REGINA — Federal Liberal cabinet ministers from Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government have been busy over the last several days making stops in the province of Saskatchewan.
On issues ranging from defence to small business to manufacturing to agriculture, ministers were throughout the province making announcements on a host of topics — something not lost on Saskatchewan’s lone Liberal MP in Ottawa, Secretary of State for Rural Development Buckley Belanger.
“I can tell you the last week we have been to a number of events throughout Saskatchewan,” Belanger said on Thursday at a government event north of Regina. “And it is tremendous to see that kind of effort and focus.”
Here is a rundown of some of the activity of the federal ministers in Saskatchewan this week:
On May 15, federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon was in Saskatchewan for a keynote address to the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce in Saskatoon on the topic of Building Canada’s Export Future.
On May 19, Defence Minister David McGuinty made the major announcement at 15 Wing Moose Jaw that this would be the final season for the Snowbirds current CT-114 Tutor jet aircraft fleet, and that the Department of National Defence will procure the CT-157 Siskin II (Pilatus PC21) for the Snowbirds to take flight sometime in the early 2030s.
On May 19 and 20, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald was in Saskatchewan. On May 19 he was in Saskatoon where he visited the University of Saskatchewan and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, among others, and on May 20 he was in Regina for the Cargill Regina Canola Processing Facility ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration. Also scheduled had been meetings with his provincial counterpart David Marit.
Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, was in Regina to tour Saskatchewan Interactive Media Association Inc., a non-profit provincial professional organization who create and support interactive media producers, developers and designers, according to the government’s news release.
The visit highlighted the government’s Creative Export Strategy which the government states has helped over 3,200 businesses and organizations across Canada in reaching 120 international markets. The application period for Creative Export Canada’s 2026-2027 Export-Ready Stream has been launched with an application deadline of June 10.
Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism) Rechie Valdez was in Saskatoon this past week to announce over $2.3 million in funding for two Saskatchewan-based organizations, aimed at helping Black entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses: Black Professionals and Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc. and the Coalition of Black Small & Medium Enterprises.
The next day, May 20, Valdez was in Regina, where she and Secretary of State Belanger toured District Brewing Co., to highlight a two-year extension to excise tax relief measures being offered to brewers, distillers and winemakers to combat tariffs and cost pressures.
Finally, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister for PrairiesCan Eleanor Olszewski was in Regina May 21 for a noon-hour event at the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, including questions and answers from the many business people and entrepreneurs in the audience at the DoubleTree by Hilton.
Soon after, she and Secretary of State Belanger were at the announcement north of Regina of $8.1 million in funding support through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative, aimed at boosting trade and at helping steel manufacturing in Saskatchewan.
The general response from the business community has been receptive, with steel manufacturers and the craft brewers at District Brewing Co. particularly welcoming the announcements aimed at tariff relief for those industries.
“Financial support like this is critical,” said Marland Ottenbreit of manufacturer DynaIndustrial GP Inc. on Wednesday. DynaIndustrial received $1 million as part of that funding announcement.
“It allows us to move forward with confidence during a time of transition and it enables us to invest in advanced technologies, improve productivity and strengthen our position in both domestic and international markets. It's also reassuring to know that we are not alone in facing these challenges, that the federal government recognizes them and is here to support Canadian manufacturers as we navigate this environment.”
But it wasn’t a completely rosy reception for the government this week. The Snowbirds announcement has drawn particularly mixed reviews, including a negative response from the Snowbirds Alumni Association who were critical of the decision to ground the Snowbirds fleet for an extended period.
At the Chamber event in Regina, Minister Olszewski heard from one attendee who made clear his disappointment with news that the Snowbirds would be on hiatus into the 2030s. Olszewski pledged she would take that feedback back to the government.
In speaking to reporters this week in Regina, Olszewski — who originally is from Swift Current — pointed to the importance of federal ministers visiting Saskatchewan and listening to Saskatchewan people.
“Well, I think that all of us recognize the importance of the prairies to the Canadian economy, and particularly for me, as the minister responsible for PrairiesCan, I am the voice. I am the voice of the prairies in terms of that portfolio, as well as in terms of myself being the regional minister from Alberta. So, it's fundamentally important for me to make sure I understand what's going on on the ground in Saskatchewan, and then I communicate our government's priorities to the businesses and people in the province as well.”
Minister Valdez also pointed to the importance of being in Saskatchewan. Like Olszewski, Valdez has credited Belanger for his promotion of the province at the national level.
“Again, this is, I think, either my third or fourth time here. But of course, this individual right beside me, Secretary of State Buckley Belanger, has certainly been advocating strongly for Saskatchewan, to come out to the region to hear on the ground what's been going on,” Valdez said.
“And I think even for myself, with the three files I have — we have women and gender equality, small business and tourism, meeting with small businesses on the ground. Yesterday, we were with three farmers, an incredible small business in terms of manufacturing chickpeas and snacks there in the region. So we're here to listen.
“Earlier today, I met with Minister (Alana) Ross on the women and gender equality side. These conversations are needed. The western region of Canada is vitally important. And we want to hear directly from you so that we can make sure we can continue to advocate in Ottawa for your needs.”
Belanger said he was “very pleased that the Minister and ministers have visited our great province.”
“And I can tell you, we boast about Saskatchewan in Ottawa on a regular basis. And we hear it all the time that Saskatchewan has so much to offer. And we've had ministers visit the province over the last number of years, as the minister spoke about. But the important thing is to come out and showcase on every opportunity we have as a province to invite federal ministers here, show them what we have.”
