Saskatchewan Office

Just one day after the May 2nd federal election, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz made it clear that the Conservative government would move to eliminate the Canadian Wheat Board's single-desk marketing power with legislation as soon as this fall.

As Canada's largest farm marketing board, the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) represents perhaps one of the biggest, oldest and most stable collective bargaining units in the country. Helen Forsey and Simon Enoch discuss the dire consequences that will result for Canadian producers and consumers alike if Harper's vision for the CWB becomes reality. 

View the document here

SImon Enoch, Director of the Saskatchewan Office, comments on the creeping privatization of the provincial crowns. View the editorial in the Regina Leader-Post here. 

The Saskatchewan Office has just released a new edition of SaskNotes, detailing the success of the inaugural year of  the Next Up Youth Leadership program in the province.  Over the past six months, we have watched the Next Up participants blossom into young leaders who will surely impact the political direction of our province in the future. The Next Up program is a unique program that teaches progressive values of economic justice, social equity and environmental sustainability to the next generation of social change leaders.

Our graduating class comprises 13 young adults with aspirations to leadership in the non-profit sector, the environmental movement, communities of faith, First Nations and Metis communities and trade unions.

To learn more about the program and the participants, visit here.

Moving Medicare Forward presents the argument for an expanded, truly equitable public health system in Canada. Featuring Saskatchewan's own Roy Romanow, Rosalee Longmoore and Steven Lewis, along with public health advocates Michael Rachlis and Danielle Martin, this video offers us a positive vision for the future of medicare and the health of all Canadians.

View the video here. 

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Saskatchewan Office today released Exploiting Saskatchewan’s Potash: Who Benefits? by John W. Warnock. The new report considers the history of potash exploitation in the province with an eye to answering the question of whether the people of Saskatchewan are receiving the full benefit from the exploitation of this strategic natural resource.

With the recent controversy over the proposed BHP Billiton takeover bid of PotashCorp, the question of ownership of Saskatchewan’s vital natural resources are again front and centre. Warnock argues that to ensure that Saskatchewan receives the full benefit of its natural endowment, we must move to a more democratic form of resource ownership and management.

        To view the press release, visit here.

        To view the full report, visit here.