Premier Scott Moe (980 CJME file photo)

By Gillian Massie/CKOM News Staff

Moe not happy about regulations, transport challenges slowing Sask. exports

Jul 4, 2023 | 3:08 PM

Premier Scott Moe is concerned about federal regulations and transportation issues making it harder to ship Saskatchewan’s resources across the world.

Moe joined John Gormley Tuesday morning to raise the issues after getting back from the Western Premiers Conference.

“We are having some transportation challenges, or access challenges as I call them,” said Moe, “whether it be on the energy front, or also on the food front.”

Moe said the government has seen these issues escalate in the last 15 years. Buyers in Germany and Japan have asked to purchase Saskatchewan’s liquefied natural gas (LNG), but the premier said there are persistent problems with both regulations and transportation that stand in the way.

“We just can’t seem to line up our regulatory environment to get that to a port facility and, ultimately, provide it to them,” said Moe.

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The cost to transport LNG and other energy sources has proven to be a challenge, and production rules have also changed significantly in Canada through new federal regulations, Moe said.

“We would do well by making that product available to other global citizens,” said Moe.

Regulatory costs, like the carbon tax, have added more strain on production, and Moe said there are also issues with transporting energy to where it needs to go.

Moe said addressing climate change comes with offering clean energy options.

“We produce some of the cleanest food and fuel and fertilizer that you can find on Earth,” said Moe. “That’s not a statement; that is actually a fact.”

Moe also called on the federal government to quit imposing extra costs – including the carbon tax – on the agriculture industry.