With the call of the provincial election in Saskatchewan, the Wheat Growers asked each of the registered parties seven questions that we thought would be of interest to our members.
On October 7, 2024 the following questions were sent to each party with a deadline to reply by October 14, 2024. As of October 16, 2024, we heard back from the following parties. If other parties reply, we will update our site.
1. What is your party’s position on free and competitive markets in international trade, including the elimination of export subsidies, reduction of trade-distorting domestic support, and reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers that inhibit market access?
In favour of competitive markets. Countries such as China and India do not pay carbon tax but Saskatchewan farmers have to compete while paying carbon tax all along the supply chain. Ending the carbon tax is a central policy of The Buffalo Party.
Saskatchewan producers need to be able to bring their products to market for fair prices, and we will work to engage with other jurisdictions to ensure that happens. Saskatchewan New Democrats are fully committed to engaging with the Government of Canada and the national governments of our international customers to remove trade barriers and create new opportunities for Saskatchewan’s agricultural producers.
Exports are the backbone of the Saskatchewan economy, with 65 to 70 per cent of Saskatchewan’s products reaching international markets. In 2023, the value of Saskatchewan’s exports reached $49.3 billion. The Saskatchewan Party believes in open and free trade so our products can get to markets around the world.
The diversification of Saskatchewan’s economy and the growing diversity of Saskatchewan’s export markets make the province more resilient to market access risks such as tariffs and regulatory trade barriers. Saskatchewan’s trade missions, international trade and investment offices and the work of the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership are helping exporters to expand markets for Saskatchewan products.
We don’t currently have a position on this topic. We are open to dialogue with industry to identify which programs need to be changed, and which systems should be adopted.
2. What is your party’s position on the grain transportation system and the ability to move grain to export market in an accountable and efficient manner, considering possible future overcrowding on the rail system?
The Buffalo Party has policy promoting use of existing and new ports on Hudson Bay. Such ports would give Saskatchewan farmers much more clout in the transportation system.
Given the importance of exporting agricultural and mining products to our economy, consistent transportation infrastructure is vital. However, we’ve seen the Sask. Party government fail to react to changes in the market and fail to stand up to the rail duopoly that has not served Saskatchewan well. We’re planning to increase agriculture and mining exports, and so we need to expand rail capacity to meet that demand.
We have what the world needs, but we need reliable infrastructure to get our products to market. A re-elected Saskatchewan Party government will continue to support the growth of Saskatchewan’s exports through investments in our highways and infrastructure, measures to ensure our agriculture and natural resource sectors remain competitive and international engagement to grow export markets and investment in Saskatchewan.
Regarding the rail system, the Saskatchewan Party government has repeatedly called on the federal government to limit rail disruptions, so they do not hinder our producers from getting their products to market. Stoppage of rail lines have a devastating effect on the supply chain and damages Canada’s reputation as a reliable training partner with our international customers.
The Saskatchewan Party government has also called for reform of the representation on the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. Currently, only one of the 11 board members represents the prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Eight are appointed by the federal
government, one by the Province of British Columbia and one by the municipalities that boarder the port authority. The Saskatchewan Party government has called to have two board member appointees from each of the western provinces.
We believe there should be more short line rail, and investment in a railway to Churchill, Manitoba. A previous attempt to build a rail-line went poorly due to design, not due to the financials of the project.
3. What is your party’s position on the development of agricultural innovations that make farmers more profitable and sustainable, with a science-based regulatory approval process for the introduction of new technologies, including the adoption of genetically modified crops?
The bigger issue is how the livestock sector is shrinking on the Prairies. We are at risk of losing the beef sector almost entirely which would lose an invaluable feed market for grain only producers. Plus as per the link below, it is quite foreseeable that pre-harvest applications of glyphosate on wheat may soon make that wheat unmarketable just as malt barley and milling oats cannot be sprayed pre-harvest.
Saskatchewan New Democrats understand that agricultural producers need to be able to adapt to market needs quickly. We want our Saskatchewan farmers to be on the cutting edge of agricultural development, strengthening our economy and reinforcing our international reputation as farming experts. We strongly support innovation in agriculture and crop science for the benefit of our producers and consumers.
The Saskatchewan Party government supports research and innovation into the agriculture industry including into genetically modified crops and new technological innovations. Research commissioned by the Global Institute for Food Security has already found Saskatchewan’s net carbon footprint for canola and wheat was more than 60 per cent lower than competing jurisdictions. This means Saskatchewan producers are already producing some of the most sustainable crops in the world.
This past summer, our government announced funding for the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute to provide engineering solutions for the agricultural sector and the broader industry. Our government also announced funding to support 15 strategic research chairs at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Agriculture and Bioresources through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Our government, in partnership with the federal government, also announced $14.7 million to support crop-related research in 2024.
We’re in favour of technological advances to make farming more efficient. We believe that the agricultural sector is the most important sector in any country, as people need food to survive. Thus, while we are comfortable with GMO crops, we believe that patent enforcement for them should be much more limited – a net good for humanity should be shared.
4. What is your party’s position on a carbon pricing system, including on a credit and debit system that acknowledges the significant carbon reductions being achieved by prairie grain growers through farming techniques and sequestering?
The carbon tax and all its tentacles need to be eliminated. However, our soils benefit from increased carbon content and these are good practices for improved soil health which every farm needs.
