Sask. Premier Scott Moe says his entire government believes in a “united Canada” and rejects discussions on western Canadian independence.
In a recent op-ed for the Globe and Mail, prominent Conservative politician Preston Manning highlighted deep-rooted feelings of Western alienation among voters in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Manning theorized that support for independence will only increase if the Liberals are re-elected April 28.
On Monday, Moe stressed that he does not support the ideas raised by the founder of the Reform Party, but admitted that western alienation is a real sentiment in Saskatchewan.
“We have many questions over the course of the last number of years and continue to have those questions going into this federal election campaign with respect to the policies that have been put forward first by Liberal — but always supported by the NDP — government here in in this nation,” said Moe.
Moe’s comments on Monday came after the Saskatchewan NDP attempted to get Moe to provide a yes or no answer on his support for western independence during question period.
NDP Leader Carla Beck said she was disappointed when the premier failed to provide clarity.
“Often I think I’m setting the bar pretty low. It’s a pretty straightforward question and the premier manages time and time again to crawl under those expectations,” said Beck.
Beck said she believes that western separatism is a divisive topic that has no place in the face of threats of annexation and a trade war by the United States.
Moe said he believes separatism and alienation are serious topics when pressed on why he wouldn’t answer the question in question period.
“I wanted the opportunity to come out and be very clear with you,” Moe said.
Moe highlighted how he believes the past decade of policies under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau — such as the federal price on carbon — only served to harm Saskatchewan and its interests.
Last week, Moe said that if government is formed by Liberal Leader Mark Carney, then he’d want to see changes.
“If that’s the path that they are going to continue to take, and that unconsented policy that is harmful to how we create wealth, jobs and opportunity in this province, then we are going to have a significant problem moving forward,” Moe said.
On Monday, Saskatchewan’s premier put the onus on federal party leaders to address the feelings of aggrieved Saskatchewan residents.
So far during the federal election campaign, no leader from the NDP, Conservative Party of Canada or Liberal Party of Canada has made a stop in Saskatchewan.
“What are you going to do different? What are you going to alleviate the concerns that in our case Saskatchewan residents have of not being respected by their federal government?” Moe said.
