NDP alarmed over American company’s purchase of Sask. agriculture assets

The Sask. NDP accused the Government of Saskatchewan of failing to protect the province’s economy amid the ongoing trade war with the U.S.

On Wednesday, NDP jobs and economy critic Aleana Young said Premier Scott Moe did nothing as Kansas City-based Bartlet Grain Co. purchased Ceres Global Ag Corp in July.

Young called the move “deeply troubling” as it would give the American company control over a grain elevator near Melfort and a major logistics hub in the southeast.

“We should be ensuring Canadian ownership, if not Saskatchewan ownership, not continually allowing big multinational corporations, or American corporations to come in and scoop up Saskatchewan assets,” Young said.

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She also stated that it’s time for the province to do all it can to protect strategic economic infrastructure like power, rail and energy assets.

“I think the concern is that the government is doing nothing to diversify our economy. The United States is our largest trading partner. We’re currently in a trade war with our largest trading partner and our second-largest trading partner, China,” Young said.

“We should be doing everything we can to protect Saskatchewan’s interests.”

Young said she did want to see investment in Saskatchewan, but believes most would prefer local ownership for critical economic infrastructure.

In an emailed statement, the Government of Saskatchewan said it would continue to monitor the situation surrounding Bartlet to help ensure that local producers have access to competitive and local options to sell their grains.

“It is reckless for the NDP to suggest that we should be blocking and opposing investment in Saskatchewan that provides jobs and significant tax revenue to the residents of Saskatchewan,” the statement read.

“Is the lost NDP also suggesting that we oppose other businesses such as Evraz, LifeLabs, and countless others who have operations in Saskatchewan, the United States, and the rest of the World?”

The province also said the volume of Saskatchewan agri-food exports to the U.S. increased by “almost” 6.5 per cent.

“Saskatchewan does $40 billion worth of trade with the United States, and our exports provide critical food and energy security to the US and the world, including potash, uranium and agri-food products. We will also continue to prioritize diversifying our export market through the use of international trade offices, something that the lost NDP has long criticized as being wasteful,” the statement read.

“These trade offices have provided an immediate benefit by diversifying Saskatchewan’s exports all across the world. Our government remains committed to building and strengthening trade relationships across Canada, the United States, and around the world while protecting Saskatchewan jobs.”