Sask. deputy premier says he expected more from Ottawa’s major projects list

On Thursday, Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled his list of major projects set to get support from the federal government, but it appeared to not be enough for Saskatchewan’s deputy premier.

The list included an LNG project in B.C., a nuclear project in Ontario, a port expansion project in Quebec, a copper mine in B.C, and a copper mine in east-central Saskatchewan — each to get help from the federal major projects office to get through the last regulatory hurdles.

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Premier Scott Moe was still on a trade mission in Japan on Thursday, but Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Jim Reiter issued a statement responding to Carney’s announcement.

Reiter said he was pleased the Saskatchewan mine was included in the list, but thought most Canadians “were expecting a more ambitious list of projects, given the prime minister’s promise to build ‘at a speed not seen in generations.’”

The statement lamented the lack of any uranium projects on the list, saying the two have asked the federal government to correct this “immediately.”

Reiter also said the lack of a pipeline on the list comes from the uncertainty around such projects, caused by the regulatory system.

The statement said the current state of federal regulations is unworkable – pointing to the Impact Assessment Act – and that the major projects office and legislation don’t solve that problem.

Reiter ended the statement by pushing for more regulatory reform.

“Saskatchewan’s position remains the same – our country needs all economic projects to go forward if Canada wants to be the strongest economy in the G7 – not just the projects selected by politicians in Ottawa,” the deputy premier said.

Reiter said said Moe will raise the issue of regulatory reform with Carney the next time they speak.

The Saskatchewan NDP’s take

Saskatchewan’s NDP Leader Carla Beck also sent out a statement about the list, saying some of those projects will support Saskatchewan’s mining sector and ports through which goods flow.

However, she also wrote that she is “deeply disappointed” that none of the projects were around pipelines, power generation, or rail capacity.

“Our team has been calling on all levels of government to prioritize all types of trade-enabling infrastructure, and I urge the federal government to ensure there will be urgent progress on these vital projects,” read Beck’s statement.

She wrote that the Saskatchewan Government has not released any list of projects that it provided the federal government when considerations for the major projects were being made.

“Saskatchewan deserves transparency and needs to know what the Sask. Party did to secure game-changing, generational infrastructure investment,” said Beck.

Creighton mayor says announcement will boost local economy

Creighton Mayor Bruce Fidler said Carney’s announcement will make a big difference, and will help add around 400 more jobs attached to the project.

“I think it’s great for the north and northern Saskatchewan,” he said.

“It’s not just (affecting the) local area, but there’s going to be workers from all over the place there… I think it’s going to help and the offshoot businesses, I’m sure, will pick up too. It will help the economy of the region quite a bit.”

Fidler said anything that can be done to assist the project is a great bonus.

–with files from 980 CJME’s Daniel Reech 

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct an error. A previous version incorrectly attributed Reiter’s statement jointly to Reiter and Premier Scott Moe.