Below you'll find MLA Tim McLeod's Report from the Legislature for August 15, 2024.
The views expressed below are solely the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official stance of Golden West.
The end of summer is in sight and harvest is officially underway here in Saskatchewan. Harvest is the culmination of the hard work, dedication and resiliency of Saskatchewan producers.
Our producers are known around the world as sustainable and reliable suppliers of high-quality, nutritious and safe agri-food products. Saskatchewan saw a 27 per cent increase in agri-food export volume in 2023 and hopes to continue this trend with another successful harvest. We wish everyone a safe and bountiful finish to the 2024 growing season.
As we approach the end of summer, it’s also time for Saskatchewan’s students to get ready to head back to school. In preparation for the start of the 2024-25 school year, our government recently announced cell phones will not be permitted during class time in all K-12 schools.
Technology has its place, but all too often, cell phones are taking students’ attention away from what they are learning. This new policy will allow students to be more engaged with their teachers and focused on learning the skills and knowledge they need to reach their potential.
Our government is committed to investing in Saskatchewan students, which is why since 2008, approximately $2.6 billion has been invested in school infrastructure projects. This includes 69 new schools and 32 major renovation projects with an additional seven projects through the Minor Capital Renewal Program.
Investments like this into Saskatchewan’s education system are only possible due to a strong and growing economy. Our government remains committed to investing in economic growth by telling Saskatchewan’s story abroad.
Numbers from the first quarter of the 2024-25 fiscal year show exports to Indonesia have increased by 97.6 per cent over the first quarter of last year. The total export value was $279.7 million, driven by a 490.5 per cent increase in potash exports. Exports to Peru increased by 19.4 per cent over the same period last year, for a total value of $105.5 million, driven by exports of non-durum wheat. Exports to Morocco and China also increased by 12.4 per cent and 8.7 per cent, respectively.
Additionally, during the first quarter of the year, our government hosted 12 incoming diplomatic delegations, resulting in multiple agreements being signed between Saskatchewan and international partners.
Saskatchewan's international efforts have also delivered successes in trade. In April, Saskatchewan's Mexico office assisted Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP) to lead eight Saskatchewan companies in a trade mission to Peru and Mexico. This resulted in over 186 business-to-business connections and sales of over $1 million in agricultural commodities.
Saskatchewan continues to reach new heights on the global stage, and these successes are resulting in new opportunities, more jobs, and increased investment for the benefit of people and businesses in Saskatchewan.
Here at home, our critical minerals sector continues to grow and our government is investing in that growth. Applications are now open for two new critical minerals incentive programs, which will drive investment and innovation in Saskatchewan’s critical minerals industry from extraction to processing.
The Critical Minerals Processing Investment Incentive (CMPII) and the Saskatchewan Critical Minerals Innovation Incentive (SCMII) targets 11 critical minerals found in the province, which are all essential to global economies, national security and everyday life. The CMPII supports value-added processing projects, while the SCMII supports commercial innovation projects.
The Saskatchewan critical minerals advantage is clear. The Fraser Institute has ranked Saskatchewan as the best jurisdiction in Canada and third in the world for mining investment attractiveness. These new, targeted incentives will help in protecting and promoting Saskatchewan’s continued leadership on a global scale into the future.
As our government continues this work, we look forward to hearing from you with questions, comments or feedback. You can contact my office at 306-692-8884 or mjnorthmla@sasktel.net.