MLA Scott Moe, a leadership candidate for the Sask Party and former Environment minister, made a policy announcement on international trade and exports in Weyburn on Wednesday, using the Souris Valley Industries plant as the backdrop.
Moe, the MLA for Rosthern-Shellbrook, was accompanied by the current Environment minister, Weyburn-Big Muddy MLA Dustin Duncan, Estevan MLA Lori Carr, Meadow Lake MLA Jeremy Harrison, and Weyburn businessman Dan Cugnet as he toured around Weyburn for the day, including visiting Mayor Marcel Roy at City Hall.
In making his policy announcement, Moe is proposing to establish a new cabinet position, a ministry of International Trade and Exports, along with establishing a Premier’s advisory council on international trade and exports which would include stakeholders representing the province’s exporting businesses and industries.
He pointed out that Saskatchewan has seen exports grow by 66 per cent from 2007 to 2015, compared to the national average increase of 16 per cent in the same time period.
In his proposal, the Premier’s Council “would provide input on a strategic trade missions plan that will map out how Saskatchewan’s government can develop and grow relationships that are crucial for increasing our private sector’s international exports,” he said.
The new minister is proposed to be responsible for international trade and exports, and will be mandated with establishing the province’s presence in the countries that account for the largest share of Saskatchewan’s exports.
Part of the reasoning for this new ministry are the challenges facing Canada, such as the negotiations for a new NAFTA trade deal, and changes forced by new standards for greenhouse gas emissions in a bid to reduce Canada’s carbon footprint.
The policy announcement was made at Souris Valley Industries, a manufacturer of precast concrete products, because the family-owned business is looking to expand their markets into the United States. The visit to the plant included a tour of the facility by Don Bell and his sons Mike and Luk, as they explained what products they make and where those products go. The Weyburn plant was a major supplier of precast concrete pieces for the new Mosaic Stadium in Regina.
Moe noted that the U.S. is this province’s biggest trading partner, with $13 billion worth of exports heading south of the border, and second is China at $3 billion.
In an interview about the leadership race, Moe said he has a group of 22 MLAs who are part of his bid to win the party leadership, to take over from Brad Wall, who announced on Aug. 10 that he is retiring from provincial politics.
“That’s the team I want to be a part of, to put forward policies to be successful in the 2020 election,” said Moe.
Asked what he brings to the table as a leadership candidate, he replied, “I have the ability to bring people together,” adding he wants the right people to work together collaboratively to make decisions and move forward.
“What we bring is the best opportunity to be successful in the 2020 general election,” he added.
Moe acknowledges that the downturn in natural resource prices, in particular oil and potash, has been a major challenge for the government in the last couple of years, and notes agriculture has “continued to be a strong pillar of the economy” in the meantime.
In spite of the challenges to the economy, Moe said the plan is to bring the budget back to a balanced state within three years.
“I think that remains important, and it’s resulted in challenges for the province. It’s important for us also to talk within our industries and communities that have been impacted by this economy, so we can make the best decisions we can for the people of Saskatchewan,” he said.
Asked what he’s been hearing from people he’s met in Weyburn and area, he said, “People have been generally supportive of the decisions we’ve made, but we need to work with the individuals, industries and groups that may been impacted by the decisions that have been made in the past year. We’ll continue to work with all of them to bring this budget back to balance.”
Currently, the other candidates who are in the running for the Sask Party leadership include Tina Beaudry-Mellor, Ken Cheveldayoff, Alanna Koch and Gordon Wyant.
The leadership candidates will gather in Weyburn for a leadership debate on Thursday, Nov. 30 at the Cugnet Centre, from 7-9 p.m.
The deadline for candidates to file is Friday, Nov. 24, and the deadline for buying memberships in the Sask Party is Friday, Dec. 8. The leadership convention will be held on Jan. 27,
