WESTERN PRODUCER — Saskatchewan is planning a strong presence at COP28 in United Arab Emirates later this year to showcase the sustainability efforts of the province’s farmers and other industries.
The trip was announced during the Oct. 25 throne speech read by Lt.-Gov. Russ Mirasty to open the fourth sitting of the legislature. This is likely the last sitting before the next provincial election.
“The premier and Saskatchewan will have a significant presence at the COP28 Conference in the United Arab Emirates, where we will join with Saskatchewan companies in promoting our province’s sustainable products to representatives from virtually every country in the world,” the speech said.
“COP28 will be a tremendous opportunity to promote sustainable Saskatchewan products and to build and protect our export markets by providing the environmentally friendly goods and commodities the world is looking for.”
The climate change conference takes place the first two weeks of December in Dubai.
Premier Scott Moe said countries should buy the most sustainable goods they can find.
“And in many cases, whether you be a Canadian or someone in 150 other countries around the world, you’ll find those goods are produced in Saskatchewan, whether it be oil, whether it be mining products, whether it be agri-food products,” he said during a news conference.
The government will stand alongside industries as they tell their stories to the world, he added.
Moe cited a Global Institute for Food Security study that found wheat and canola are grown in Saskatchewan with 65 percent lower carbon emissions than the next seven largest producers in the world. For field peas, emissions are 92 percent lower.
“When you’re buying your Shreddies and your Quaker oats, you should make sure they were produced in Saskatchewan,” said Moe.
The speech said that the value of agri-food exports in 2022 was $18.2 billion, just shy of the 2030 goal of $20 billion. In the first six months of this year, ag exports were more than $10 billion and on pace to beat the record.
It noted irrigation acres continue to rise, as is value-added revenue in meat processing and animal feed, and said agriculture remains the backbone of the province’s economy.
“Overall our agriculture industry posted a third consecutive record year of agri-food exports in 2022 and is on track to set more records this year,” it said.
However, it also acknowledged drought in 2023 caused mixed results for farmers and ranchers.
The government is developing an Investment Attraction Strategy to build emerging sectors and expand existing industries.
It has signed a memorandum of understanding with Alberta and Manitoba to improve the transportation system and strengthen economic corridors with a view to ensuring competitiveness and domestic capacity.
Asked what farmers could take away from the speech, Moe said they too will benefit from the removal of PST on new home construction, retroactive to April 1.
The government intends to introduce a secondary suite program to help homeowners who want to build rental suites within their primary residences. It plans a new Action Plan for Mental Health and Addictions and will expand mental health Rapid Access Counselling, which is already available for adults in 24 communities, to adults and children in 13 more: Estevan, Weyburn, Carlyle, Oxbow, Regina, Saskatoon, North Battleford, Humboldt, Prince Albert, Kindersley, Yorkton, Swift Current and Moose Jaw.
New commitments for health facilities include the new long-term care facility in Grenfell and one in La Ronge, as well as planning for Estevan and Watson.
Planning money has been set aside for a new Rosthern hospital, Battlefords District Care Centre and Esterhazy Integrated facility.
The speech said more people have been hired to staff health care facilities, and the rural and remote recruitment incentive has been a success.
The government will also expand its Nursing Loan Forgiveness Program to those who choose to work in Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Yorkton and the Battlefords.
Legislation will be introduced to raise the legal consumption age for smoking and vaping from 18 to 19, and the Saskatchewan Remembrance
Observance Act will protect an individual’s right to wear a poppy in all Saskatchewan workplaces.
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