Saskatchewan Minute: Issue 76

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

📅 This Week In Saskatchewan: 📅

• Premier Scott Moe will travel to China this weekend on a trade mission to address tariffs on Canadian canola, accompanied by Kody Blois, the Prime Minister’s Parliamentary Secretary. The mission comes after China imposed a 75.8% preliminary duty on Canadian canola seed and earlier tariffs on canola oil and meal, largely seen as retaliation for Canada’s 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles. The delegation plans to meet with Chinese officials and industry stakeholders affected by the tariffs, aiming to negotiate a closer trading relationship. Canola is a critical crop for Saskatchewan and Canada, generating about $12.9 billion in farm cash receipts in 2024. Moe emphasized that resolving the dispute will require discussions between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Concurrently, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Trade and Export Development, Warren Keating, will lead a trade mission to South Korea, with both missions concluding in Japan to expand markets for Saskatchewan products. This marks the first time in six years that a Canadian Premier has led a trade mission to China.
  
  
• Saskatchewan’s Health Minister, Jeremy Cockrill, announced that operating urgent care centres 24/7 is no longer a priority due to staffing constraints. Instead, the Province will focus on opening more facilities, including new centres in Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, and North Battleford, as well as a second centre each in Regina and Saskatoon. The new Saskatoon Urgent Care Centre, under construction on the former Pleasant Hill School site, is expected to be completed by fall 2026 and will help reduce pressure on emergency rooms by treating minor illnesses and injuries, and offering mental health and addictions support. Regina’s existing urgent care centre, originally intended to operate around the clock, currently functions from 8:00 am to 9:30 pm, reflecting similar staffing limitations. Cockrill noted that overnight patient numbers in emergency rooms do not justify 24/7 operations, so resources will be concentrated during daytime hours to maximize impact. The Saskatoon facility will be operated by the Saskatchewan Health Authority in partnership with Ahtahkakoop Cree Developments, emphasizing reconciliation and collaboration with First Nations. 
  
  
• Speaking of healthcare, policy analyst Steven Lewis has argued that Saskatchewan’s health system could improve if all doctors worked as contracted employees under the Saskatchewan Health Authority, allowing the Province to assign physicians to locations based on need. He believes this would address imbalances in patient rosters and ensure more equitable distribution of care. Critics say centralizing doctor assignments could push physicians away, stressing the importance of creating attractive positions with economic incentives and work-life balance. Saskatchewan faces physician shortages, with dozens of family doctor positions unfilled in cities like Regina and Saskatoon and smaller centres struggling even more. The Province has launched recruitment campaigns, including targeting US doctors.
  
  
• SaskPower reported a $136-million loss in the first quarter of the 2025-26 fiscal year, a sharp decline from an $8-million loss during the same period last year. The shortfall is largely attributed to a $51-million drop in electricity sales, partly caused by the Province pausing collection of its industrial carbon pricing program. Total revenue fell to $721 million, down $45 million from last year, while expenses rose to $857 million, up $83 million. SaskPower had projected a net income of $126 million for the year, expecting higher electricity demand and increased export opportunities. Opposition critics warn that historic losses may lead to increased bills, while the provincial government maintains it will prioritize affordable, reliable power. 
  
  
• The Regina and Greater Vancouver food banks recently exchanged locally grown produce to address distribution challenges. BC donated over 1,300 kg of fresh vegetables, while Saskatchewan sent pulses and grains, totalling around 40 tonnes transported between the provinces. The initiative aims to diversify food bank offerings and ensure fresh, local products reach communities that can use them. The food banks emphasized that Canada’s main issue is getting food to the right place, not scarcity, and that infrastructure, refrigeration, and distribution networks are critical for handling surplus fresh produce. The exchange, funded in part by proceeds from juice made from surplus fruit, is intended as a model for future collaborations across provinces. Both food banks hope the program can be replicated to smooth out supply imbalances and improve access to nutritious food.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

The federal government announced $370 million in support for Canadian canola producers after China imposed a 75.8% tariff on the crop. The funding includes a new biofuel production incentive, increased interest-free advances for producers, and support for market diversification. 

The measures aim to improve competitiveness, restructure value chains, and encourage growth in Canada’s biofuels industry. 

Do you think this is enough action for canola farmers?

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