Sask NDP is trying to make it twice as hard to force a vote on Western independence, claiming that an independence referendum would hurt jobs and drive investments out of the province.NDP Leader Carla Beck on Wednesday tabled the Keep Saskatchewan in Canada Act, which would raise the signature requirement for any citizen‑led petition on an independence referendum to 30% of eligible voters, up from the current 15%. The bill also bars a premier or government from calling a sovereignty vote unless they first run and win on that promise in a general election.“I'm suggesting that no government, no Premier, no government in this province, should be able to bring forth a referendum on separation without a strong mandate, one of those would be certainly having run on that in an election. I hope we don't see that happen,” said Beck.“Saskatchewan’s future is in Canada — but we also deserve respect from Ottawa.”“The status quo isn’t good enough, but neither is giving up on our country,” Beck told reporters..“I grew up on a farm, where I learned that when something isn’t working you don’t throw up your hands – you dig in and find a way to fix it. This is such a critical moment and we have an opportunity to get generational projects over the line — more rail lines, pipelines and powerlines — that will secure our economic future.” Beck said she drafted the bill after meeting energy executives in Calgary who warned that even rumours of a referendum freeze spending decisions. She pointed to Quebec’s 1995 vote, when some firms relocated rather than ride out months of constitutional uncertainty.“A referendum on separation from Canada will drive jobs and investment out of Saskatchewan, even if it’s unsuccessful – just look at what happened to Quebec,” said Beck. “I heard that loud and clear in my meetings with energy leaders in Calgary this week — talk of separation will kill jobs, kill investment, and kill much-needed infrastructure projects.”.“I understand the frustrations of those who don't have lost trust with the federal government, who are skeptical, who are angry about decisions that have been made that have damaged industry and jobs here, particularly on the prairies,” Beck told reporters.“I understand that frustration. The best thing we can do right now is to send a clear signal to all of our leaders to get in, find that reset, and find a way to get things built. The absolute wrong thing that we can do right now, the worst thing we can do, is send a message of instability. That's a terrible message to send to those who want to be a part of this country. First of all, it's a terrible message to send to those who are looking to invest in this country right now. And I think that's a message that all leaders need to be. I understand that that's your message in the referendum,” said Beck.Pressure for a referendum began following the federal election, and Premier Scott Moe last week refused to say whether he would support remaining in Canada. Unified Grassroots, led by Nadine Ness, is already collecting signatures to trigger a vote on independence. .The NDP says Moe’s silence, along with former President Donald Trump’s renewed tariff threats and talk of Canada as the fifty-first state, risks scaring investment at an uncertain time for exporters.Beck argued the tougher threshold still respects direct democracy while reflecting the scale of economic harm at stake. Roughly 30% of Saskatchewan’s 865,000 registered voters equals about 260,000 signatures, a figure Beck says ensures any referendum reflects a broad consensus, not “anger on a message board.”Under the proposal, Elections Saskatchewan would have 90 days to verify signatures. If the bar is met, the legislature must either adopt the question or hold a province‑wide vote within one year. .The bill leaves the threshold for petitions on other issues to remain at 15%.“Citizen-led referendums are part of democracy, but a vote to separate should meet a high bar because of the serious economic harm it would cause,” said Beck.“I also have doubts that Scott Moe can control his caucus. The last thing we need is for him to launch an undemocratic separation referendum, just to save his own hide from a caucus revolt and Unified Grassroots.”
Sask NDP is trying to make it twice as hard to force a vote on Western independence, claiming that an independence referendum would hurt jobs and drive investments out of the province.NDP Leader Carla Beck on Wednesday tabled the Keep Saskatchewan in Canada Act, which would raise the signature requirement for any citizen‑led petition on an independence referendum to 30% of eligible voters, up from the current 15%. The bill also bars a premier or government from calling a sovereignty vote unless they first run and win on that promise in a general election.“I'm suggesting that no government, no Premier, no government in this province, should be able to bring forth a referendum on separation without a strong mandate, one of those would be certainly having run on that in an election. I hope we don't see that happen,” said Beck.“Saskatchewan’s future is in Canada — but we also deserve respect from Ottawa.”“The status quo isn’t good enough, but neither is giving up on our country,” Beck told reporters..“I grew up on a farm, where I learned that when something isn’t working you don’t throw up your hands – you dig in and find a way to fix it. This is such a critical moment and we have an opportunity to get generational projects over the line — more rail lines, pipelines and powerlines — that will secure our economic future.” Beck said she drafted the bill after meeting energy executives in Calgary who warned that even rumours of a referendum freeze spending decisions. She pointed to Quebec’s 1995 vote, when some firms relocated rather than ride out months of constitutional uncertainty.“A referendum on separation from Canada will drive jobs and investment out of Saskatchewan, even if it’s unsuccessful – just look at what happened to Quebec,” said Beck. “I heard that loud and clear in my meetings with energy leaders in Calgary this week — talk of separation will kill jobs, kill investment, and kill much-needed infrastructure projects.”.“I understand the frustrations of those who don't have lost trust with the federal government, who are skeptical, who are angry about decisions that have been made that have damaged industry and jobs here, particularly on the prairies,” Beck told reporters.“I understand that frustration. The best thing we can do right now is to send a clear signal to all of our leaders to get in, find that reset, and find a way to get things built. The absolute wrong thing that we can do right now, the worst thing we can do, is send a message of instability. That's a terrible message to send to those who want to be a part of this country. First of all, it's a terrible message to send to those who are looking to invest in this country right now. And I think that's a message that all leaders need to be. I understand that that's your message in the referendum,” said Beck.Pressure for a referendum began following the federal election, and Premier Scott Moe last week refused to say whether he would support remaining in Canada. Unified Grassroots, led by Nadine Ness, is already collecting signatures to trigger a vote on independence. .The NDP says Moe’s silence, along with former President Donald Trump’s renewed tariff threats and talk of Canada as the fifty-first state, risks scaring investment at an uncertain time for exporters.Beck argued the tougher threshold still respects direct democracy while reflecting the scale of economic harm at stake. Roughly 30% of Saskatchewan’s 865,000 registered voters equals about 260,000 signatures, a figure Beck says ensures any referendum reflects a broad consensus, not “anger on a message board.”Under the proposal, Elections Saskatchewan would have 90 days to verify signatures. If the bar is met, the legislature must either adopt the question or hold a province‑wide vote within one year. .The bill leaves the threshold for petitions on other issues to remain at 15%.“Citizen-led referendums are part of democracy, but a vote to separate should meet a high bar because of the serious economic harm it would cause,” said Beck.“I also have doubts that Scott Moe can control his caucus. The last thing we need is for him to launch an undemocratic separation referendum, just to save his own hide from a caucus revolt and Unified Grassroots.”
