Scott Moe welcomes Jason Kenney into the premiers’ fold

Saskatchewan’s premier seems to be looking to the west with approval after the United Conservative Party, with Jason Kenney at the helm, claimed a victory in Tuesday’s Alberta election.

Speaking with John Gormley on Wednesday morning, Scott Moe congratulated Kenney and said he already has spoken to the premier-designate.

“(Albertans) elected someone who is willing to step out and stand up for the industries that are creating wealth and creating jobs in their communities,” said Moe.

He also draw a parallel between the Alberta NDP and Saskatchewan NDP, saying the voters had rejected what he called the divisive policies of the NDP — something he said he’d been seeing in Saskatchewan as well.

Moe said Kenney will make a difference when it comes to advocating for pipelines, and said he’ll be an ally in other fights.

“I think it also opens up the conversation across the nation on just the regulations that are being put in place, at times from some provincial governments, hindrances on getting things like pipelines through, but also regulations or initiatives like carbon taxation,” Moe said.

Politicians in Alberta, including Kenney, have been very open in their dispute with B.C. politicians over building pipelines. Moe hasn’t been as outspoken on that front, but said Alberta and Saskatchewan need to have the conversation about ramping up the pressure on B.C.

“One province does not have the jurisdiction to stand in front of wealth-creating projects, nation-building projects like the Kinder Morgan pipeline,” Moe said.

Kenney will be added into a group of Conservative premiers in the country, and Moe said he’s looking forward to working with them.