LISTEN: Sask. premier reflects on the past year

It’s been a full year for Premier Scott Moe, from celebrating local highlights, like the Saskatchewan Roughriders winning the Grey Cup, to international matters involving US trade tariffs on canola and potash.

Premier Scott Moe joined the Greg Morgan Morning Show Friday morning to look back on the year, his pick for the best movie of the year and some of his family’s Christmas traditions.

Read more: 

• Premier Scott Moe adds five newly elected MLAs to Saskatchewan cabinet in shuffle
• Scott Moe receives more than 80 per cent approval at Sask. Party convention
• After Throne Speech, Moe breaks down plans for new legislation on Evan Bray Show

Listen to the full interview here:

The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity.

Greg Morgan Morning Show: It’s my pleasure now to have Premier Scott Moe join me for a catch up this morning. Mr. Premier, welcome to the show.

Premier Scott Moe: We thanks so much, Greg and Merry Christmas to you and all your listeners.

Well, same to you. I hear how you made your way to Shellbrook last night instead of right now. Good call, sir. Were you trying to get there for the Oiler game in time or the weather you were concerned about today?

Moe: Yes to all of that. And I didn’t get home in time for the Oilers game. But it looks like we have a little bit of a trouble coming out of the oiler game. We’re hunting for a goalie again. Well, yeah, (Tristan) Jarry got hurt a little bit. Hey, the Oilers are on fire. (Connor) McDavid will take us again to the playoffs. You just wait and see. We have an offence, unlike anything the NHL has seen. We have a little bit of work to do other places.

I want to talk a little about Christmas and a review of your year here. But first, I want to also just ask you, how did the virtual premiers meeting go yesterday with Prime Minister Mark Carney, your first meeting since the signing of that Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on a potential pipeline on energy and climate between Alberta and the federal government?

Moe: Good, yeah. No, it went well. He gave an update on where we are with respect to trade negotiations. Some are stalled and some are ongoing. USA is stalled a bit, and that’s the big one. And some of the other ones, like China, are actually somewhat contingent on where we can get to in the USA and the China one continues is maybe the prime minister will get over there for a state dinner sometime in January, because parliamentary secretary, Kody Blois, is there as we speak. I was talking with him over the night here as there’s a time difference.

So a lot of trade talk on the state of those negotiations, and hopefully we can get those provide some certainty there sooner rather than later. And then some talk, as you said, on some of the, what I call determining our own destiny and developing our own resources here, and developing our port capacity, ability to get them the market, which has been stalled the last decade. And we’re finding our way through that. Now, I would just say this, and I’ll use the MOU as an example. That’s a critical piece of work. And I talked to some here in Western Canada, they don’t think it went far enough. And why the prime minister had people leaving cabinet, because they felt it went too far. The fact that that’s those discussions are happening between multiple provinces in the federal government right now is a positive step in moving our nation forward and determining our own destiny and trying to develop our and strengthen our own economy. And so it’s not easy work, and it’s not without criticism, but it’s important that it’s happening.

I definitely agree with that these conversations we’re having now that were never happening before. It’s it’s pretty critical. Premier Scott, most my guest, look now the hard questions. Let’s let’s review your year, Mr. Premier, please, starting first with your pick for best movie of the year. Would you agree with your nieces, your nephews, your grandchildren, that it’s K-Pop Demon Hunters, or is there a better movie?

Moe: It’s pretty good and it’s in multiple languages, of which I don’t understand, but it’s actually a pretty good movie for kids and some I think in the song ‘Golden.’ It won a number of awards here recently as well.

Well, you know quite a bit about K-Pop Demon Hunters. I’m impressed. Hey, as a Rider fan, I’m sure the Grey Cup win this year was a highlight for you. But was it really wise to leave for Washington on parade day and leave Gene Makowsky and Deputy Premier Jim Reiter in charge of the legislature? Because it seemed to get a little out of hand.

Moe: It all worked out, but barely.

Coach (Corey) Mace is worried he may not be invited back, though.

Moe: No, he wins a Grey Cup. He can come back anytime. Okay, I’ve never seen so many players and been concerned for their lives hanging on this side of the legislature, as I was that day. It was fun, but they let loose for a day or two. And it seems that dedication is carrying into next year, with some of the commitments to play again next year. So it’s an exciting time for our team.

Premier Scott Moe, you’re spending Christmas in the in your hometown of Shellbrook. Would your wife say you’re a good gift giver?

Moe: No, but I’m trying to change that year. This year, I’ve been married 33 years, and I think I finally have it right. How? I can’t tell you what I’ve done, but I think I’ve tried, in particular, maybe the last 10 years. Yeah, I’m not very good at this. She’ll cut me the first to tell you that I think, I think I did better this year.

You’re supposed to listen through the year. When she says, Oh, I need that, or I want that, make a mental note for Christmas. I’m guessing. I’m asking if you ever listen to your wife, sir, I try to, but I get to it too late in the year. So a week, 10 days before Christmas, is when I really start tuning in. Sometimes I miss the signals.

Premier, Scott Moe, what’s your favourite thing to do there at Shellbrook when you’re home and not worrying about politics?

Moe: Well, not today, because it’s windy, snowy and cold out. But I love getting out and going Skidoo. And we have some great trails here, and you know, a number of great friends that get out, you know, once a week at least, or otherwise. And good, you know, snowmobile shacks along the trails. And I love to do it. I just don’t get to do it enough.

I asked Mayor (Chad) Bachynski, he was on about a half hour ago, some of his Christmas traditions. He said, the family does the Christmas PJ’s? Do you guys have a Christmas tradition that’s happens every time?

Moe: Yeah, we have a hockey game. Oh, really, new year on Christmas Eve. Every year, about my family and extended family, and we have a hockey game, and nieces and nephews are getting awfully good now, so it’s I’m one of these years I’m going to get moved off the ice to the coaching ranks.

Well, I have to say thank you again for you to join us here this morning. And I don’t know you must get tired of everyone asking you questions all the time. Do you as premier want to ask me any questions?

Moe: Well, I want to ask who’s going to win a Stanley Cup this year? Because I’ve shifted entirely now just in the last week, from Grey Cup Mode to Stanley Cup Mode. Yes, and it was, I will say this too, it was sweet to beat the Bruins last night. I hope our goalie is okay, because Dave Marit, Jim Reiter, those are all like really bad Bruins fans. This is maybe a little payback for their lack of attention to detail and taking care of did make that cabinet shuffle based on Oiler fans. I get I got it down first too.

Scott Moe, all the best to you and your family in 2026 and Merry Christmas. Enjoy your break, and to you and all your listeners as well. Great Christmas and Happy New Year.