Moe praises plan to move executives to province

Promise by mining giant is ‘a step in the right direction,’ premier says

Nutrien Ltd.’s plan to move two of its executive vice-presidents to Saskatchewan by the end of the year is a “step in the right direction,” said Premier Scott Moe.

The potash mining giant has come under renewed scrutiny in recent months after the Saskatoon Starphoenix reported that all but one of its most senior executives live elsewhere.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Moe said the government continues to expect that Nutrien has “representation from the mine to the highest levels of leadership” in Saskatchewan.

“Our government’s expectation remains that Nutrien stays committed to their Saskatchewan operations, and we will continue to work closely with Nutrien to ensure this commitment is upheld,” Moe said.

Nutrien CEO Chuck Magro is expected to announce the executive shuffle and tout the company ’s economic effect when he speaks Thursday at a Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce event.

Nutrien, which owns and operates six of the 10 potash mines in the province, has previously committed to increase the size of its corporate office in Saskatoon and invest in a new downtown office building.

The company’s annual economic effect in saskatchewan is thought by the government to be worth about $4.5 billion or approximately seven per cent of the provincial gross domestic product.

The size and composition of Nutrien’s Saskatoon office has been a concern for the province since before the company was formed in the merger of Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. and Agrium Inc.

Potashcorp and its successor companies are subject to unique legislation that requires its CEO, CFO and “head office functions” to remain in the province, though it would likely be difficult to enforce.

Internal government documents show that former premier Brad Wall expected the new company to keep either its CEO or the chair of its board of directors in the province following the merger.

Moe has previously said the province expects a “strong presence” of executives in Saskatchewan, while a Moe spokesman said there should be “ample (local) representation” on its board of directors.

Susan Jones, who heads Nutrien’s potash operations, lives in Saskatoon. The company’s CEO, CFO and remaining six executive vice-presidents live in Calgary, Northbrook, Ill., and Loveland, Colo.