Saskatchewan Minute: Community Rinks, Election Calls, and an Early Marshals Launch

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

This Week In Saskatchewan:

• Premier Scott Moe is calling for a federal election in response to potential export tariffs on oil, potash, and uranium being considered by the federal government. Moe criticized these tariffs as a betrayal of Canadian workers in these industries and expressed concern about their economic impact. He highlighted the lack of consultation with provincial leaders on the matter and emphasized the need for a cohesive "Team Canada approach" to address such issues. Moe urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to allow Canadians to choose a government with a fresh mandate to negotiate with the incoming US administration under President-elect Donald Trump.
  
  
• The Province says that applications for the 2024-25 Community Rink Affordability Grant will open on January 6th, 2025, for eligible communities, First Nations, schools, and non-profits. The annual grant of $2,500 per indoor ice surface helps offset the operational costs of skating and curling rinks, which serve as key cultural hubs in the province. In 2025-26, funding will increase to $5,000 per rink, with the overall program budget rising to $3.2 million. Applications will be accepted until February 28th, 2025, with payouts expected by March 2025.
  
  
• Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck is urging the government to remove the PST on children’s clothing before Christmas, citing it as a simple step to provide immediate relief for struggling families. Meanwhile, the government defended its affordability initiatives, including income tax cuts and the removal of the carbon tax on home heating.

Last Week In Saskatchewan:

• The Province announced that the Saskatchewan Marshals Service is set to launch by summer 2025, a year earlier than initially planned, following significant progress in hiring key personnel. The service will focus on high-crime areas and agriculture-related offences, with regional headquarters under consideration. While the government has allocated $14 million to the service, critics argue the funds would be better spent bolstering current law enforcement.
  
  
• Premier Scott Moe’s approval rating rose to 52% following his re-election, a seven-point increase from September, according to an Angus Reid poll. This places Moe as the fourth most popular premier in Canada, behind leaders from Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Moe’s approval has fluctuated since he became leader in 2018, peaking at 65% in 2020 and hitting a low of 43% in late 2021.
  
  
• A Saskatoon gun store has lost $40,000 in inventory following a federal ban on 324 additional firearm models. Federal Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc justified the ban as part of efforts to prevent mass shootings, adding that a compensation program for affected businesses and owners is in the testing phase. The government has committed to including all prohibited firearms in the buy-back initiative, which will soon be available to firearm businesses nationwide.