Premier Scott Moe at today's Battlefords Chamber of Commerce Fireside Chat event at the Chapel Gallery in North Battleford. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Reaffirming province's constitutional authority

Premier Scott Moe discusses White Paper report during Battlefords visit

Oct 11, 2022 | 5:07 PM

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe stopped in North Battleford Tuesday to discuss the new White Paper report the province released.

The document looks at the federal government’s nine different climate-change policies that are estimated to cost Saskatchewan’s economy $111 billion between 2023 and 2035.

The province is looking at jurisdictional responsibilities between the Government of Saskatchewan and the federal government and hopes to have more autonomy in a number of areas.

The nine policies of concern to the province are outlined in the 18-page White Paper report, called “Drawing the Line: Defending Saskatchewan’s Economic Autonomy.” The document outlines the challenges, such as environmental mandates that impact growth potential, that Saskatchewan faces in its efforts to develop its natural resources.

Some of the issues outlined in the report include Saskatchewan’s fight for control of its natural resources and defining the federal government’s environmental regulations.

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The province aims in the report to “put Saskatchewan first” to achieve greater economic autonomy.

Moe said the White Paper outlines the province’s direction for the future.

He said the issue isn’t about the province’s issues with the federal government on various matters. Rather, he said it is a conversation about what Saskatchewan is able to achieve as a province, and how it can continue to grow.

“We are on the cusp of some very great things here in the province,” he said. “I would say we are on the cusp of some of the greatest opportunities that have ever been presented to this province, and ultimately to the communities that are here.”

He mentioned the Battlefords area in particular is becoming a hub for heavy oil production.

“It’s monumental and it’s not happening like it is here anywhere else in the world,” he said of the energy industry growth in the area.

At the same time, Moe said the province has seen a 60 per cent reduction in methane emissions in the energy industry in Saskatchewan as a positive sign. He said it’s mainly due to the investments happening in this part of the province.

Moe said the Province of Saskatchewan wants more voices at the table related to federal policies that impact the province to help Saskatchewan grow.

“We firmly believe that good fences do make good neighbours,” he said. “There is no reason that other provinces also won’t be looking at: Can we reaffirm our provincial constitutional authority as well, to ensure that we also are not missing out on opportunities that might lie before us?”

Moe said the province wants to see Saskatchewan grow and prosper, and defend and protect jobs and its economic future.

The White Paper outlines several steps the province may be taking including proposing provincial legislation to clarify and protect constitutional rights belonging to the province; pursuing greater autonomy over immigration policy to ensure Saskatchewan has the people it needs; and better recognizing Saskatchewan industry contributions to sustainable growth. This includes, for example, developing a carbon credit market to support the province’s natural resource industries.

It also indicates the province may take legal actions, legislative or otherwise, to maintain control of electricity, fertilizer emission/use targets and oil and gas emissions/production; and it also stresses the need to look at exploring greater autonomy in tax collection.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow