Saskatchewan Minute: Building Incentives, Rare Mineral, and a Looming Rail Strike

Saskatchewan Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Saskatchewan politics.

This Week In Saskatchewan:

• Moosomin aims to double its population by offering $30,000 cheques to those building homes in the area. The funds will be paid directly to builders once an occupancy permit is issued, with the goal of attracting developers and new residents. This initiative is part of a broader plan supported by federal housing funds and local collaborations. Town Councillor Murray Gray is optimistic about the program, noting that Moosomin's economy is thriving and the community is excited about future growth. The town hopes to eventually reach the 5,000 residents required for city status.
  
  
• Saskatchewan is introducing a program to test the genomes of cancer patients to identify those at risk of severe side effects from certain chemotherapy drugs. This test detects genetic variants that influence enzyme production, which can impact drug tolerance. Previously, these tests were done in the U.S. with a two-week turnaround, but now they will be conducted at Saskatoon's Royal University Hospital in just two to seven days. The lab plans to test about 1,000 patients annually.
  
  
• The federal government is providing Saskatchewan with $16 million to process bastnaesite, a rare mineral crucial for making magnets used in electric vehicle motors. The Saskatchewan Research Council will process 2,000 tonnes of bastnaesite, which could eventually power over 62,000 electric vehicles. Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Jonathan Wilkinson, emphasized the importance of domestic processing to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals - no other facility outside China can process this mineral.

Last Week In Saskatchewan:

• The Province held a press conference to address the imminent threat of a railway strike if CN and Canadian Pacific railways do not reach an agreement with their unions within a week. Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Minister, David Marit, highlighted the significant impact the strike would have on farmers and the broader national economy. He emphasized that daily disruptions could cost Saskatchewan hundreds of millions of dollars and harm Canada's global trading reputation. Marit urged a swift resolution through either back-to-work legislation or binding arbitration.
  
  
• SaskPower has selected PCL Construction to complete the second phase of its new Regina Operations and Maintenance Complex at the Global Transportation Hub, with a $95 million contract. This phase will centralize SaskPower's transmission, distribution, and safety operations. The entire project, which began in 2021, aims to consolidate six of SaskPower's 13 offices into the new facility, addressing aging infrastructure. The second phase, expected to conclude in 2026, will also bring around 150 workers on-site during construction. Once completed, the complex will house over 800 employees.
  
  
• The Saskatchewan government has been granted intervenor status in a legal dispute between a driver and Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI). The driver is trying to find out who reported him as unsafe to drive, an accusation which led SGI to request his medical information in 2019, threatening license suspension if he did not comply. Despite providing the required documents and keeping his license, the driver has struggled to learn the identity of the original informant. Although a court ordered SGI to release the information in April 2023, SGI appealed. The Province is taking no side in the case, but is seeking clarity from the court on interpreting privacy laws as well as challenging the judge’s ruling that driving is a "right," asserting instead that driving is a privilege.