Saskatchewan New Democrats are firmly opposed to the federal carbon tax, and we consider it an ineffective climate measure and a burden on our agricultural producers. Saskatchewan New Democrats would be supportive of the development of a carbon offset program to ensure that producers’ efforts to sequester carbon are recognized and rewarded.
The Saskatchewan Party government has already removed the carbon tax from home heating. The Saskatchewan Party government also called on the Federal Government to pass Bill C-234 to exempt propane and natural gas from the carbon tax if it is used to dry grain or climate control in barns and livestock buildings. Premier Scott Moe and the Saskatchewan Party will keep fighting the Liberal-NDP carbon tax until it is removed from everything for everyone.
The Saskatchewan Party recognizes and celebrates our producers for the work they do to sequester carbon. Saskatchewan’s net carbon footprint for canola and wheat was more than 60 per cent lower than competing jurisdictions. We support our producers in having their sustainable products recognized. Through our international trade offices, the Saskatchewan Party government will continue to promote our products as some of most sustainably produced products in the world.
We are in favour of carbon pricing, including a credit and debit system. Land is valuable, but so is a stable climate – we are in favour of providing fiscal incentives for prairie growers to sequester carbon in a variety of ways. Methods may include no-tilling, preserving grasslands, and preserving wetlands. Wetland preservation is important to us, as the current government has been allowing and even accelerating the mass draining of them through irresponsible Water Security Agency policies.
5. What is your parties position regarding Business Management Practices (BMP) being incorporated into agriculture Business Risk Management (BRM) programs?
BMP stems from the carbon tax and similar woke ideology. The Buffalo Party is against the carbon tax and the associated burdens.
Saskatchewan New Democrats are open to exploring the expansion of BRM programs to include Beneficial Management Practices that prove to be effective and feasible for producers. We would also be open to exploring new ways to support producers in making their operations more resilient to the impacts of climate change, drought, and flooding.
The Saskatchewan Party has a strong record of fully funding Business Risk Management Programs and is always looking for opportunities to enhance these programs. We are open to working with industry groups on best practices going forward surrounding this topic.
Currently, there are programs like the Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program and the Resilient Agriculture Landscape Program to assist producers in making their operations more resilient to weather events and unforeseen circumstances.
We don’t currently have a position on this topic. We are open to dialogue with industry to identify which programs need to be changed, and which systems should be adopted.
6. As the next provincial government, what would your top priorities be for farmers and the agriculture industry in Saskatchewan?
Establishing proper oversight and a new royalty revenue steam from mega sized farms such as the 100,000 acre plus land owning corporations. The ownership of Saskatchewan farmland is a mess and a severe risk to Saskatchewan’s autonomy.
Our top priority is making sure that our Saskatchewan farmers are able to be successful. To do that, our party is committed to helping producers secure access to new markets, ensuring business risk management programs continue to provide supports, and growing opportunities to create more value added agriculture jobs in Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan Party will always prioritize agriculture and our producers. Our priorities in agriculture include the following:
- Continue promoting our world class producers and their products around the world.
- Attract investment in processing and manufacturing.
- Fund cutting edge research at institutions like the Global Institute for Food Security, the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina.
- Continuing to have producers backs when things get tough through strong, fully funded business risk management programs and continuing to enhance those programs through consultations with producers.
We would look to industry and farmers themselves for direction. We understand that there are diverse opinions in the ag community. One direction would be to provide financial incentives to preserve wetlands, grasslands, and manage other carbon sequestration approaches. We would also support programs so that communities will work with local farmers to compost food and yard waste, reducing waste hauling and landfill methane.
7. Modern agriculture depends upon the rapid flow of data. Access to high-speed broadband is lacking in most parts of rural Saskatchewan. What is your party’s position on building a reliable, fast broadband network across the province?
Crown corporations such as SaskTel are being driven by agendas that go against their core functions and The Buffalo Party is fighting to get them focused on business. Here are some examples of what we have uncovered:
Reliable connectivity is an important economic driver, but the Sask. Party has failed to deliver broadband internet to rural households and businesses, despite calls from the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities and the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association. Saskatchewan New Democrats are committed to developing a Broadband Infrastructure Strategy to improve rural internet coverage and speed across Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan Party government is investing into rural fibre and connectivity. The Rural Fibre Initiative is a multi-phase program that will see SaskTel invest more than $1 billion to bring its fibre optic broadband network to 225 communities and nearly 85% of all homes and
businesses across Saskatchewan. SaskTel anticipates all communities included in the Rural Fibre Initiative will be fibre-ready by the end of 2027.
SaskTel is also investing $439.8 million of capital across Saskatchewan in 2024/25 and more than $2.0 billion over the next five years. These investments will ensure families and businesses throughout the province have access to the advanced communications networks and technologies they need to connect to the world. This investment includes upgrades to 200 cell sites serving rural communities as well as major highway corridors and other rural areas.
We recognize there is more work to do on rural connective and a re-elected Saskatchewan Party is committed to doing that work.
We are in favour of doubling rural cell tower coverage. This would benefit everyone, as it would reduce coverage “dead zones”, and improve safety in emergency situations – nobody should be stranded in a blizzard without cell phone service. Improved service coverage would also provide more accurate GPS/GNSS signals for autonomous farm equipment.