News Friday of Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) indefinitely pausing its renewable diesel facility and joint venture canola crush projects came just days after the future of Viterra’s canola crushing plant was put in jeopardy following the merger with Bunge. The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, Grain Growers of Canada, and others, strongly oppose the merger while the Sask. Party government has said nothing.
"Where are these guys?” said Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck. “The Sask. Party is the first to show up with golden shovels for a photo-op but as the province loses billions, they’re missing in action.”
The FCL project was supposed to bring 2,500 construction jobs, 300 permanent jobs, and $4.5 billion in economic benefits to Saskatchewan.
While Scott Moe and the Sask. Party have claimed to stand up for Saskatchewan, it’s clear they’re more interested in out-of-province company profits:
“[...] if the members opposite think for one minute that myself or this Ag minister or this government or the MLAs on the governing side are not going to stand up for the agriculture industry and the ag producers and all of those that are involved, whether it be in downtown Saskatchewan or across this great province, Mr. Speaker, they got another thing coming.” - Scott Moe, Premier of Saskatchewan, May 2, 2024
Premier Moe has not made a single comment standing up for the province’s agriculture producers. The University of Saskatchewan estimates the Viterra-Bunge merger alone will cost crop producers $770 million in annual revenue.
Premier Moe and Sask. Party Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison’s sudden silence coincides with lobbying efforts by a Calgary-based political insider and Sask. Party donor on behalf of Bunge.
“There hasn’t been a single crop producer I’ve talked to who has said that this merger will increase competition and increase revenue here in Saskatchewan,” Beck said. “It’s just shipping the profits of grain farmers out of the country. This is once again the Sask. Party putting the profits of out-of-country international companies over the livelihoods of Saskatchewan producers.”
Beck and Saskatchewan New Democrats have been advocating for the removal of PST on construction of value-added projects like the canola crushing plants to build more made-in-Saskatchewan products right here in Saskatchewan, addressing cost concerns raised by FCL.
“It’s time we had a government that actually stands up and focuses on those working hard to put food on tables rather than c-suite executives in the United States,” said Beck.
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