REGINA, Sask. – Premier Scott Moe continued to push the theme of a “Strong, Steady, Saskatchewan” at the Premier’s Dinner in Regina Thursday night.
The event was a fundraiser for the Saskatchewan Party, with a sold out audience of 1,400 attending. Moe’s address to the audience at the Bunge International Trade Centre once more pitched Saskatchewan as a jurisdiction of stability in unstable times.
“The world is an uncertain place today. Saskatchewan is not,” Moe said.
“This is a turbulent time in our world. We have trade wars, actual wars that are disrupting economies, businesses, jobs, families, everywhere. But in the midst of all of that, there is a place whose economy stands rock solid. There is a place that is still attracting billions of dollars in new investment, including the largest economic project in Canada's history, at a time when there is a President of the White House who likes to stand up and say that he doesn't need anything from anyone….
“That place is our place. That place is Saskatchewan. Strong, steady Saskatchewan.”
During his speech, Moe looked to portray the Sask Party government as responsible for that stability. “I would say that part of that dependability comes from having a very focused government in this province… A government that reacts, yes, but doesn't overreact.”
Moe’s speech pointed to the 60 projects and $100 billion in investment happening in the province. He also sought to define his party against his political opponents as he spoke of the choice facing voters in the next provincial election in 2028.
“You can likely guess who I'm talking about there. The party who would like Saskatchewan to actually be the Banana Republic,” Moe said, “if ‘banana’ stands for ‘build absolutely nothing anywhere near anyone.’
“It is funny. It is funny because it's true,” Moe said.
Moe further blasted the NDP, claiming they would shut down the $50 billion investment in Bell Canada's AI data centre project outside Regina.
“They would rather send that investment and thousands of new jobs, all of our online data, to some other country around the world. The NDP don't build things. They block things from being built. That's who the NDP are. Believe them when they tell you that.”
CUPE raises health care workers’ concerns
While there was plenty of support for Premier Moe inside the Bunge International Trade Centre venue, outside was a different story as a number of CUPE health care workers staged a demonstration near the entrance.
CUPE Local 5430 have been in contract talks with the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations. Those CUPE health workers waving placards and flags on Thursday made it clear to reporters they were fed up waiting for a deal.
“We are trying to raise attention for people to understand that we have gone four and a half years without a deal,” said Laura Guilbault, a continuing care aide and a CUPE member.
“We have gone four years without a wage increase. These people here are making $500,000 a year and we're making not even $25 an hour, some of us. Some of us are making $30, some of us are making $17 So, we're trying to bring awareness and trying to get them to understand that we need that contract, we need a fair deal. We're losing staff. Staff are going to Manitoba, Alberta, and we need them here.”
The CUPE union says it is also planning a Day of Action with members at the Legislature on Oct. 28.
In speaking to reporters Friday in Weyburn, Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill expressed confidence a deal could get done with CUPE.
“I'm very confident that we're going to receive, we're going to get to, agreements with all of our union partners,” Cockrill said.
”I think over the last couple months there has been significant progress really at all of our tables — again that happens at the bargaining table, not on a picket line or on a sidewalk … Again, encouraged that the progress that we've made at the bargaining table, that's really where the opportunity is going to be to get to an agreement. I remain very confident that we're going to get to a really good agreement for workers but also an agreement that works for patients, too.”
