REGINA — Provincial political attention is turning to more domestic matters with the wrap-up of Premier Scott Moe's European tour.
The Saskatchewan delegation, whose tour included stops in Czechia, Belgium, France and finally Poland, officially headed home on June 19 following an eventful week and a half.
Among the highlights of the week was Moe signing a memorandum of understanding with Poland on Tuesday. The government said in a release that the MOU is to advance collaboration in nuclear energy development.
"Saskatchewan is strengthening global partnerships and helping power the future," Moe said in a post on social media this week.
"Today, we signed an agreement with Poland to advance nuclear energy development, workforce training, research and supply chain opportunities. As the world’s leading source of high-quality uranium, Saskatchewan is well positioned to support energy security, innovation and economic growth at home and abroad."
It was, in many ways, a low-key week for the government, with the premier still out of the country. While the European tour continued abroad, back home in Saskatchewan, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Lori Carr was opening 15 new mobile recovery spaces in Yorkton.
The province said the new spaces now put the total at 370 of the 500 new spaces pledged by the province under the Saskatchewan Action Plan for Mental Health and Addictions.
Highways Minister Kim Gartner also announced this week the provincial government's annual allocation of $1 million in infrastructure investments for short-line rail at a media event near Swift Current.
Meanwhile on Friday, Crown Investments Corporation Minister Jeremy Harrison was joined by Crown sector presidents and CEOs and board leadership in Meadow Lake to highlight employee efforts over the past year.
The Friday announcement comes in advance of next Tuesday's scheduled release of the annual reports for the Crowns at a news conference in Saskatoon.
It is expected that announcement, as well as the release of the Provincial Auditor's reports that same morning in Regina, will draw attention from the provincial New Democrats looking to pounce on the latest findings from those reports.
In advance of those releases, the NDP spent the week continuing to blast the government for what they call a lack of accountability on the Crowns, and particularly SaskPower. On Friday, energy critic Sally Housser was demanding the government recall the Standing Committee on Crown and Central Agencies to scrutinize the annual reports of the Crowns.
"Open the books, answer the questions, tell the people of Saskatchewan the truth," Housser said.
As well, the NDP spent the week criticizing the government over the MNP report released last week into the province's preparations and handling of the wildfire situation last year. The NDP had demanded Moe apologize and fire Tim McLeod, the previous minister in charge of the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency during the crisis, from cabinet.
Moe did not indicate there would be any resignations from leaders in charge of the SPSA in a conference call with reporters Monday. However, that changed by the weekend.
Reports on Saturday were that Steve Roberts, SPSA vice president of operations, will be leaving his role at the end of June. There is no word yet of other leadership departures.
On Thursday, Opposition Leader Carla Beck and NDP MLAs were in Prince Albert, where they knocked on doors and raised issues connected to the wildfire response, the upcoming childcare funding changes, and health care.
The NDP held a Your Care, Your Say town hall meeting Thursday at the exhibition grounds that evening. The party said in a release that Beck made a commitment to delivering a credible plan to staff the Victoria Hospital expansion.
