Sask. Premier Scott Moe says federal election results an opportunity to 'reset' relationship with Ottawa
Moe said he wants federal government 'to engage and consult' with Saskatchewan
Premier Scott Moe said Tuesday that the results of Monday's federal election provide an opportunity to "hit the reset button" on the relationship between the federal government and the province of Saskatchewan.
Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberals are projected to form government. On Tuesday morning, Moe congratulated Carney on the victory and said the province has ideas on how Canada can move forward.
"I would take this opportunity to invite Prime Minister Carney to a meeting here in Saskatchewan, where we'd love to host him to chart a productive path forward for our province within the nation of Canada," Moe said.
Moe said he wants the federal government "to engage and consult" with Saskatchewan on legislation and policies.
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The premier pointed to the federal price on carbon, clean electricity regulations and the glacial pace of infrastructure projects as examples of decisions made by former prime minister Justin Trudeau where Saskatchewan was not consulted.
Moe said Carney's comments on wanting to work with western provinces like Saskatchewan and Alberta are great to hear, as is the prime minister's desire to make the country a global energy superpower.
However, those are nothing but words, Moe said.
"Policies truly do matter, in particular in this space, and so some of the government's policies, the federal government's policies, they quite simply are going to need to change in order for Canada to achieve that goal," Moe said.
Moe stopped short of repeating his call for the federal government to not impose the federal backstop on the industrial carbon tax. Moe's government eliminated the provincial Output-Based Performance Standards program, which taxes large industrial emitters, at the start of this month.
"If our true goal is to achieve lower emissions, I think we can sit down and and talk our way through how over the next decade, decade and a half, we're going to significantly lower emissions at a much lower cost point than maybe just a one-size fits all policy across the nation," Moe said.
The premier also called for Carney to create a plan to respond to China's tariffs on canola and figure out how to navigate the trade war with the United States.
New Liberal MP from Saskatchewan
Thirteen of the province's 14 federal ridings are projected to elect Conservative MPs.
The only exception to the sea of blue in Saskatchewan was the riding of Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River, in which Buckley Belanger is projected to become the first Liberal MP elected in Saskatchewan since 2015.
Moe congratulated Belanger, a former Saskatchewan NDP MLA, on his win.
Moe described Belanger's success and the collapse of NDP support across the country as proof of "the takeover of the NDP party by the Liberals."
The premier said he believes Belanger can effectively bring a voice from the province to the federal government caucus.
Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck agreed with that sentiment.
"[Belanger is] someone who cares passionately about his community. I don't think there's there's any doubt of that," Beck said on Tuesday.
Beck called on the federal parties to work together and produce results.
Many of Beck's desires for the federal government were similar to Moe's, including major infrastructure investments and swift action on China's canola tariffs.
She also called for a "fair deal" on equalization and a renewed commitment to the $10-a-day child-care program.
"I think people in this country are incredibly frustrated by seeing bickering and not seeing action," Beck said.
FSIN, mayors weigh in
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, which represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan, also congratulated Carney on his win.
FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said he is looking for "transformative action, not just words."
Cameron said First Nations are facing crises in child and family services, the opioid epidemic, policing, homelessness, safe drinking water, and threats to inherent and treaty rights, as well as missing Indigenous women, girls, men and two-spirit people.
"The critical areas must be addressed immediately," Cameron said in a statement, announcing he wants to meet with Carney and key cabinet ministers as soon as possible.
Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski also offered his congratulations to Carney.
Bachynski said he hopes municipal funding for infrastructure and housing will be prioritized.
"Regina remains ready to collaborate with all levels of government to ensure a bright future for our residents," he said in a statement.
Saskatoon Mayor Cynthia Block shared similar sentiments about the importance of housing and said she's interested to see the details of the Carney government's housing plan.
"I think for all of the variations of housing plans that the federal parties had, there was sort of [a] short on specifics about how that was going to get paid," Block said on Tuesday.
"It's wonderful if we can reduce or get rid of the levees and additional costs to build the housing, but municipalities have to pay for that infrastructure."
Alienation, not separatism
Moe declined to describe the results of Monday's election as a potential flashpoint for western separatism. Instead, he described the support for Conservatives as a reflection of "alienation" in Saskatchewan.
Moe said Saskatchewan residents just want to be treated fairly.
"I certainly haven't lost faith in this nation and it is my true hope that the prime minister and his government, his Liberal government, has not lost faith in Saskatchewan people either, but we will find out soon," Moe said.
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