SASKATCHEWAN NDP CALLS ON PROVINCIAL, FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS TO SUPPORT MASSIVE EXPANSION OF RAIL LINES, PIPELINES, AND POWER LINES

Trade-enabling infrastructure critical to secure economic future of Saskatchewan, all of Canada: Beck

Today, Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck called on provincial and federal governments to support massive new investments to get Saskatchewan’s world-class exports to new markets and make our economy less vulnerable to potential U.S. tariffs.

“These last few months should be a wakeup call for all of us,” said Beck “Our future depends on making sure that Saskatchewan is less reliant on the United States and that we have greater access to overseas markets in Asia, Europe, Mexico, and South America. To do that, we need both levels of government to support investments in rail lines, pipelines, and power lines so we can get our exports to new markets.”

Beck noted that the choices of federal and provincial governments have left Saskatchewan more reliant on the United States and with fewer options to ship goods overseas. She called for urgent actions in upcoming federal and provincial budgets to prioritize investments in multiple types of trade enabling infrastructure:

New private and public investments are needed to expand rail and port capacity and ensure rapid, reliable movement of agricultural and mining products onto ships for international markets. Short line rail – which has been neglected by the Sask. Party government – needs to be improved rapidly.

A pipeline to the East Coast is needed to carry oil and gas produced in Western Canada to new markets in Europe, to get oil off rail cars, and free up rail capacity for agricultural, mining and other exports.

Electrical transmission lines into Alberta and Manitoba need to be repaired and expanded to sell power generated in Saskatchewan, and SaskPower’s plans to expand imports from North Dakota should be reevaluated in light of the current unpredictability.
Highway 1 should be twinned from coast to coast so that truckers can quickly and safely move goods across Canada without needing to enter the United States.

“We need serious investment in trade-enabling infrastructure to secure good jobs and a strong future for workers in Saskatchewan and across Canada,” said Mike Day, United Steelworkers Local 5890 president.

“Steelworkers know firsthand that when our economy depends too much on the United States, we’re vulnerable to tariffs, trade disputes and job losses. Expanding rail, pipelines and power transmission isn’t just about exports, it’s about ensuring long-term stability for working families.”

“If we want to keep the lights on, secure our country, and grow investment, we need to have a serious conversation about electricity,” said Aleana Young, Shadow Minister for Jobs & Economy, SaskPower. “Investing in transmission infrastructure in Saskatchewan has major economic benefits and will keep power rates stable for our neighbours and provide energy security for Canada. In the past, the federal government paid to build power plants in other provinces. Now, we need to connect Canada.”

“We need to focus on diversifying our markets – and that starts with building a pipeline to Canada’s East Coast,” said Sally Housser, Shadow Minister for Energy & Resources. “That’s something we can control as Canadians. We need to think about the tariff threat right in front of us while also thinking about the future of the energy industry and our energy security.”

“With federal and provincial budgets coming in just a few weeks, we must see meaningful investment in trade-enabling infrastructure,” Beck said. “We can never again be in such a position of weakness when it comes to the Americans and our economy. We need to take matters into our own hands and start building now to secure Saskatchewan’s future.”

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