Saskatchewan Minute: Issue 65

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

📅 This Week In Saskatchewan: 📅

• The Saskatchewan government plans to extend the life of its coal-fired power plants as it transitions toward nuclear energy. In a letter to SaskPower staff, Crown Investments Minister Jeremy Harrison said up to 1,500 megawatts of coal capacity will be maintained, citing the need for reliable and affordable electricity. The Province will explore adding carbon capture units to its existing infrastructure, similar to the one at Boundary Dam, which has had mixed results meeting emissions targets. Harrison emphasized Saskatchewan’s constitutional authority over electricity generation and reiterated opposition to federal clean electricity regulations. While SaskPower is aiming to build a small modular nuclear reactor by the mid-2030s, coal will remain a key part of the grid in the meantime. The Province still says it is committed to net-zero by 2050, but insists the transition must not compromise reliability or affordability.
  
  
• The Premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan are pushing for major energy infrastructure projects, including a new trade corridor linking British Columbia’s Port of Prince Rupert to Hudson Bay and Nunavut’s Grays Bay. This port-to-port corridor would help Saskatchewan and Western Canada get goods to Asian and European markets more efficiently, boosting our economy and exports for decades to come. Premier Scott Moe says Canada needs faster regulatory changes and stronger federal support to attract investment not just in oil and gas, but also in uranium, lithium, and other critical minerals found right here in Saskatchewan. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith points to Alberta’s huge oil and gas reserves as a key part of Canada’s future as a global energy powerhouse. Both Premiers are urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to back this corridor quickly and work closely with provinces and Indigenous communities to build the roads, railways, and pipelines that will support growth. For Saskatchewan, this kind of infrastructure investment means new economic opportunities and a stronger role in the world’s energy and resource markets.
  
  
• The Saskatchewan government has increased short-line railway funding to $1 million in the 2025/26 budget, nearly doubling last year’s allocation. This funding, matched by private rail operators through the Short Line Railway Improvement Program, brings the total available to $2 million for track upgrades, bridge maintenance, and related infrastructure projects. Highways Minister David Marit emphasized the importance of short-lines in moving goods efficiently and reducing highway wear. However, both industry experts and the provincial NDP argue that more funding is needed to fully support and expand short-line infrastructure. Opposition Leader Carla Beck called for federal and provincial collaboration to grow trade-enabling rail systems, especially amid concerns about US trade reliability. While some rail leaders are grateful for the increase, they stress that dividing $1 million among 13 companies is insufficient given rising maintenance and operational costs. Others are looking to Ottawa for further support to strengthen the supply chain and grow exports.
  
  
• Saskatchewan is unable to deploy a newly purchased water bomber this wildfire season due to a lack of certified pilots, according to officials from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency. The Province recently acquired four water bombers as part of its long-term firefighting strategy, but training pilots on the new aircraft would require pulling them from active duty. With wildfires continuing to pose serious threats across northern regions, the agency opted to prioritize immediate firefighting efforts. The Province plans to phase in the aircraft over time as pilots receive certification. Critics have questioned why pilot training was not addressed earlier in the procurement process, especially as the province faces what Premier Scott Moe has called one of the worst fire seasons in recent memory. For now, Saskatchewan continues to rely on its existing fleet and mutual aid agreements with other provinces.
  
  
• Regina paramedic David Reed is calling on the Saskatchewan government to establish a civilian service medal to honour first responders who die in the line of duty, including from work-related mental health injuries. Inspired by being excluded from a 2006 RCMP funeral due to a lack of formal uniform, Reed has spent years shaping honour protocols for EMS and now wants a medal akin to the military’s Silver Cross. The proposed medal would recognize the sacrifices of paramedics, police, firefighters, and 911 operators, including those who die from PTSD or other job-related stress. Families like that of Robbie Curtis, a Regina paramedic who died by suicide in 2018, say such recognition would be deeply meaningful. The Province has proposed a memorial instead, but Reed and supporters argue a personal, wearable symbol is equally important. Talks with the government are ongoing, with bipartisan support growing.

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