Saskatchewan Minute: Energy Project, Budget Surplus, and Clean Electricity Regulations

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

This Week In Saskatchewan:

• Happy Canada Day! Hope you have a wonderful day with family and friends. We’ve really enjoyed hearing from you all so far this year. Please remember to email us and let us know if you’re enjoying these weekly newsletters, and tell us if you have any ideas for topics we should cover.
  
  
• Five Saskatchewan First Nations, Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, and an energy infrastructure company are collaborating on the Seven Stars Energy Project, a 200-megawatt wind farm near Weyburn. Supported by $100 million in loan guarantees from the Saskatchewan Indigenous Investment Finance Corp., the project will establish Six Nations Energy Development LP (comprising Cowessess, George Gordon, Kahkewistahaw, Pasqua and White Bear First Nations as well as Métis Nation-Saskatchewan) with a minimum 30% ownership stake. Chief Matthew Peigan of Pasqua First Nation highlighted the project's potential to generate stable revenue for essential community services such as housing, education, and health.
  
  
• Saskatchewan is ending the fiscal year with a $182-million surplus, despite an initial forecast of a $1-billion surplus. The province managed to avoid a deficit due to increased tax revenues and a robust economy, though higher-than-expected agricultural expenses and inflation-related costs reduced the surplus. The provincial government is also considering following Alberta's lead and banning cellphones in K-12 classrooms, starting in the fall. What are your thoughts on this proposal?

Last Week In Saskatchewan:

• In response to federal clean electricity regulations, the Government of Saskatchewan has announced its refusal to comply, citing concerns over economic harm outlined in a report by the Saskatchewan Economic Impact Assessment Tribunal. Minister of Justice Bronwyn Eyre emphasized that the regulations would adversely affect the province's economy and sovereignty over its energy sector. The tribunal's findings projected a potential $7.1 billion reduction in economic growth, along with job losses and negative impacts on Saskatchewan's export sector. Our friends at Project Confederation have a petition to Stop The Clean Electricity Regulations. If you haven’t signed it yet, you can do so by clicking here.
  
  
• The Government of Saskatchewan has committed $1.5 million in subsidies over three years to support WestJet's new daily flights between Regina and Minneapolis. This subsidy, structured as a minimum revenue guarantee, ensures up to $500,000 annually if WestJet fails to meet specified sales targets. The initiative aims to enhance Saskatchewan's economic competitiveness by reinstating direct flights to a major US hub, which were previously lost. Should we really be spending taxpayer money on this, though?
  
  
• The University of Saskatchewan has acknowledged the right of Inuit to determine their own identity, signing a memorandum of understanding with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), which represents 70,000 Inuit in Canada. This agreement is the first of its kind in the country and ensures that Inuit, rather than institutions, control membership decisions. A confidential portal at the University will verify credentials. The signing formalized a process that began in February 2023 and has already seen nearly 3,000 applicants.