The Estevan Chamber of Commerce says recent agreements between provincial leaders could mean new opportunities for the southeast, but the details remain to be seen.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe joined Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in signing a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at improving the transportation and export of oil, natural gas and critical minerals. The agreement highlights the need for better infrastructure and labour mobility across provinces.
Merissa Scarlett, executive director of the Estevan Chamber, said the region is well positioned to benefit if the promises lead to real action.
“That’s a big one for our region in the sense that we are exploring for critical minerals down here,” she said. “It’s always good for oil and gas to have more transport options and better infrastructure.”
While the MOU is non-binding, Scarlett said the conversation itself is encouraging. She noted that much of the current focus appears to be on long-term goals like pipelines, rail development and workforce flexibility.
“It’s hard to say exactly what this will mean for Estevan right now,” she said. “But it shows there’s interest in working together across provinces, and that’s a positive step.”
Scarlett said the Chamber is keeping a close eye on any potential changes. Through its membership in the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership, the Chamber has access to information and resources that can help local businesses adapt if new regulations or programs come into play.
“If webinars or resource sheets become available, or if we need to navigate something new, we’ll make sure our members have access to the right supports,” she said.
She encouraged members to reach out if they have questions or want to learn more about interprovincial trade.
“If you’re curious or don’t know where to start, we can help get you the information you need.”
Scarlett also pointed to long-standing trade barriers between provinces as a challenge that needs attention. She said even basic tasks like importing cheese from Manitoba can create headaches for local businesses due to provincial regulations.
“With all the tariffs coming from the U.S., push came to shove and it’s important we look at how we do business within Canada too,” she said. “Easing those barriers could really help our members and the economy overall.”
Scarlett said it is also encouraging to see Ontario working with Western provinces to move products more efficiently across the country.
“Being a landlocked province is tricky, so hearing other provinces want to work with us and understand the importance of what we produce is encouraging,” she said. “It’s a good environment and a nice change of pace from what we’ve heard over the last 10 years.”
The Estevan Chamber, along with the Saskatchewan and Canadian Chambers of Commerce, has long supported efforts to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers. Scarlett said this latest MOU could be a signal that progress is finally on the way.
“Having premiers talking about these issues and committing to solutions is a positive sign for our economy and for businesses here in Estevan.”