Brian Zinchuk is editor and owner of Pipeline Online
Leader of the Opposition Carla Beck, asking about national unity on April 7. Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
REGINA – Is national unity at stake right now, from a Saskatchewan perspective, given the trade war and the prospects of possibly a fourth term of Liberal government? There were several exchanges during the Monday, April 7 and Tuesday, April 8 question periods where the opposition NDP asked about just that. Resources and pipelines to tidewater were part of the debate, and Pipeline Online Podcast cohost and columnist Bronwyn Eyre was mentioned. Here are those exchanges, verbatim:
Tuesday, April 7:
Federal Policies and National Unity
Carla Beck: — Last Friday, Mr. Speaker, the Premier was asked point-blank about a debate being stirred up by conservatives about breaking up the country. Now you’d think that the Premier would jump at the chance to condemn this nonsense and to clearly state, Mr. Speaker, that Saskatchewan will always be a part of Canada. Instead, he said he “won’t go so far as to comment on a Western secession crisis at this time.”
Mr. Speaker, I’ll give the Premier another chance. Will he condemn those stoking the flames of separatism?
Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.
Hon. Scott Moe: — Mr. Speaker, every week the Leader of the Opposition stands up and says, condemn this individual, condemn this, condemn this, Mr. Speaker. And the fact of the matter is those are just simply nothing but words, where it’s policies that actually matter, Mr. Speaker. Whether those policies are at the federal level, they have an impact on all Canadians and not always all Canadians equally, Mr. Speaker, which is why you have seen over the course of the last number of months — and I would say number of years, almost a decade — the rise of Western alienation, which was identified in the most recent poll, Mr. Speaker.
Policies at the federal level matter. And so the question I think, when it comes to how Saskatchewan residents are feeling, how Western Canadians are feeling, as being respected by their federal government, the Liberal-NDP [New Democratic Party] minority government that we have, how Western Canadians are feeling when asked if they are being respected by the entirety of their nation, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the policies of the last nine years matter. That’s why you have seen this government stand up for Saskatchewan families, Saskatchewan industries, and how we create our wealth and the jobs that we have in Saskatchewan time and time and time again, Mr. Speaker. Where you’ve seen the members opposite side with their NDP colleagues in the federal House, Mr. Speaker, and side with Justin Trudeau. No doubt moving forward, Mr. Speaker, given the opportunity, you’re going to see more of the same.
Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Leader of the Opposition.
Carla Beck: — It didn’t sound like a “no,” Mr. Speaker, and the Premier seems to think this line of questioning is funny. Now let’s be clear. The West has valid concerns: equalization needs reform, the carbon tax has hurt our province, and the list goes on. But real leadership at this time, Mr. Speaker, means standing proud and vowing to fight for Saskatchewan within a united Canada.
Now the Premier is set to hold a fireside chat this week in Ottawa at the so-called Canada Strong and Free conference. Will the Premier state for the record that he will never endorse leaving Canada? And better yet, will he cancel his trip and tell Preston Manning to stop stoking the flames of separatism?
Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.
Premier Scott Moe, responding to a question about national unity on April 7. Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
Hon. Scott Moe: — Pretty sure I’m not going to see Preston Manning this weekend when we’re presenting at the conference, and I’m proud to do so, Mr. Speaker. I’m proud to continue to say that Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan residents most certainly are proudly part of Canada, Mr. Speaker.
And Saskatchewan residents most certainly would like to see a federal government in the future that better represents the opportunities that we are creating right here in Saskatchewan, despite the policies that are being put forward by the Liberal-NDP administration that we have had for what I would say is far too long, Mr. Speaker, policies like the carbon tax that the members opposite supported. And when we challenged that, when we challenged that to the Supreme Court of Canada, what did the Leader of the Opposition say, Mr. Speaker? “That’s nothing short of a pointless crusade,” Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, that’s the record of the NDP. Siding with the Liberal-NDP federal administration, siding against Saskatchewan people, Saskatchewan opportunities. But what we are seeing in this province, despite those federal policies, is job growth leading the nation, the lowest unemployment rate in the nation, Mr. Speaker.
And what we saw just these last couple of weeks was the only balanced budget to be introduced in the nation of Canada, Mr. Speaker. And just this past week Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker, has the best credit rating of any provincial jurisdiction in the natio
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Upcoming Conference and National Unity
Nicole Sarauer: — Mr. Speaker, the Premier is scheduled to speak at that Preston Manning conference later this week, and he’s not the only one though. The Minister of Health is also scheduled to be speaking at that conference. The topic of his panel, Mr. Speaker: “Common sense policies that let adults be adults.”
Now, Mr. Speaker, I for one cannot wait to find out what he thinks that means, Mr. Speaker. But will he rise, cancel his trip, and condemn those who would seek to break up our country?
Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.
Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite points out, I will be attending the Canada Strong and Free Network Conference this weekend in Ottawa, Mr. Speaker. However I won’t be speaking on Thursday because I’ll be in this House answering questions. Thank you.
Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Douglas Park.
Nicole Sarauer: — Mr. Speaker, finally a wise decision from the Minister of Health. So happy to hear it.
