Saskatchewan Minute: Tariff Response, Parking Policies, and No Childcare Agreement

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

This Week In Saskatchewan:

• Saskatchewan is urging other provinces to lower interprovincial trade barriers as Canada faces an evolving tariff situation from the United States. The Province, which already has some of the fewest exemptions under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, is reviewing its remaining restrictions to further enhance trade. Saskatchewan is advocating for a national direct-to-consumer alcohol sales system.
  
  
• Saskatchewan has not signed on to extend the federal $10-a-day childcare agreement until 2031. The federal government set a two-week deadline for provinces to agree to the extension. Saskatchewan officials argue the offer lacks flexibility and does not address concerns like before- and after-school programs. The provincial government insists it is willing to negotiate but claims Ottawa has not been open to discussions. The opposition NDP criticized the delay, warning it could leave families struggling and put childcare jobs at risk.
  
  
• The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is reviewing its parking policy at the Regina Urgent Care Centre after a resident received a ticket in a designated free parking area. While the review is underway, parking enforcement at the facility has been paused. The issue arose when a visitor, unsure of their stay duration, selected five hours on the provided system but still received a ticket. SHA clarified that patients can enter a 24-hour stay option to avoid similar issues. The ticket was eventually voided.

Last Week In Saskatchewan:

• An arbitration board has ruled that class complexity must be included in Saskatchewan teachers' new collective agreement. The decision follows a year of stalled negotiations, job action, and two rejected contract offers before both parties agreed to binding arbitration. The ruling directs the teachers’ bargaining committee and the government-trustee bargaining committee to finalize language on class complexity, with arbitration stepping in if no agreement is reached. The final agreement will be legally binding, with no teacher vote required, though a timeline has not been announced.
  
  
• Premier Scott Moe announced Saskatchewan’s response to US tariffs, including a halt on purchasing American liquor and prioritizing Canadian suppliers for government procurement. He acknowledged Ottawa’s targeted counter-tariffs but opposed additional levies on key exports like potash and crude oil. The opposition NDP criticized Moe for delaying the response and failing to provide immediate action to protect jobs. Moe defended the timing, arguing that strategic planning was necessary before implementing measures.
  
  
• Saskatchewan’s Minister of Immigration and Career Training said the pause on the province’s Immigrant Nominee Program, which began on February 18th, 2025, will be short-term and likely lifted by the end of March. This pause, prompted by changes to national immigration targets, has limited the number of applications the province can accept, especially affecting skilled workers and business applicants. The Minister emphasized that the decision was necessary to prevent overloading the program, as the province's available spots were reduced. Critics, including the Saskatchewan NDP, have expressed concerns that the pause could disrupt the workforce, particularly for businesses reliant on those workers.