REGINA — Provincial ministers voiced cautious optimism last week to the appointment of the new cabinet of Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The big news from a Saskatchewan standpoint was word that newly elected MP for Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River Buckley Belanger had been appointed Secretary of State for Rural Development. He was sworn in last Tuesday, along with the rest of the new federal cabinet.
Premier Scott Moe indicated to reporters at a news conference last Thursday that he looks forward to working with Belanger on issues facing the province.
“Minister Belanger has always been an approachable individual and we look forward to working with him in his new capacity.“
As for disagreements with the federal government, Moe said it “doesn’t mean you don’t work together from time to time…I’m quite hopeful that the federal government is going to see it that way as well.”
Moe did react positively to Belanger’s comments last week, saying Belanger was “spot-on” in reiterating what Prime Minister Carney had said that “Canada is going to become an energy superpower.”
But the Premier was less impressed with remarks of Steven Guilbeault, new Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, when he was quoted talking about maximizing existing pipelines before building any more.
“His comments don’t hold a lot of weight,” said Moe.
Moe did extend an offer to Guilbeault towards supporting “the entirety of Canadian culture” and offered to have him join him at an ATV rally on Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation.
“I’d be happy to take him along where he could experience some true Indigenous Canadian culture in a region of the nation where I live, not too far from my home.”
In his remarks, Moe pledged to work with the new federal government. He pointed to sentiments that “we shouldn’t deal with the Liberal government — we shouldn’t deal with a new Prime Minister Carney. Well, the fact of the matter is he is the Prime Minister of our nation, and we must deal with the federal government.”
“And I think in fairness you’ve seen a change in tone from this government in how we want to move forward with this new Prime Minister Carney and we want to reset that relationship with the federal government as we move forward.”
There was some early positive reaction to the federal cabinet announcement from the New Democrats. In a news release, Opposition Leader Carla Beck welcomed the appointment of Belanger, a former NDP MLA and cabinet minister.
“Congratulations to Buckley Belanger – my friend and former colleague – for being appointed Secretary of State for Rural Development,” said Beck in a statement.
“Ottawa needs to deliver on the priorities of Saskatchewan people, and I have faith that you will continue to fight for the interests of our province. There is a renewed consensus right now for nation-building projects that benefit all people who call our beautiful province and country home – rail lines, pipelines, power lines and highways. We cannot let this consensus go to waste.”
Provincial cabinet ministers also provided their reactions to appointments of federal ministers in positions important to Saskatchewan.
Last Tuesday in speaking to reporters, Minister of Energy and Resources Colleen Young noted the appointment of Tim Hodgson as the new Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.
“I’m looking forward to sitting down with him and having conversation as to how we can move forward, not only with infrastructure in the oil and gas sector but in all of our resource sectors in the province,” said Young, who added she also wanted to discuss “some of the impositions that have been put on those province in the past 10 years, and how we can eliminate them or adjust them to support the industries that need to go forward.”
Young voiced some cautious optimism about working with the new federal cabinet.
“I’m hoping that with the way that our Prime Minister has been talking about wanting to work more cooperatively with the Western provinces, I’m hoping with the new cabinet ministers that he has put in place with that is the same with them in an open and honest discussion.”
Minister of Agriculture Daryl Harrison told reporters Thursday he had a “great call” with the new federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Foods Heath MacDonald.
Harrison believes MacDonald will carry on in a similar direction to what the Liberal government had been doing previously. He believes it will be a great relationship.
“The cabinet as a whole is trying to get a new fresh start, and on the Ag side I think very engaging and very willing to work with the provinces and in particular Saskatchewan being he largest farm province in the nation.”
For Education Minister Everett Hindley, news of the appointment of Patty Hajdu as the new federal cabinet minister for Jobs and Families meant renewed pressure from the Opposition to get a deal done to sign on to an extension of $10 a day child care.
Hindley had previously indicated the province was waiting to hear who would be appointed to the federal role before talks could resume.
“Obviously we had clarity around that this week with the appointment of a new federal cabinet and also some Secretaries of State as well,” said Hindley to reporters Wednesday.
Hindley said he reached out to Hajdu with a letter to her, indicating “Saskatchewan’s willingness to renegotiate and to reach out and have those conversations with her and her officials to find our way through this and find an agreement.”
Hindley also said he sent a separate letter to Belanger congratulating him, indicating he would be reaching out to him as well in terms of advocating to him on “Saskatchewan’s interest on this and other issues as well.”
The province has until March 31, 2026 before the current deal expires. But Hindley said he “would not want to be waiting until the last minute to have that done,” which is why he sent out the correspondence as quickly as he did.
Opposition critic Joan Pratchler continued to be critical of the delay in signing a deal, pointing to the lack of certainty in funding.
“We have a funding crisis here in child care and that’s not okay,” said Pratchler to reporters Wednesday. “These people work hard. Families need to have this certainty and piece of mind. That’s an issue.”
