Saskatchewan Minute: Issue 112

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

📅 This Week In Saskatchewan: 📅

• The Saskatchewan government reports that 94% of its procurement contracts ($698 million) were awarded to local companies in 2025-26. This emphasis on regional spending follows a temporary policy introduced in 2025 to counter US tariffs and reduce trade dependence. Additionally, the Crown sector spent $1.5 billion locally, with a record $152 million (7.1%) going to Indigenous suppliers. However, the NDP Opposition disputes these figures, citing data suggesting only 51% of contracts went to companies actually headquartered in Saskatchewan. They argue the government incorrectly labels firms as "local" based solely on mailing addresses. Despite this claim, the Province plans to maintain its "Saskatchewan First" approach, with Crown corporations expected to spend $10.6 billion over the next four years. The SaskBuilds "Priority Saskatchewan" branch continues to help local businesses navigate the tender process to foster regional economic growth.
  
  
• Premier Scott Moe welcomed the federal "Powering Canada Strong" plan, which aims to double the national electrical grid by 2050. Moe believes this strategy provides a path for Saskatchewan to retain 1,500 megawatts of coal power while transitioning toward a nuclear energy future. He clarified that the coal strategy’s capital cost is $2.6 billion, dismissing NDP claims of a $26-billion price tag as including long-term operational and fuel expenses. The federal initiative is expected to amend previous regulations, opening negotiations on utilizing existing generation capacity. SaskPower CEO Rupen Pandya noted the plan helps avoid "stranded assets," though the provincial NDP argues the strategy aligns more with their own focus on renewables and transmission.
  
  
• Premier Scott Moe says his government will carefully review the new carbon pricing and pipeline agreement between Alberta and the federal government to ensure it does not put Saskatchewan at a competitive disadvantage. The deal, signed by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, adjusts Alberta’s industrial carbon pricing system and outlines a potential pathway for a West Coast oil pipeline that could be approved for construction as early as September 2027. Moe said Saskatchewan supports policies that reduce emissions while protecting jobs and investment, but emphasized that provincial industries must remain competitive within Canada’s broader regulatory framework. He noted that Saskatchewan’s oil sector is significant to the province's economy and that improved pipeline access could benefit producers by opening additional export capacity and potentially raising prices. However, he stressed that any differences in carbon pricing or federal policy must be examined to ensure fairness across provinces. Saskatchewan "eliminated" its industrial carbon price last year, but this was done by simply not collecting the tax from industry. The Saskatchewan government has continued to pay the federal government the amount owed, so any reduction in the tax rate would reduce the amount owed to Ottawa by the provincial government.
  
  
• Saskatchewan’s helium industry is gaining increased attention as global supply shortages create new opportunities for the Province to expand production and market share. While Saskatchewan is traditionally known for resources like uranium, potash, and oil, the Province currently supplies about 3% of the world’s helium and aims to increase that share to 10% by 2030. Ongoing shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz linked to Middle East conflicts have strained global helium supplies, increasing demand for alternative and politically stable suppliers. Industry analysts say Saskatchewan’s helium reserves, combined with its mining-friendly regulatory environment, position the province as an attractive new source for international markets seeking supply diversification. Saskatchewan Energy and Resources Minister Chris Beaudry said aggressive drilling plans by local companies could help the Province meet its production targets, although he argued current tax policies limiting access to flow-through shares remain a barrier to investment. The Province is also pushing for additional infrastructure, including a helium liquefaction facility, since helium extracted in Saskatchewan currently must be processed in the United States. Officials believe the industry could become an increasingly important part of Saskatchewan’s resource economy in the coming years.
  
  
• Federal NDP Leader Avi Lewis visited Saskatchewan as part of his first national tour, meeting with Star Blanket Cree Nation leaders in the Qu’Appelle Valley while avoiding a scheduled meeting with provincial NDP leader Carla Beck amid growing tensions over energy policy. The visit highlights internal divisions within the NDP, particularly over fossil fuel development, with Lewis opposing new fossil fuel expansion while Beck argues such a stance risks threatening major economic activity in the province. Lewis said his discussions with First Nations leaders were constructive and emphasized both shared priorities and differences between federal and provincial party positions. Beck has criticized the federal leader’s approach as unrealistic for Saskatchewan’s resource-dependent economy and has focused instead on holding the provincial government accountable for energy and electricity decisions.

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