Sask. premier prefers to focus on promising economic trends in 'State of the Province' speech
Taking the stage in a city that has been the province's hotspot during COVID-19's fourth wave, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe delivered his "State of the Province" speech.
Last week Moe revealed some ICU patients would be transferred to Ontario to help relieve pressure on Saskatchewan's healthcare system and miltary help was announced for the province over the weekend.
Moe, while acknowledging the province is finding its "way through what's been a very, very tough fourth wave of COVID-19," signaled he wanted to focus on positive economic trends.
"The progress that we're seeing as we deal with significant challenges in this global pandemic," Moe said.
The keynote address at a Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce luncheon comes ahead of Moe's forthcoming throne speech scheduled for Wednesday.
Before he started his speech, Moe joked that he's "still struggling on when to shake hands and when not to shake hands" as Nutrien CEO Mayo Schmidt wrapped up the premier's introduction and handed off the podium.
Moe began by praising Schmidt's recent appointment to the potash giant's top job before pivoting to the pandemic and the challenges it has posed for businesses.
"We're living through a lot in a very short period of time, it hasn't been easy," Moe said.
He thanked health-care workers and reiterated his stance that unvaccinated people are responsible for the current COVID-19 surge in Saskatchewan.
Moe also referenced calls for limits on gathering sizes to help lower the number of new cases and stave off a potential winter surge in cases as more people spend time indoors.
Moe said he didn't think it would be right to impose "sweeping restrictions or sweeping orders" on those who have "done the right thing" by getting vaccinated.
The Premier spent the bulk of his speech trumpeting positive economic stories.
"I think we should all be focused on our future as we find our way to better days," Moe said at one point.
New canola crushing plants in Regina, a resurgent forestry sector and the success of Saskatchewan technology firms were among Moe's highlights as he made his case why "this coming decade will be Saskatchewan's decade."
The premier got a chuckle from the audience at one point when he alluded to a forthcoming "helium action plan" to help the industry grow in the province.
"I just want be clear I'm not announcing that program today, I'm just going to float that trial balloon out there and see how it goes."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.