Saskatchewan Party leadership candidate Scott Moe was touring southwest Saskatchewan on October 20 with stops in Mankota for the big livestock sale, Kincaid, Gravelbourg and Lafleche. He was accompanied by Wood River MLA and Highways and Infrastructure Minister David Marit.
Scott Moe was first elected to the Saskatchewan legislature in the 2011 provincial election and was re-elected in 2016. He was appointed Minister of Environment, Minister of Advanced Education, Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Water Corporation, and Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Water Security Agency. Moe has a good grasp of one of the province’s main industry’s being born and raised on a grain farm near Shellbrook and receiving a BSc in Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan.
Having toured one of the largest agricultural producing areas of the province, Moe commented on his agricultural policies. “Agriculture is the spinal cord of communities. Our policy is very focused on exports of agricultural products, timber, mining to 150 countries.” He pointed out that 43,000 small businesses in Saskatchewan are directly related to exporting the province’s goods. “We are very export-oriented.”
Moe is looking to develop the agricultural industry through value-added products. “We continue to look at opportunities to add value to products we harvest and export.” He cited the province’s canola story, calling the oilseed “a real unsung hero” in the industry. Canola processing plants have created jobs in Yorkton, Clavet, Lloydminster, and Nipawin.
Moe came fresh off the debate in Swift Current on October 19 where SaskParty candidates squared off against each other in a televised event. According to Moe, the debate took place in a cordial atmosphere where each candidate had an opportunity to display their policies and knowledge of government policies.
As for the economy, Moe stated that he was committed to balancing the provincial budget by the 2019-20 fiscal year. “My plan to stand with Saskatchewan starts with balanced budgets. As a member of cabinet and treasury board, I was a strong proponent of our government’s three-year plan to balance the budget. My team is committed to this target to ensure we do not unload the spending of government on future generations.”
One way to grow the economy, believes Moe, is to increase and diversify Saskatchewan’s trade and export presence around the world. “Saskatchewan’s exports feed and fuel countries around the world,” said Moe. “Now is the time to invest in strategic efforts to grow and diversify export markets for Saskatchewan companies and producers. This will create new private sector jobs while expanding the revenue streams that fund public services that the people of Saskatchewan rely on.”
He adds that a first step towards implementing this policy would be to establish a Ministry of International Trade and Exports, which would replace the Ministry of Economy, along with a Premier’s Council on International Trade and Exports. He envisions this council to include a group of external stakeholders representing Saskatchewan’s diverse sectors that will advise the Premier and Minister responsible for International Trade and Exports. The 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 the private sector’s international exports. Given this position, Moe was asked about his views on the Federal Government’s NAFTA talks. “Saskatchewan agriculture and exports always do better with free and open trade. The U.S. is our largest trading partner.”
He pointed out that Premier Wall has made several visits to the U.S. to promote mutually beneficial trade with Saskatchewan. He stresses that the province’s economy will always do better with trade agreements that promote free and open trade like CETA with Europe, NAFTA and bilateral agreements around the world. Just to give an example of the province’s volumes of trade, Moe noted that Saskatchewan exports $30 billion in product to over 150 countries each year. “Saskatchewan is very much a global player.”
At the same time, as a former Environment Minister, Moe was critical of Ottawa’s plans for a carbon tax. “We will not have a carbon tax here in Saskatchewan.” Instead, Moe wants to promote the efforts that the province has made in environmental protection and sustainability. “We have a great opportunity to communicate what we’re doing in agriculture with carbon sequestration, using zero tillage and other production practices.”
In other environmental measures, Moe recently announced his plan to conduct a fulsome review of waste management policies in the province, specifically landfills in rural communities. “We must recognize the challenges and associated costs municipalities face regarding landfills, whether it’s decommissioning, expansion or regionalization. We know municipalities are good environmental stewards and we need to take a measured approach to achieving results.”
“The current system of asking towns, villages and RMs to pay significant engineering costs, which are far beyond their financial resources, in order to maintain their permit to operate or to decommission their landfill is simply not working. We will find a better way forward.”
