EARS ON THE GROUND
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland met with Premier Scott Moe on Tuesday as part of her tour of Western Canada to hear first-hand about Western alienation.
REGINA Premier Scott Moe waded into the thorny subject of western separation on Tuesday, the very day he was set to meet with Canada’s deputy prime minister.
“I don’t believe, at this point, that there is an opportunity to separate from this nation, if you will, and solve the problems, the challenges, that we actually have,” said Moe, flanked by a Canadian and a Saskatchewan flag at Canadian Western Agribition in Regina.
The phrase “at this point” prompted harsh denunciation from the leader of the Saskatchewan NDP. When pushed on the matter later that day, Moe eventually admitted that separation would “never” be in the province’s interest.
The premier made the initial remark while responding to questions about the Wexit movement and “eastern domination” on Tuesday morning during a breakfast event about farming, fuel and trade.
He argued that Saskatchewan’s lack of access to ports or leverage in foreign markets would not be ameliorated through western independence.
“I don’t know what that achieves,” he said. “I actually don’t know how that solves some of the frustration that we are feeling in our industries and in our economy.”
Moe told the audience he would be voicing the province’s “dissatisfaction” with federal policies during his meeting later that afternoon with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.
The Leader-post later asked Moe to clarify what he meant by “at this point” when he spoke about separation.
“At this point there is no opportunities for any benefits by separation,” he said. “That’s what I meant.”
He did not directly answer a question about whether that could change, and instead pivoted to talk about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the need for a new policy direction.
“The last four years is the source of that frustration, policy decisions coming from the Prime Minister’s Office, this federal government,” Moe said.
“They have an opportunity. They have an opportunity to engage; they are doing that. They have an opportunity to listen; they are doing that. Then they have a requirement to act.”
And if they don’t act?
“It’s my sincere hope that they will act, that they’ll act in collaboration with the province of Saskatchewan,” he responded.
NDP Leader Ryan Meili said it’s proper for Moe to speak up for the interests of Saskatchewan, but not while “holding a gun to the head of Canadian unity.”
He called the premier’s comments at Agribition “reckless.”
“That’s a pretty significant step further away from clarity and further away from commitment to Canada,” he said.
Meili faulted the premier’s language and urged him to be absolutely clear “that it’s stupid to even consider leaving this country.”
“There’s no value in separation at this point or at any point,” he said. “We would be losing a great deal.”
The matter came up yet again when Moe spoke to reporters after his meeting with Freeland.
He again argued that it wouldn’t solve “the very real frustrations” of Saskatchewan’s people. He initially said he didn’t know why he used the phrase “at this point.”
But when repeatedly pressed on whether separation would ever be in Saskatchewan’s interests, he let a single word slip.
“Never.”