What to Expect
Saskatchewan
The tensions between the Government of Saskatchewan and that of the Liberals in Ottawa will be of much discussion this week after Premier Moe made statements declaring his disappointment that the Prime Minister was in Saskatchewan touring a rare earth elements processing plant without informing the Premier or his office. With Premier Moe’s government passing legislation – with the support of the Opposition NDP – asserting Saskatchewan’s authority in resource development, the tour will do little to decrease the tension.
Manitoba
With changes made to the Executive Council by Premier Stefanson last week, discussions in Manitoba will continue to speculate on the Premier’s need to change direction to grow support for the October election. This follows a number of cabinet ministers announcing they won’t be running again, furthering the discussion about what it means for the PC’s re-election hope.
The Executive Council staffing changes are:
- Kathryn Gerrard (formerly the Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Investment and Trade and as Deputy Minister of Families) will fill the role of clerk of the executive council, a position previously held by Donald A. Leitch, who will continue to assist during the transition.
- The Premier also announced the departure of Philip Houde, chief of staff.
The Week That Was
Saskatchewan
In continuation with the Government of Saskatchewan’s decision to remove itself from participating in the liquor industry, the government is beginning to auction off its retail permits. The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) operates 34 stores out of about 600 liquor retailers in the province. The auction is for the permits only and does not include the physical properties or other assets.
The province will see an investment of $17.6 million for crop-related research in 2023, directed toward 49 research projects and operational support.
Manitoba
The federal government, Manitoba government and Chief Sidney Ballantyne of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation have announced a combined investment of $17.4 million that will be utilized to build 69 new and affordable apartment units in Winnipeg’s downtown area.
