REGINA — The latest NDP private member’s bill is aimed at what has become a familiar theme for the party: ensuring local labour is employed on major projects in Saskatchewan.
On Wednesday, the Opposition introduced The Public Works and Services (Prioritizing Local Jobs) Act for first reading. The NDP’s Energy and Resources critic Sally Housser and Labour critic Nathaniel Teed spoke about the bill at an embargoed news conference at the legislature Wednesday.
The bill would apply to government procurement projects, specifically those valued at $50 million and over. Housser said that under the bill, “successful bidders for major government projects would be required to prioritize hiring Saskatchewan residents, building trades, affiliated workers, apprentices, and Indigenous people and to publicly report on their progress throughout construction.”
She said the legislation would also require bidders on major public works projects “to set clear targets for hours worked by Saskatchewan workers, and with those targets considered as part of the bidding process. This would also require the bidders demonstrating additional benefits for communities be prioritized. That’s whether it’s investing in skills training, which we sorely need, or investing in the local community.”
Among the amendments is a requirement of a “community benefit” before awarding a contract for construction, maintenance or repair of public works valued at over $50 million.
Bidders would be required to provide information on the community benefit the project would provide.
Community benefit is defined as a social, economic or environmental benefit that a community derives from a construction, maintenance or repair project, and includes local job creation and training opportunities, improvement of public space within the community, and any other specific benefit identified by the community.
Ultimately, Housser said, the bill was about “making sure Saskatchewan workers are building Saskatchewan projects. We need to build a homegrown workforce so we can keep growing our economy for years to come.”
The issue is a long-standing one that the NDP has raised before its time in Opposition. The party has been critical of the Sask. Party government over the use of out-of-province workers for major projects, including the Regina Bypass.
Teed said that too often, people “see out-of-province licence plates lining job sites while Saskatchewan workers are left out.”
“Groups like the Saskatchewan Building Trades have serious concerns about major projects not hiring local workers. Other provinces have already taken steps to ensure local workers benefit from major projects. It’s time Saskatchewan did the same.”
Teed also said legislated protection for workers is critical, especially as the “government turns to the development of major game-changing infrastructure in Canada.”
The bill is being welcomed by Jeff Sweet, executive director of the Saskatchewan Building Trades Council. He said his organization would endorse any bill put forward by any party at the legislature that would address “the use of local workers for Saskatchewan projects.”
“Our concern for a long time now, and it sort of continues, is that there are no protections in place in regulation or by legislation that protects local workers or even promotes it,” said Sweet. He also noted the New West Partnership Agreement makes that language very difficult.
In speaking to reporters, Housser said she believed her bill should be in line with the New West Partnership Agreement, as at no point does it restrict movement of workers between the province. She said other provinces have introduced similar legislation, including Manitoba.
“I think this is a common-sense piece of legislation,” said Housser. “I don’t see it as partisan in any way, shape or form.”
Wilson responds
When pressed by the Opposition in question period, SaskBuilds Minister Sean Wilson said most procurement in the province was awarded to Saskatchewan firms.
“Over 90 per cent of our government procurement is awarded to Saskatchewan suppliers. And over the past five years, this government has awarded more than 99 per cent of procurements to Canadian companies, with less than one per cent awarded to U.S. companies. SaskBuilds is always working to procure more Saskatchewan and Canadian goods while getting best value for the taxpayer dollar.”
“Well, the Regina Bypass and Shercom and the Great Plains Power Station might argue with some of that statement,” shot back Housser.
Wilson also criticized the NDP platform from the last election.
“Well, if you look at their 2024 election platform, they're proposing we violate key provincial trade deals with their reckless ‘Hire Local’ plan,” said Wilson. “Keep in mind, this would not only lock out our Saskatchewan companies from other provincial markets, but by their own reckless definition, companies like Evraz would no longer qualify as a Saskatchewan company. Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we stand up for Saskatchewan companies.”
It is unclear whether the legislation will gain the support of the Saskatchewan Party majority for passage, as the clock continues to tick down toward the end of the session in just over two weeks on May 14.
