Saskatchewan Minute: Western Alienation, Provincial Exams, and a Falling Unemployment Rate

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

This Week In Saskatchewan:

• Premier Scott Moe has concerns about potential Western alienation if the Liberal Party wins the upcoming federal election. He noted that if the Liberals continue with policies like carbon taxation, energy production caps, and Bill C-69, there could be significant problems for Saskatchewan's economy. While Moe emphasized his commitment to working with any future government, he warned that federal policies could harm the province's growth.
  
  
• Saskatchewan now has the lowest unemployment rate in Canada, coming in at 4.9% for March, outperforming the national average of 6.7%. While Canada experienced a loss of nearly 33,000 jobs in March, Saskatchewan saw a gain of 6,600 jobs, marking a 1.1% increase - the largest in the country. The province also leads in year-over-year job growth with a 3.1% rise from March 2024. Premier Scott Moe highlighted Saskatchewan's strong export performance and the province’s growing economic certainty amidst global challenges.
  
  
• Saskatchewan will phase out Grade 12 provincial exams by August 2025. Currently, only 25% of Grade 12 students are required to take provincial exams, making the system inconsistent across the province. Education Minister Everett Hindley cited feedback from school boards, teachers, and families in support of this change. The Province will replace the exams with the Saskatchewan Student Assessment (SSA) program, which will assess student performance in various subjects and provide a clear understanding of grade-level expectations.

Last Week In Saskatchewan:

• Premier Scott Moe returned from a European trade mission with no new agreements but expressed optimism about the conversations held. The trip focused on expanding Saskatchewan’s export markets, particularly in technology and advanced manufacturing. Moe highlighted the potential for new opportunities as countries look for alternative trade partners due to changing global dynamics. While the Opposition NDP said they support global outreach, they criticized the costs associated with the mission.
  
  
• The Saskatchewan NDP criticized the provincial government for continuing its contract with RA Outdoors LTD, a Texas-based company, for park reservations and hunting and fishing licenses. Despite the government's previous promise to prioritize Canadian suppliers and reduce reliance on US businesses, the NDP argued that the contract, which has been in place since 2012, was outsourcing jobs and services to the US. The NDP called for the contract to be cancelled. In response, Minister David Marit defended the arrangement, highlighting that over 95% of provincial contracts were awarded to Canadian companies and emphasizing the challenges of terminating existing agreements.
  
  
• The Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation (STF) and the provincial government have reached a new collective agreement following a lengthy arbitration process. The agreement includes provisions for addressing class complexity, with additional teachers being added to schools and a $20 million annual fund dedicated to class complexity issues. Teachers will also receive a salary increase of 9% over three years. The new contract, retroactive to September 2023, runs until August 2026. While the STF president considers it a step forward, she says that more work is needed for future negotiations.