REGINA — Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is heading to India with Prime Minister Mark Carney this week as his province continues to be hit by steep tariffs.
Moe’s office said Tuesday he is flying with Carney to Mumbai and then New Delhi for the trade mission.
Carney’s office says he will meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss ways to expand their trading relationship.
“To achieve these objectives, the delegation includes a robust group of ministers, premiers and members of Parliament whose roles are specifically focused on Canada’s investment and trade goals at this important moment,” it said in a statement.
The delegation also includes cabinet ministers, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt and Matt Jeneroux, the former Conservative MP who recently crossed the floor to join the Liberals.
Last year, India imposed a 30 per cent tariff on Canadian yellow peas, causing a major blow to Saskatchewan’s agriculture industry.
The province has urged Ottawa to immediately negotiate with India to alleviate pressures.
The prime minister is travelling to Australia and Japan after his stop in India. Moe’s office says the premier will remain in New Delhi for the remainder of his trip.
Earlier this year, Moe had joined Carney on a trade mission to China. Both countries had agreed to see Beijing reduce tariffs on Canadian canola products in exchange for Ottawa lowering duties on Chinese electric vehicles.
NDP Leader Carla Beck said in an unrelated news conference Tuesday that she hopes Carney and Moe can come back with a deal.
“Get the tariffs off of peas,” she said. “I also hope that while he has time to be sitting with the prime minister, that we see some big announcements in this province about infrastructure.”
The trip comes ahead of the Saskatchewan spring legislative sitting, which is to start next week.
Beck said she will push the Saskatchewan Party government to do better on improving health care and education, while also urging more action to reduce crime.
She said affordability is also a concern.
“When the economy is doing well, people should bloody well feel it in their pocketbooks,” she said. “They’re not feeling that right now.”
The province is set to introduce its budget next month, and Moe has said his government is prepared to make tough fiscal decisions.
Beck accused the premier of wasting money and taking no responsibility for the growing provincial debt.
“With every dollar that is wasted in this province, that’s a dollar that is not put towards ensuring people in this province have the services they need,” she said.
The province’s last budget promised a $12-million surplus, but the latest figures show it’s now projecting a $427-million deficit.
Moe’s office declined to comment on Beck’s accusations, saying the premier will have more to say at a news conference Wednesday.
His government plans to pass various legislation this spring, including a bill that would force treatment on those battling addictions and another that promises to get tougher on those who sell drugs.