He’s also not the only one speaking at that conference. The former Justice minister Bronwyn Eyre is scheduled to speak. I think we all remember her. So many Sask Party thought leaders at that conference; I wonder what’s going on. She’s scheduled to speak at a panel called “Balancing the scales: judicial activism and reform.”
What’s the Justice minister’s position? Does he share his predecessor’s view that judicial activism is a problem in our country?
Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.
Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Mr. Speaker, everybody on this side of the House is a proud Canadian. Let’s be very clear about that, okay? We are proud to be living in Saskatchewan. We’re proud to be citizens of this great country of Canada, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, it’s interesting that the members opposite are trying to make such a big deal about this conference happening in Ottawa, Mr. Speaker. You know what they didn’t have an issue with? They didn’t have an issue with their leader attending a campaign school for Justin Trudeau and Jagmeet Singh several months ago . . . Mr. Speaker, if that’s what it’s about, Mr. Speaker. But, Mr. Speaker, she stands with the people that had policies that have been destructive to this province for many years. Thank you.
National Unity and Support for Resource Sector
Sally Housser: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with the Premier due to speak in Ottawa later this week at the Strong and Free national conference, the founder, Preston Manning, has just published an op-ed warning of western separation depending on the federal election results.
Mr. Speaker, industry needs predictability and stability. That means a united Canada. We need more rail lines, more pipelines, more power lines for our energy security and our economic future. And those lines need to run coast-to-coast.
Mr. Speaker, how does sharing the stage with MAGA [Make America Great Again]-loving separatists help get our world-class resources to tidewater?
Speaker Goudy: — I’m going to ask that the questions come to the work of the government. There’s been conference talk on both sides, and I think they’re both offside. So I’m going to ask that we can get the questions back to government business.
I recognize the member from Regina University.
Sally Housser: — Thanks, Mr. Speaker. There’s a mighty big difference between the West wants in and the West wants out, and every member of that government needs to be crystal clear on that difference.
It was shocking that the Premier didn’t immediately shut down talk of breaking up the country when given the opportunity last week. Talk of secession plays right into Donald Trump’s hands, hurting our ability to diversify our markets and scaring off investment with the talk of more instability.
How does the Minister of Energy and Resources think that being soft on secession will help bring investment to Saskatchewan?
Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Energy and Resources.
Hon. Colleen Young: — Mr. Speaker, our resource sector is one of the most integral parts of our economy, and those industries play a very strong role in supporting what we have here in Saskatchewan. We have had a strong and steady leadership guiding us through this in our Premier and in all the conversations we’ve had in supporting our industries here in Saskatchewan. We have a plan in place that is providing affordable opportunities for the people of this province, and we have a plan to grow our economy and create jobs, and it’s working.
We have the lowest unemployment rate in the country, and we have the best credit rating. And we will continue to support our industries as we work towards a strong and stable economy.
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Tuesday, April 8, 2025
National Unity and Support for Trade Infrastructure
Sally Housser: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A Canadian prime minister once said:
At a time of global economic instability . . . Government must stand unequivocally for keeping the country together. At a time like this, a coalition with separatists cannot help Canada.
So I ask the Premier, does he agree with Stephen Harper? And if so, will he still be sharing a stage in Ottawa with those who are stoking separatism at this time of economic uncertainty?
Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of CIC.
Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Well thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I can tell you where we stand. We stand in favour of getting more pipelines built in this country. We stand in favour of getting rid of the carbon tax, Mr. Speaker. We stand in favour of the one party, I stand in favour of the one party that has that position right now with an opportunity to form government.
They owe this answer, Mr. Speaker. They can’t say that they are in favour of pipelines and opposed to the carbon tax and then vote for a party or two parties that are going to keep both of those two policies in place. Mr. Speaker, they owe it to this public of this province. Who are they going to be supporting: Jagmeet Singh or Mark Carney?
Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina University.
Sally Housser: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The members opposite profess to be on Team Canada, but there always seems to be some kind of caveat. Every industry in this province and this country is calling for trade-enabling infrastructure that runs coast to coast, but they don’t seem interested in a path to tidewater, Mr. Speaker. They seem more interested in their buddy Danielle Smith’s path to a referendum that will put our unity, our sovereignty, and our economy at risk.
Will someone from the government commit to pick up the phone, talk to Premier Smith, and actually advocate for our need to build so we can stop this talk of tearing apart?
Speaker Goudy: — I just want to remind, too, the government that their role is to answer the questions and not be asking the questions. And so I would recognize the Minister of Crown Investments Corporation.
Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Thank you very, very much, Mr. Speaker. I can tell you what we stand for on this side of the House, and we’ve been very clear. Bill C‑69 needs to go. This is the no-more-pipelines law that is in place and was put in place by the Government of Canada. That law, two federal parties have said, is going to remain in place. Those two federal parties are the New Democratic Party of Canada and the Liberal Party of Canada.
Only one party has committed to repealing Bill C‑69, which is the biggest single impediment to getting pipelines built in this country. You cannot say, Mr. Speaker, that you are in favour of trade-enabling infrastructure and vote for a party that’s going to keep Bill C‑69 in place. We proudly stand to get rid of Bill C‑69, get pipelines built, and get rid of the carbon tax. And we are taking action, Mr. Speaker, and we have a plan that is working — the best job creation record in the entire country.
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