Saskatchewan Minute: Issue 83

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

📅 This Week In Saskatchewan: 📅

• The Saskatchewan Legislature returned this week for its fall session after a 160-day break, with Premier Scott Moe and the governing Saskatchewan Party set to address ongoing issues like the cost of living, trade, and major interprovincial projects. The Saskatchewan NDP, which won 27 seats in the last election, has been active over the summer, focusing on rural outreach, health care, affordability, and proposing private member’s bills such as rent control, which the government has signalled it will likely defeat. The NDP has also unveiled a five-point plan to address the addictions crisis, largely aligning with the province’s existing mental health and addictions strategy. The session formally opened with the throne speech from Lt.-Gov. Bernadette McIntyre, outlining government priorities.
  
  
• Saskatchewan MLAs passed a motion urging the federal government to remove tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles. The motion, originally proposed by NDP leader Carla Beck, was amended by Trade Minister Warren Kaeding to commend Premier Scott Moe for his leadership in advocating for tariff removal while shifting the call directly to Ottawa. The amended motion passed with 33 votes in favour and 24 against, all from the Opposition. Moe has previously visited China to negotiate the removal of the tariffs, acknowledging the complexities of balancing trade relations with both the US and China. Beck criticized the amendment, saying it diluted the original intent to send a clear message to the federal government.
  
  
• Premier Scott Moe announced plans to introduce the Compassionate Care Act this fall, outlining a proposal for mandatory addictions treatment in Saskatchewan. The initiative aims to help individuals struggling with addiction who are unable to seek recovery voluntarily, while also addressing community safety concerns. The province has previously committed $49.4 million over five years to add 500 new treatment spaces and transition toward a recovery-oriented model of care. Moe said the legislation would balance recovery opportunities with enforcement, ensuring those at risk can access treatment. Opposition Leader Carla Beck criticized the plan, saying it lacks expert consultation and risks being politically divisive. The NDP has said it supports involuntary treatment only as a last resort. Moe is expected to outline further details of the legislation and related health priorities in his upcoming throne speech.
  
  
• Following the government’s announcement of the Compassionate Care Act, the Saskatchewan NDP unveiled its own five-point addictions plan, emphasizing prevention, treatment access, and harm reduction. The plan calls for increased funding for harm reduction programs, more inpatient and stabilization beds, support for sober housing, and incentives for mental health professionals to work in underserved communities. Involuntary treatment would be limited to cases involving individuals who pose serious risks to themselves or others. NDP mental health critic Betty Nippi-Albright said the government’s plan to create 500 treatment spaces is insufficient, noting only 281 are currently operational. Advocates, including Prairie Harm Reduction, supported the NDP’s focus on funding and housing as core elements of recovery. Recent data from the Saskatchewan Coroners Service recorded 236 suspected and confirmed drug toxicity deaths in 2025, a 17% decrease from the same period last year.
  
  
• Saskatchewan is moving ahead with plans to adopt nuclear power, announcing that SaskPower has secured its first small modular reactors (SMRs) to help meet the province’s future energy needs. Crown Investments Minister Jeremy Harrison said the move will use Saskatchewan’s uranium resources to create a secure and reliable power supply as the province works toward net-zero emissions by 2050. The First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence endorsed the announcement, saying Indigenous participation in the energy transition represents real progress on reconciliation. President Sheldon Wuttunee said First Nations want equity and workforce opportunities in nuclear development. The province said the SMRs will complement coal facilities that are being extended to maintain grid stability during the transition. SaskPower expects to complete its planning phase by 2029, with the first reactor targeted for the mid-2030s. Saskatchewan will join Ontario and New Brunswick as Canada’s nuclear-powered provinces.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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