This past year has been busy and rewarding for Scott Moe, being voted in last January as Leader of the Saskatchewan Party and therefore Premier of the province. Moe says what he hears from the public are concerns about the economy and his government’s answer to that is increasing the value of exports from around $16-billion to $30-billion in the last decade. That includes mining resources, agricultural products, manufactured goods and oil and gas exports.
One of the challenges of the year which will continue into 2019 is the proposed federal carbon tax, with the Saskatchewan government taking the federal government to court. Premier Moe doesn’t believe the feds have the authority to impose this tax and he says if the decision doesn’t go their way this spring, they will appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. Another challenge is the federal government’s equalization payments, which Moe doesn’t believe to be fair because Quebec receives two-thirds of the funds. Saskatchewan is one of four provinces that doesn’t qualify for the payments.
Quebec is also the province that is against having the Energy East pipeline being built on its land, meaning oil from the west can’t get to port in New Brunswick. Moe says his government will continue to advocate for pipelines like Energy East, Northern Gateway, Eagle’s Nest and TMX.
Moe expects one of the highlights of 2019 for his government will be bringing the budget to balance next spring. On a separate note, during this holiday season the Premier realizes there are families missing loved ones and his thoughts and prayers are extended to those who lost a friend or family member in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash.