(Alice McFarlane/farmnewsNOW Staff)

By Alice McFarlane

Agribition 2019

Premier speaks to business leaders at Agribition

Nov 26, 2019 | 2:40 PM

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe addressed business leaders, politicians and others at the Food, Fuel and Free Trade breakfast at Canadian Western Agribition (CWA).

Moe discussed pressing issues including exports, the federal election, and the economy.

Following his address Moe announced he was informed a tentative agreement had been reached between CN Rail and the teamsters union. He said it was good news.

“Absolutely a positive. Not only for Saskatchewan and our export industries that rely on rail service. It’s a sigh of relief for the entire nation,” he said.

Moe said there will be a backlog to clear once the trains start moving again.

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“There will be consequences for the week long shutdown. There will be challenges in agriculture and in the potash industry. We are behind the eight ball now. We’re pleased a negotiated tentative settlement has been reached. This is what we have asked for all along. We’ve always said that the best agreements come at the bargaining table and we’re thankful to both sides for this tentative agreement,” he said. “We’ll have discussions with the federal ministers to see if there is an opportunity for us to continue with summer capacity a little longer into the winter to clear the backlogs we will have in Saskatchewan.”

Moe’s message to Agribition was to continue to do what they’ve been doing.

“We have an opportunity to grow the industries that have traditionally created wealth in the province but also to grow other industries, for example, in technology, innovation and reasearch,” Moe said. “We’ll take care of the things we can control to ensure the industries in Saskatchewan have every opportunity to be successful.”

One question from the audience focused on western separation.

“We have a prime minister that has said he’s heard the frustrations of the people of this province. I’ve had a meeting with him since then, I’m meeting with the deputy prime minister this afternoon. They are listening but we want them to take action,” he said. “The last four years is the source of that frustration, the policy decisions coming from the prime minister’s office. They have an opportunity to engage. They are doing that. They have an opportunity to listen.They’re doing that. Now they have a requirement to act.”

Moe also talked about expanding nitrogen fertilizer production.

“We’re putting forward an incentive so we can have some expansion of production to not only ensure supply for Saskatchewan producers but to provide that opportunity for careers here in Saskatchewan. This is not only about the resilience of our agriculture industry but it’s also about jobs and opportunities for our youth,” Moe said. “We’re putting in an incentive to attract that investment and it is our hope that there would be a new plant at some point and time invested due to the incentive we put forward. That’s why we do these things, to attract investment.

The event at the International Trade Centre also included a charity auction for STARS.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF