Premier Scott Moe is asking Prime Minister Mark Carney to move “quickly” on 10 policy changes he says would reset the relationship between Saskatchewan and the federal government after a decade of friction.In a May 13 letter, Moe lays out his Strong Saskatchewan, Strong Canada Plan, arguing each measure would boost the Saskatchewan economy while also strengthening the Canadian economy.“A stronger Saskatchewan means a stronger Canada,” wrote Moe. “All of these changes will be positive for both our province and our country.”.Moe posted the list on social media saying that Carney has “the ability to move forward on all 10 of these items quickly,” which in Moe’s view would “clearly signal a new, more positive relationship.”The ten demands are:Immediately begin negotiations with China to remove Chinese tariffs on Canadian agri-food productsStrengthen the criminal code through bail reform and the introduction of stronger penalties to fight against new street drugsStop attempting to collect the federal carbon tax on home heating from Saskatchewan to be in line with recent full removal of consumer carbon taxTransfer responsibility for the output-based pricing systems for heavy emitters to the provinces to ensure measures consider each province’s unique industrial structure, economic realities, and trade exposureRepeal the unachievable and unaffordable Clean Electricity Regulations and extend the life of coal power plants to provide affordable and reliable base-load power to Saskatchewan residentsRepeal the Oil and Gas Emissions Cap to create investment certainty and secure the supply of Canadian energy products, some of the most sustainable in the worldBuild trade and economic corridors across the country and remove legislation that impacts the movement of western Canadian goods, to effectively and efficiently get our goods to domestic and international marketsRestore the investment climate and streamline federal approval process to allow major projects to proceedExpand pipeline capacity to protect the collective energy security for our nation, which will open up rail and port capacity for other exportable commoditiesFundamentally reform the Impact Assessment Act, cutting red tape and streamlining the process to avoid duplication and infringement into provincial jurisdiction.Relations between Saskatchewan and Ottawa have been tense through the last three Liberal federal governments, with disputes over carbon taxes, natural resource regulations, and equalization feeding the Western independence movement. Moe’s latest letter follows a May 1 meeting with Carney, described by both as a first step toward “governing for all Canadians.”Whether Carney’s government gives the green light to even part of Moe’s 10 point plan, it will likely shape the relationship between the two governments in the months ahead.
