The Sask Party government is defending its procurement practices after opposition critics accused it of inflating statistics about contracts awarded to local businesses.The controversy centres on government claims that 90% of recent procurement contracts went to Saskatchewan companies. The NDP obtained documents through freedom of information requests that challenge this figure.According to SaskBuilds data, 666 contracts were awarded in the 2024-25 fiscal year. The NDP analysis suggests only 51% of contracts actually went to companies headquartered in Saskatchewan, with 58% of total contract dollars flowing to Saskatchewan-based firms.The opposition points to companies like Crumb Rubber Manufacturing, based in Newport Beach, California, and Mitsubishi of Canada, headquartered in Ontario, as examples of businesses the government classified as "Saskatchewan-based.""You can't call a company 'Saskatchewan-based' just because they have a local mailing address," said Aleana Young, Shadow Minister for Jobs and the Economy. "This is a betrayal of the hardworking local businesses that support our communities and create good jobs right here at home.".Young also questioned a recent $300,000 contract with Emplifi Czech Republic, based in Plzen, asking whether taxpayers are now paying someone in the Czech Republic to manage social media content.The government maintains its definition follows federal standards. A Saskatchewan government spokesperson said the province's definition replicates what appears in the Canadian Free Trade Agreement and is available in the Government Procurement Policy on saskatchewan.ca.Under government criteria, businesses qualify as Saskatchewan-based if they have a permanent place of business in the province, employ Saskatchewan residents, and maintain provincial business registration.The government provided updated figures showing SaskBuilds and Procurement awarded more than 650 procurements valued at approximately $689.5 million in 2024-25. Officials say approximately 90% of that value, or $617.6 million, went to Saskatchewan-based companies using their definition..Only 10% went to businesses from other provinces, while approximately 0.1% went to United States companies, according to government data.The spokesperson noted that over five years, Saskatchewan has awarded nearly 90% of all procurements to Saskatchewan companies and more than 99% to Canadian companies.The government criticized the NDP position, saying it would exclude companies like Evraz from bidding on Saskatchewan work despite employing thousands of provincial residents.When the NDP held office, Saskatchewan Crown Corporations lost about $250 million on failed equity investments in other countries, in companies with no Saskatchewan presence or employees, the government said.The dispute comes as the province faces broader economic pressures, including recent tariff increases that affect Saskatchewan steel exports. Young noted the timing coincides with the government quietly walking back its Saskatchewan First procurement policy earlier this month.
