Letter to Editor
Why isn't Scott Moe stopping 'intrusions' of federal money to Saskatchewan?
REGINA, SASK : May 18, 2022 -- Premier Scott Moe speaks with reporters at the Legislative Building on Wednesday,
In a recent announcement Premier Scott Moe declared that he would outline how Saskatchewan might “protect itself against federal intrusion into areas of provincial jurisdiction.”
He clearly missed the opportunity to do just that when the federal government in July of 2022 announced “an additional $2.85 billion in funding for health care, public transit and safer air in schools.” Saskatchewan received $77.4 million dollars based on its population . Is that not an intrusion into areas where the province has jurisdiction? The year before the premier also had the opportunity to object when the federal government provided CERB payments which saved hundreds of Saskatchewan businesses and individuals from sure bankruptcy. Why was the premier not up in arms at such an obvious “intrusion”?
Then think of the missed opportunity to stop Minister Chrystia Freeland from coming to Colonsay and Saskatoon to laud the work of the Jansen Potash mine and announce that the federal government “would set aside $3.8 billion to implement the country’s first critical mines strategy” in its spring budget. There might yet be time for Premier Moe to stop this “intrusion” before some of the money is invested in Saskatchewan.
And on the local level, a golden opportunity to stop another “intrusion”: money toward the building of a 29 unit permanent housing project (Silver Sage Housing) in Regina . The federal government is putting up the bulk of the money for this project: $7.8 million with the provincial government kicking in only 10 per cent of that amount. Scott Moe lauded this project on his Twitter account but failed to mention who the major contributor is or if the province has contributed any of its share of the money as of yet.
Then there is the new YWCA that will be in the area of the Lucy Eley Park in Regina’s Cathedral neighbourhood . The federal government is by far and away the largest contributor to this project, “intruding” with its contribution of nearly $34 million while the province will contribute $1 million.
If the premier is serious about “intrusion” into areas of provincial jurisdiction, then he might object to all this money coming into our province. And if he is happy to have this kind of “intrusion” then he might be honest enough to publicly thank the federal government rather than constantly and consistently find ways to ignore it or criticize it. This after all is the season to be thankful.
Henry A. Friesen, Regina
REGINA, SASK : May 18, 2022 -- Premier Scott Moe speaks with reporters at the Legislative Building on Wednesday,
In a recent announcement Premier Scott Moe declared that he would outline how Saskatchewan might “protect itself against federal intrusion into areas of provincial jurisdiction.”
He clearly missed the opportunity to do just that when the federal government in July of 2022 announced “an additional $2.85 billion in funding for health care, public transit and safer air in schools.” Saskatchewan received $77.4 million dollars based on its population . Is that not an intrusion into areas where the province has jurisdiction? The year before the premier also had the opportunity to object when the federal government provided CERB payments which saved hundreds of Saskatchewan businesses and individuals from sure bankruptcy. Why was the premier not up in arms at such an obvious “intrusion”?
Then think of the missed opportunity to stop Minister Chrystia Freeland from coming to Colonsay and Saskatoon to laud the work of the Jansen Potash mine and announce that the federal government “would set aside $3.8 billion to implement the country’s first critical mines strategy” in its spring budget. There might yet be time for Premier Moe to stop this “intrusion” before some of the money is invested in Saskatchewan.
And on the local level, a golden opportunity to stop another “intrusion”: money toward the building of a 29 unit permanent housing project (Silver Sage Housing) in Regina . The federal government is putting up the bulk of the money for this project: $7.8 million with the provincial government kicking in only 10 per cent of that amount. Scott Moe lauded this project on his Twitter account but failed to mention who the major contributor is or if the province has contributed any of its share of the money as of yet.
Then there is the new YWCA that will be in the area of the Lucy Eley Park in Regina’s Cathedral neighbourhood . The federal government is by far and away the largest contributor to this project, “intruding” with its contribution of nearly $34 million while the province will contribute $1 million.
If the premier is serious about “intrusion” into areas of provincial jurisdiction, then he might object to all this money coming into our province. And if he is happy to have this kind of “intrusion” then he might be honest enough to publicly thank the federal government rather than constantly and consistently find ways to ignore it or criticize it. This after all is the season to be thankful.
Henry A. Friesen, Regina
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