An op-ed, short for “opposite the editorial page”, is a written prose piece, which expresses the opinion of an author usually not affiliated with the publication’s editorial board.
NDP Energy Critic Aleana Young on the trade show floor of the Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show on June 5. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
In Saskatchewan, we know the importance of keeping the lights on.
While Canada remembers Tommy Douglas for Medicare, here on the Prairies, we know that the CCF’s proudest accomplishment was bringing electricity to farms. In those days, people didn’t have much beyond their vote, and they gave it to a government that got things done.
Saskatchewan has a proud history of getting things done with innovation, hard work, and the public interest at heart. Medicare saved farms. Electrification built my province. If we want to keep the lights on, secure our country, and grow investment, we need to have a serious conversation about electricity.
Power generation is essential to economic growth and our national interest. We need interties — intra-provincial transmission lines — running east, west, north, and even south – and the federal government should pay for them. Equalization has not been fair to Saskatchewan – this is a chance to right that wrong.
If the turmoil of Trump’s opening salvos have taught us anything: we need to be focused on what we can control. And we can control our energy future. Saskatchewan can be an energy powerbroker in the Canadian and North American economy. While we may not always agree with federal governments, we are Canadians first.
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Measuring our economy cannot be done in simple dollars. We need to quantify our potential in megawatts. Electrical grids have been treated like highways – important to the provincial users or the folks ‘driving through’. But we must rethink this. It is in our national interest, a matter of security and sovereignty. Our grids and their connections are trade routes and investment attraction. We can ensure reliability and growth for our country, and jobs and affordability for folks at home.
If the federal government funded transmission infrastructure instead of mucking around with regulations, constitutionality, and taxes, Saskatchewan could confidently invest in our own electrical generation. By building transmission infrastructure Canada gets energy security and our neighbours get reliability. Saskatchewan can grow investment and economic capacity, all with the added bonus of increased government revenues and affordable rates thanks to a strong Crown corporation. Even better, we can build with good, Canadian steel.
While the Laurentians elites in Ottawa are used to braying from Saskatchewan, I hope they hear this appeal loud and clear: investing in transmission infrastructure in Saskatchewan is in our interest and yours. Yes, it has economic benefits for us. Just like ports, canals, and the railway. It will also keep power rates stable for our neighbours and provide energy security for Canada. In the past, the federal government paid to build power plants in other provinces. Now, we need to connect Canada.
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But why Saskatchewan?
In Alberta, the situation is, frankly, a mess. The existing intertie with Alberta is down (has been for months) is privately owned, and they have made no moves to rectify the situation. Manitoba, for all their hydro abundance, could be challenged to build a new dam and grow their generation significantly beyond their own electrification needs. Thirsty American markets will need all the energy they can buy. As Arctic security and sovereignty rightly swing back into focus, economic development and accompanying reliable, affordable, secure power for Canada’s North will be necessary.
Saskatchewan, this mighty little province, is uniquely positioned. Thanks to our forebearers, we have a strong Crown corporation. There are indigenous organizations who want to be at the table as equity partners. While Premier Scott Moe has a near-religious objection to anything that’s not basic combustion, we have the best potential for wind and solar in Canada. Building out renewables adds value to land, spurs investment, and high-paying construction and manufacturing jobs. When the wind blows and the sun shines, we can make hay (well, money) by exporting to our neighbours. And when it doesn’t, then our homegrown power plants provide while transmission ensures we have access to low-cost power when the price is right. As we explore nuclear, big and small, and future-focused technologies, our all-of-the-above approach to electricity will benefit ratepayers, and our neighbours. This is at the heart of free-trade and we must focus on connecting Canada in this era of US isolationism.
In sum? We can make electricity. All kinds. And we’ll make more than we need, and sell it like decent Canadians, to other Canadians. There is nothing more progressive, and more Canadian, than being self-reliant, canny, and the first to help your neighbours in a pinch.
We need federal leadership that appreciates that electricity is critical to our economy, and our economic, energy, and national security.
When Saskatchewan does well, Canada does well. By creating the electricity here with our own resources, we’re adding value and building prosperity and security for all Canadians. Federal investment in transmission keeps provincial jurisdiction over electricity generation, will break down provincial barriers, strengthen energy security, and grow our country.
Aleana Young is Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Minister for Jobs & Economy, SaskPower
- 0088 WBPC_2025_30SEC_PROMO0088 WBPC_2025_30SEC_PROMO
- 0087 Lori Carr Coal Expansion0087 Lori Carr Coal Expansion
- 0086 Sask Gov Oil and Gas Incentive Programs0086 Sask Gov Oil and Gas Incentive Programs
- 0085 Turnbull snow removal call office0085 Turnbull snow removal call office
- 0084 EMP Metals Pipeline Online0084 EMP Metals Pipeline Online
- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
- 0076 Latus only0076 Latus only
- 0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask
- 0055 Smart Power Be Smart with your Power office0055 Smart Power Be Smart with your Power office
- 0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
- 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
- 0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build
- 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
- 0022 Grimes winter hiring
- 0021 OSY Rentals S8 Promo
- 0018 IWS Hiring Royal Summer
- 0013 Panther Drilling PO ad 03 top drive rigs
- 0011
- 0006 JK Junior
- 0002 gilliss casing services0002 gilliss casing services
- 9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX
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