Economy and autonomy likely on the priority list for throne speech

On Wednesday, Lt.-Gov. Russ Mirasty will deliver the speech from the throne in the Saskatchewan legislature, explaining the government’s priorities for the next year and kicking off the legislative session.

In his speech to the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce on Monday, Premier Scott Moe dropped a few hints about what will be focused on in the throne speech.

Moe spent much of the speech touting the province’s growing economy and said this fall his government will make commitments to keep that going.

“The speech from the throne in Saskatchewan is, most certainly, going to be focused on unlocking the enormous potential that this province has and that the people that reside here do,” said Moe.

“There is a strong tailwind that’s pushing this province forward in a world where the paramount concern is energy security and, ultimately, food security.”

Moe said the province will open yet another international trade office, this one in Europe. He explained there is a conversation happening there right now around energy and food security and he wants Saskatchewan to be the provider of choice for that security.

“We know that this focus on international engagement is not only important for the industries that operate and do business and that we are employed in in this province. We know this is working and we know this initiative needs to be expanded (and) modified as we move forward,” Moe said to the crowd.

After the policy paper “Drawing the Line” was released a few weeks ago, it’s no surprise legislation around provincial autonomy is coming this fall.

“(It’s) new legislation that ultimately is going to assert Saskatchewan’s exclusive jurisdiction over the development of our natural resources as well as our economic future,” Moe said.

Moe explained his government will defend the jurisdictional line.

“We’ll do everything that we can, within the confines of the Constitution, to ensure that we are protecting and defending the jobs that are creating wealth in our communities in the province,” he said.

“We will do everything that we can to protect and defend the economic future — the jobs of today as well as those jobs of tomorrow — to defend our economic future on behalf of the folks that we represent and unlock that Saskatchewan potential that we know we have in this province.”

Moe didn’t explain just what the legislation will say or how it’s going to achieve that.

The premier also talked about Saskatchewan wanting more control over immigration, in part to fill the growing number of job vacancies in the province — marrying both his priorities of the economy and provincial autonomy.

The province has already put an accord in front of the federal immigration minister that would give Saskatchewan similar powers in that regard to Quebec, according to Moe, including a higher number of immigrants to pick itself.

The speech from the throne is expected to be delivered around 2 o’clock Wednesday afternoon.

The Saskatchewan NDP

The official opposition will be bringing a new colleague into the assembly for the first time on Wednesday: Nathaniel Teed was elected to the Saskatoon Meewasin seat in the September byelection to replace former party leader Ryan Meili.

It will also be a new experience for Carla Beck. She’s been an MLA for years but this fall will be her first sitting as Leader of the Opposition.