December 20, 2024 | Advertise with us

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Premier Moe, NDP leader Beck, Lieutenant Governor Mirasty share holiday message

The Premier has shared his annual holiday message ahead of the Christmas and winter break.

On social media, Scott Moe said, “The holidays are here, and this is a special time where we get to enjoy time with family and friends, making joyful memories. From my family to yours, I wish you happy holidays, and a very Merry Christmas.”

In the video, Moe says, “As we gather with friends and family this Christmas season, let’s focus on these: faith, hope, and love. From my wife Krista, myself, from our family to yours, we wish you a very merry Christmas and a bright hopeful New Year.” The Premier’s full Christmas message can be read here.

NDP leader Carla Beck also shared a Christmas message. Beck said, “I know that they'll be sacrificing time with their own families this holiday season to keep us all safe. And I want to say thank you for all you do. Oh, this is the year that has flown by. Blink of an eye. But it really has been incredible on so many fronts over the last few months. I've had the absolute privilege of travelling right across this province, and while I've always been very proud to call Saskatchewan home, I find myself filled with an even deeper admiration and respect for the hard-working people right across this province.”

She ended by saying, “So, no matter where you live, who's at your table from all of us at the Saskatchewan NDP caucus, from our families to yours, I wish you a very merry Christmas and all the best in 2025.” You can read Beck’s full Christmas message here.

Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty shared what will be his final Christmas message in the role. Mirasty said, “For many of us everything is "merry and bright" as we make memories with our loved ones, but what is a joyous time for some, can be lonely for others. I applaud all of you who look out for your neighbours and offer a helping hand.” He finished with, “In closing, I am pleased to extend seasons greetings on behalf of His Majesty, King Charles the Third, King of Canada, and to share greetings with you in my first language of Woodland Cree. Nitha ikwa Donna ni-cawasimisinanak, nosisiminanak. Nipakosithitinan kahkithaw. Kita mitho makosikisikanisik. ekwa kita mitho ocimikisikansik. You can read his full message here.

From us at The SKoop, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

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The top political stories from Saskatchewan in 2024

This year has been full of political stories in the province of Saskatchewan. Here are some of the top stories that stood out, and what you should keep your eye on in the new year.

Saskatchewan Party wins fifth consecutive election; best showing for NDP in decades

The biggest political story in Saskatchewan this year was the provincial election. The Saskatchewan Party held on to win its fifth consecutive election, the second under the leadership of Premier Scott Moe. The party formed government, but saw its biggest losses ever and was wiped out of Saskatoon and Regina with one exception. The party’s bench was dramatically thinned when multiple party stalwarts stepped away. Notable figures like Don Morgan, Gord Wyant, Dustin Duncan, Donna Harpauer, and Don McMorris decided not to run again. Other prominent figures like Christine Tell, Paul Merriman, Laura Ross, and Gene Makowsky all lost their seats. Another longtime MLA and Speaker Randy Weekes left the party in a big way and endorsed the NDP. In 2025, keep your eyes on the leadership, if the Premier chooses to run again in the next election or if we will soon have a leadership race.

The NDP led by Carla Beck nearly doubled the size of the caucus to 27 elected members and revived themselves from the political wilderness.

Teachers embark on the longest job action in provincial history

Saskatchewan teachers continued to strike throughout the year, from the previous year. Class size and complexity issues were important to the Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation led by President Samantha Becotte. Other issues include the government’s ongoing legal battles with the ‘pronoun legislation’ or Bill 137 The Parental Bill of Rights that invoked the notwithstanding clause. In 2025, watch for the decision from binding arbitration. Both sides have presented their arguments and a contract will be announced in the new year.

New Mayors elected across the province, many incumbents defeated

The waves of change swept the province this year, with new faces in Mayor’s chairs across the province. In Saskatoon, Cynthia Block became the first female mayor after defeating former cabinet minister Gordon Wyant. In Regina, Chad Bachynski pulled off a huge upset with his grassroots campaign defeating incumbent Mayor Sandra Masters and financially backed Lori Bresciani. Bill Powalisnki defeated longtime Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne. In Moose Jaw it was James Murdock who defeated incumbent Clive Tolley. In Yorkton, Aaron Keinle beat incumbent Mitch Hippsley, and in Weyburn, Jeff Richards beat two-term Mayor Marcel Roy. In 2025, watch how these new faces navigate political issues in their communities for the first time.

