Premier Moe Calls for 10 Changes From Ottawa to ‘Reset’ Its Relationship With Sask.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe speaks as he arrives for a first ministers meeting in Ottawa on Jan. 15, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has released a letter addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney detailing 10 policy changes he says Ottawa must implement to restore the relationship between the federal government and his province.

The letter posted to Moe’s social media account on May 14 outlines the province’s “Strong Saskatchewan, Strong Canada Plan.”

“The PM has the ability to move forward on all 10 of these items quickly, which would clearly signal a new, more positive relationship between Saskatchewan and the federal government than we have had for the past 10 years,” Moe wrote in his post. “A stronger Saskatchewan means a stronger Canada, and all of these changes will be positive for both our province and our country.”

Moe is urging the Carney government to “immediately” initiate negotiations with China to remove its tariffs on Canadian agri-food products.

He is also asking Ottawa to expand pipeline, rail, and port capacity across Canada and repeal the Oil and Gas Sector Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap as well as end federal policies meant to lower carbon emissions, including the industrial carbon tax and clean electricity regulations.

Moe is requesting Carney “fundamentally reform” the Impact Assessment Act, which outlines the process for assessing approval of infrastructure projects, including by “cutting red tape” and streamlining the process to avoid “infringement into provincial jurisdiction.”

Also on the list are changes to the Criminal Code to address bail reform and an introduction of “stronger penalties to fight against new street drugs.”

Moe has raised the same issues in the past as well. The premier has long criticized the Liberal government’s handling of the items cited in the letter, and the day after the federal election he called on Carney to “hit the reset button” on Ottawa’s relationship with his province.

Moe noted in his video message posted to social media that while the lion’s share of his province—13 of 14 ridings—elected Conservative MPs, his government wants to forge a stronger relationship with the new Liberal administration than it had with the previous one.

Moe also released a video on social media prior to the election to endorse Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, where he criticized the Liberals and blamed the government’s policies for making it more expensive to produce food, fuel, and fertilizer products in Saskatchewan.

In his victory speech after winning the April 28 election, Carney noted that he visited Saskatchewan and Alberta during his campaign, and said his government will work for all of Canada.

“You know we’re Liberals, it’s tough out there. But I went because I intend to govern for all Canadians,” he said.

Carbon Tax

Moe’s administration has had a tumultuous relationship with Ottawa in recent years, partly due to the carbon tax.

Moe has been one of the most vocal opponents of carbon pricing among Canada’s provincial leaders, and made the decision in 2023 to begin withholding the carbon tax on home heating as of Jan. 1, 2024.

The province halted collection of the carbon tax on residential heating following the government’s decision to not exempt all types of home heating from the tax. Ottawa suspended the tax on home heating oil in the fall of 2023, a decision that predominantly benefited Atlantic Canada while having minimal effect in the western provinces, where natural gas is the main heat source.

Saskatchewan unanimously passed legislation to designate the province the exclusive registered distributor of natural gas. The measure was implemented to safeguard SaskEnergy employees and board members from being held liable by Ottawa for failing to enforce the tax on residential heating.

Then-federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault called Moe’s action illegal, saying he was “not respecting federal laws.” Moe’s administration said the tax was contributing to inflation within the province and deemed it a justifiable course of action.

Carney signed a directive on March 14 instructing the consumer carbon charge be set to zero percent effective April 1, but he has said “big polluters” will continue to pay the tax through an output-based pricing system.

Moe has said he disagrees with the Liberal stance and announced in March that his government would take steps to remove the industrial levy in Saskatchewan, making it the first province in Canada to be “fully carbon tax-free.”

Moe’s May 14 letter clearly stated that the federal government must refrain from implementing the federal backstop on the industrial carbon tax.

He asked Carney to “transfer responsibility for the output-based pricing systems for heavy emitters to the provinces to ensure measures consider each province’s unique industrial structure, economic realities and trade exposure.”

Premier Requests

Moe is the most recent premier to unveil a list of projects and policies he wants Carney’s government to address.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith gave Carney a list of demands for the next prime minister prior to his election victory.

The list included guaranteeing Alberta would be given “full access” to oil and gas corridors to the north, east, and west, as well as repealing the Impact Assessment Act.

She said the demands need to be addressed or the country would face an “unprecedented national unity crisis.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford also sent a list of requests to Carney that asked for federal support on multiple projects, including developing the province’s Ring of Fire region and constructing a tunnel under Highway 401 to ease traffic congestion. Also on the list was a crackdown on crime and bail reform.

While Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has not published a list of demands or requests, he has proposed the construction of a “northern trade corridor” to aid western provinces in connecting their resources to international markets through Hudson Bay.