Your Saskatchewan Party government starts the spring sitting of the legislature with a commitment to stand up for Saskatchewan and move forward with plans to build a stronger economy, all while managing spending and keeping taxes low.
Standing up for Saskatchewan means protecting the people and jobs that keep our province moving forward. This means a focus on the three Ts – trade, transport and taxes.
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is a step in the right direction, but we need to keep working with our American counterparts and be mindful of the deep integration of our economies. From steel to manufacturing, to agriculture, we should keep working to improve the flow of goods back and forth across our borders and maximize our competitiveness.
Growing and improving the Canada-U.S. relationship by reducing trade barriers was the focus of a recent trip to Washington. Premier Moe joined New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs and Ontario Premier Doug Ford as part of a Canadian delegation to build relationships and engage with U.S. governors on the importance of trade with our largest trading partner.
We value the relationship we have with the United States, and it is one we must continue to improve.
Importantly, we need the ability to transport our products to port.
The recent ruling by the National Energy Board on Trans Mountain confirms what we already know about the project: it’s in our national interest, and it needs to be built. Now we need the federal government to keep moving ahead to ensure it gets done.
This reinforces the need for Canada to have a regulatory framework that gives private investors enough certainty to proceed with projects that are beneficial to our economy and create wealth for everyone in Canada. Bill C-69 most certainly is not that framework, and will only see the current trend of global energy sector investment leaving Canada accelerate.
We also need a fair tax and regulatory environment so we are competitive with other people who are producing products around the world.
Saskatchewan and its supporters recently put forward strong and compelling arguments in court, supporting the position that the Trudeau carbon tax is fundamentally unconstitutional. The Trudeau carbon tax is just that, a tax – not a regulatory charge – and it violates the principles of federalism which underwrite our great country.
This spring, your Saskatchewan Party government will continue to stand up for Saskatchewan while delivering on our 3-year plan to balance budget while maintaining a competitive tax & business environment, and focusing on important government programs and services for the long-term.
I look forward to the spring sitting and the opportunity to keep standing up for Saskatchewan’s interests in the Legislative Assembly.