In 2025 political news will continue to develop: an incoming US President who is promising 25% tariffs on Canada, a federal leader whose future is unknown, and ongoing global conflicts. Here at home teachers will see a new binding contract, health care and affordability continue to be top issues, and new faces elected municipally and provincially are sure to see a whole new set of issues.

Harrison rejects updated clean energy regulations

The Saskatchewan government is pushing back against the updated clean energy regulations proposed by the federal government.

Minister of Crown Investments Jeremy Harrison said, "Our government unequivocally rejects federal intrusion into our exclusive provincial jurisdiction over the electricity system. "Saskatchewan will prioritize maintaining an affordable and reliable electricity grid to support our regional needs and growth. The federal Clean Electricity Regulations are unconstitutional, unaffordable, and unachievable, and Saskatchewan cannot, and will not, comply with them."

Federal ministers Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, also released the document “Powering Canada’s Future,” which the federal government states “lays out our roadmap to build more affordable, reliable, and clean power to help meet growing demand.”

“Powering Canada’s Future is our plan to accelerate clean power development through a historic suite of investments, permitting actions, and the finalized Clean Electricity Regulations,” Guilbeault said in a statement. “This is a plan that cuts energy bills for Canadians while reliably meeting rising power demand, creating more good union jobs and saving the equivalent of 55 million cars’ worth of tailpipe emissions from polluting our air.”

The latest reports show that the deadline has been pushed back to 2050, which is more in line with what Saskatchewan and other provinces had been seeking.

Harrison added that the “Constitution of Canada is clear: provinces manage electricity systems… Our government will not risk the affordability and reliability of Saskatchewan's power grid because of the extreme policies of the Liberal government."

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Trudeau taking the holiday to weigh options, will shuffle cabinet today

This week has not been good for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Reports from sources close to his office, as well as international news stories have reported the Prime Minister is weighing his options in regards to his political future.

Another Liberal source with ties to Trudeau’s inner circle but not in government said the prime minister’s team is trying to sort out a path forward for him, and characterized that as “definitely operating in a manner to assert” having him continue on as leader.

"The prime minister, as I understand it, a number of caucus colleagues have said that the prime minister has said that he will reflect on both the decision that minister Freeland made, but also what he's heard from members of his own caucus," Jonathan Wilkinson said. "I think we all need to give him a little time to reflect, and I respect that fact that he's going to take some time to reflect."

The new Minister of Finance Dominic LeBlanc told the media that Mark Carney is not joining the government. Mr. LeBlanc, a New Brunswick MP, told Brunswick News that “Carney is not an option,” and “that discussion has concluded,” going on to say he has been given assurances by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the finance portfolio belongs to him.

The Prime Minister will shuffle his cabinet today to fill vacancies left from Ministers stepping away, not wanting to run again, and the fallout from Freeland’s resignation.

Following Chrystia Freeland’s bombshell resignation from cabinet on Monday, tanking poll numbers, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reflecting on his future, senior cabinet ministers—such as Tourism Minister and national campaign co-chair Soraya Martinez Ferrada—are also said to be considering opportunities beyond federal politics right now, according to Liberal sources. Multiple other cabinet ministers are rumoured to be considering their options, whether speaking out against Trudeau or not re-offering. including Mark Holland, Anita Anand, and Francois Philippe-Champagne. Eight Liberal MPs have publically called for Trudeau to resign.

In September, Jeremy Broadhurst, then the Liberal Party’s national campaign director, stepped down. The Toronto Star’s report suggested Broadhurst told Prime Minister Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) that he no longer believed Trudeau could win the next election and advised bringing in someone with confidence in a Liberal victory.

Notably, a biography of Chrystia Freeland will hit shelves today. The author believes Freeland would be Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s “most obvious successor,” because she “has accomplished so much and is, by all indications, not ready to stop.” This book, one suspects, is intended to help realize that future. The book was written prior to this week’s events.

In 2025, watch for the possible federal Liberal leadership race, or at the very least, the government to fail and a federal election to possibly be called in the spring.

More news and info

• 'We'll never be the 51st state,' Premier Ford says following Trump's latest jab (CTV News)

• ‘It’s a crisis’: Regina homeless count sees 824, double 2021 number (CKOM News)

• Will the Amazon strike impact Canadian deliveries? (CTV News)

• Regina has only had 5 homicides in 2024. Here's why the police chief thinks that is (CBC Saskatchewan)