SASKATOON - Premier Scott Moe touted economic opportunity in his address to delegates at the 2023 Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Convention in Saskatoon.
“We in this province are on the very threshold of continued unprecedented growth,” said Moe to SUMA delegates Monday morning. “Growth that will and already is unlocking Saskatchewan’s true potential.”
He acknowledged there is a “swirl of uncertainty” being seen around the world, but said “in an uncertain world people everywhere can count on Saskatchewan… Saskatchewan remains an indispensable provider of food, fuel and fertilizer to over 150 countries around the world and now more than ever the world needs what we’re producing right here at home.”
In his presentation the Premier presented a video shown on trade missions around the world to promote Saskatchewan. Moe spoke positively about the trade missions the government has undertaken, including one to India he went on that also included Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He also pointed to a new trade and investment office in Germany.
“Delegates, we are planting your flag, our Saskatchewan flag in key markets around the world. If we want this province to continue to grow years into the future, we need to be out there, we need to be protecting those existing markets that we have. We need to be working in those markets to expand our market share and then as well work to open new markets in various places around the world.”
The Premier also pointed to economic growth in the mining, energy and ag sectors. He pointed to economic projects such as the Jansen mine, the addition of $2.8 billion to the energy sector, investments by Cargill and Viterra, Richardson Pioneer doubling their plant in Yorkton, and Louis Dreyfus doing the same. He also pointed to investments in the forestry industry and Cameco reopening their MacArthur River mine.
The premier also referenced the signs the province has put up in airports across the country that are part of their Sustainable Saskatchewan marketing campaign.
“We should be proud not only of what we produce, but we should be proud of how we produce it,” said Moe, saying they had some of the most sustainable products in the world.
In past years at the SUMA convention, the Premier’s address would be accompanied by announcements on what municipal revenue sharing would be in the budget. But the move of the convention to a regular April date brought an end to that annual tradition.
Instead, Moe spent most of his time Monday talking about measures already included in the 2023 budget that was already passed, as well as various government initiatives either before or already passed at the Legislature this session,
Moe touched on familiar themes during his address, pointing to initiatives as the Saskatchewan First Act, the Saskatchewan Marshals’ Service, the highways work being done in 2023, as well as the four point health care recruitment and retention plan. He assured SUMA delegates that the government was listening to them in addressing health care recruitment challenges.
Moe’s address Monday is part of what is expected to be a heavy provincial presence at the SUMA convention throughout this week. Also planned are addresses from Opposition Leader Carla Beck and Minister of Government Relations Don McMorris.
On Wednesday, Premier Moe and provincial cabinet ministers are scheduled to be at SUMA for a bear pit session to close the convention, taking questions from convention delegates on a variety of topics.
