REGINA — News that Ontario and Alberta had revealed plans for a Northern Shield oil pipeline between the two provinces had Opposition Leader Carla Beck asking where Saskatchewan was at the table.
Beck told reporters Wednesday in Regina that she saw some of the coverage of Tuesday’s news conference, including “Premier (Doug) Ford and Premier (Danielle) Smith standing in front of the map” of the proposed route, which runs through Saskatchewan.
Beck said her first thought was "conspicuous the absence of our Premier (Scott Moe) in this announcement or as part of this proposal.”
Her second, she said, is the “conspicuous lack of those nation-building projects here in Saskatchewan.”
“We've seen now that Premier Smith announced two potential pipelines. We've seen other major projects in Ontario and in Manitoba. We've yet to see the list of what we're even asking for here in Saskatchewan.”
Beck added that if these projects do go ahead, “I know a little fantastic pipe shop here in north Regina that I'd like to see us contribute to some of that pipeline here" — referring to the Interpro steel plant.
Beck also said the federal government is looking to invest “like we've not seen in generations in this country,” and believed it should be “putting Saskatchewan people, Saskatchewan students” to work on these projects. But she was again critical of the provincial government.
“We have a government that appears to be MIA when it comes to these announcements and getting a share for Saskatchewan.”
Beck added “my cards' on the table. I don't think it will surprise anyone. I want to see Saskatchewan get their share. I want to see the opportunities, the investments, jobs here in Saskatchewan … Hopefully, we'll see an announcement here at some point, but we are definitely on the laggard side of the equation when it comes to these kinds of projects.”
Premier Moe himself had little to say about the Northern Shield pipeline plan, but did take to social media a couple of times this week to denounce the NDP on pipelines.
In a post on X, in response to a report that said a Saskatchewan environmental group was warning the Alberta pipeline plan was putting Canada on the wrong path, Moe posted: "This group's membership includes local NDP MLAs. It's no wonder why no one can take the NDP seriously."
