Moe to meet with Trudeau during Liberal caucus retreat

Pipeline expansion and carbon tax likely to be on agenda, Alex Macpherson writes.

SASKATOON The Liberal Party of Canada’s annual caucus retreat kicked off Tuesday in Saskatoon with a spate of funding announcements and a news conference with federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau. Here’s everything you need to know about the first day of the retreat — an opportunity for the governing party to plan for the upcoming legislative session and meet potential voters across the city — and what to expect over the coming days.

TRUDEAU TO MEET MOE

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to sit down with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe on Wednesday, which is expected to be heavy on meetings for the 183-member Liberal caucus. A spokesman for the premier’s office said Moe “expects to discuss federal government policies that are affecting Saskatchewan’s economy.” Moe has been a vocal critic of Ottawa’s proposed carbon-pricing plan and a recent court decision halting the now-governmentowned Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project, and it’s likely they will top his agenda.

WESTERN CANADA’S ECONOMY GETS BOOST

Canada’s Economic Development Minister, Navdeep Bains, made the biggest funding announcement of the day: $208 million over five years to promote economic development and diversification in Western Canada. Bains told a crowd at Morris Industries Ltd. in Saskatoon that the government doesn’t want a made-in- Ottawa plan for the funds, and encouraged people to provide feedback through the government website on what they would like a Western Canada Growth Strategy to look like. The deadline for submissions is February 2019, with a strategy expected late in the year.

CASH FOR PULSE CROPS

Lawrence Macaulay, the federal government’s agriculture minister, announced $11.1 million for the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers and Pulse Canada under its $3-billion, five-year Canadian Agricultural Partnership. On top of that, industry is contributing another $7.2 million for a total of $18.3 million — money that will fund a range of initiatives, including increasing the productivity of new pulse crops and making food product development more innovative. While pulse crops have been a shining star of the provincial economy, the last months have seen difficulties emerge.

WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING

Macaulay and Transport Minister Marc Garneau are expected to spend a chunk of Wednesday afternoon discussing grain transportation with railway executives, producer groups and grain shippers. Following a meeting Tuesday afternoon of the National Liberal Women’s Caucus, the party’s MPS are likely to spend most of the day in meetings. MPS and cabinet ministers are also expected to take part in fundraising and social activities scattered across downtown.