Sask NDP Leader Carla Beck is calling on all major federal political parties to clearly commit to addressing the province’s top concerns after two federal leaders campaigned in Saskatchewan.
“Saskatchewan people head to the polls in just a few weeks and deserve to know where the federal party leaders stand on the key issues facing Saskatchewan,” said Beck.
In a letter sent on March 24 to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Liberal leadership hopeful Mark Carney, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Beck outlined a sweeping federal agenda focused on both immediate needs and long-term growth for Saskatchewan.
Beck is urging federal leaders to expand Saskatchewan’s access to global markets through investments in trade-enabling infrastructure such as ports, rail, pipelines, and power lines. She is also calling for the elimination of the federal carbon tax.
She is advocating for the protection of Regina-based jobs at Evraz by maintaining tariffs on Chinese steel, while simultaneously pressing for the removal of Chinese tariffs on Saskatchewan agricultural exports. Beck is also calling for the Trans-Canada Highway to be twinned from coast to coast, which she says would improve transportation safety and efficiency.
On healthcare, Beck wants to see increased federal healthcare transfers to reduce wait times and improve access, alongside continued and expanded coverage for dental care, contraception, and insulin. She is also calling for reform of the equalization formula to better account for natural resource revenues and the unique realities of rural communities.
Beck is urging Ottawa to sign a new childcare funding agreement as soon as possible to protect access to $10-a-day childcare and ensure the delivery of additional spaces. She is also calling for increased funding for school nutrition programs.
In terms of energy, Beck wants the federal government to invest in Saskatchewan’s future power generation and support a realistic path to achieving net-zero emissions. She is also advocating for the hiring of more RCMP officers to serve Saskatchewan communities and for the preservation of jobs at the Depot Division in Regina.
Beck emphasized the need to honour federal commitments to First Nations and Métis communities, ensuring equitable access to services on-reserve. Finally, she is calling for significant improvements in broadband and digital connectivity for rural and remote areas.
“These are not red, blue, or orange priorities — these are Saskatchewan priorities,” Beck emphasized. “We need a federal government that is focused on the future and delivers on what matters most to the people of Saskatchewan.”
As the federal campaign heats up, Beck’s call adds pressure on party leaders to clarify their positions on issues critical to voters in the province.
