SASKATOON — Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe has said running a government during the COVID-19 pandemic was challenging for everyone, from public servants like them to families in every community.
“That's no different for me than it is for everyone else. It changed everything we did for some time, and we always made the best decisions or what we felt were the best, given the information we had. We found our way through an extremely challenging time not just for folks like myself who were serving in government but for every family in working every day, raising their children, and getting them to school,” said Moe.
“You know all of the things that we went through, I pray each day that no future society is going to have to, you know, face a challenge like that. It's hard on people: the children, teenagers, and young adults who are the leaders of tomorrow, and so over the last number of years, that certainly has been, I think, the largest challenge that myself has faced, and I think in fairness many would share.”
He then highlighted how the province emerged from the pandemic, saying it was leading almost in every economic metric, like per capita, job growth, private sector investment into the mining sector, oil and gas, agriculture, and export, creating wealth in the province’s economy.
“Our export numbers were $17 billion in 2007. They were $50 billion last year and $50 billion a year before. We've over-tripled the export value, which is the wealth in our community. Suppose you aren't working directly in the export-related market. In that case, you're likely servicing someone who is selling vehicles to a farmer who is exporting to over 160 countries around the world, providing that food security for that global food security for so many accounts lawyers. Everything we do in our communities can be sourced back to the wealth of our exports,” said Moe.
“Exports tripled over the last decade and a half, and the most exciting thing is the growth rate today is leading the nation. From an opportunity and looking ahead in our province, whether it be traditional mining sector, uranium or potash. We see copper mining. Whether looking to the future with rare earth elements, such as helium and lithium. Those types of things, whether in the oil and gas production or the energy production, which would include, I would put uranium in that space. Whether a province today that isn't just producing raw agricultural food products.”
He added that these have created jobs in the province, providing opportunities for youth to live and work in Saskatchewan.
“It's when we look ahead you can be so excited in this province that our children and that next generation, the age of most of you that are asking these questions, not me, have such opportunity to look forward to, and we always used to haven't had that opportunity in this province,” said Moe.
“We are in a better place and want that to continue. That's why we have put forward a platform to ensure we can continue attracting investment, creating jobs, and creating opportunities. We will do all we can to increase the affordability of Saskatchewan families today. We're already the most affordable place in the nation to live, and we want that to continue.”
