamber, and from this distinguished position to offer my response to the Speech from the Throne, 2025. I am undoubtedly overestimating the impact of my response a year ago in my so-called maiden speech that for at least a few has deservedly been brought up with tacit efforts of humour.

I decided to sign up for the first day to be able to get it done and not be thinking too much about it, and to follow the advice that I used to give my students a lot when there were class presentations. And I would say go first, you know, because . . .

Speaker Goudy: — It now being 1 p.m., this Assembly stands adjourned until Monday, October 27th at 1:30 p.m.

[The Assembly adjourned at 13:00.]

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

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