CANORA – “I’m humbled and grateful for the opportunity.”
After only being elected as Canora-Pelly MLA about a year earlier, Sean Wilson found out in December that he had been appointed Minister of SaskBuilds and Procurement, and Minister responsible for the Global Transportation Hub Authority for the Saskatchewan Government.
“Any government capital project goes through my office,” said Wilson, explaining his new responsibilities. “That includes hospitals, schools, any new buildings. I work with the partner ministries, such as the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Highways, to achieve ‘the best bang for your buck’ on new capital facilities. Of course, we have these types of buildings in the Canora-Pelly riding.”
His responsibilities include the ongoing project in working on the concept and design of the new Yorkton hospital.
When asked about making improvements to the infamous Buchanan Highway 5, the reigning ‘Worst Highway in Saskatchewan’ according to the CAA Worst Roads Campaign, Wilson said there is no definite time line yet but he “lobbies the Highway Minister as an MLA.”
Wilson did mention that there is a project going forward to repair Highway 49 from the junction of Highway No. 9 to just east of Norquay.
He said his background, prior to being elected Canora-Pelly MLA, was helpful in being chosen for his new position.
“I have 30 years of experience in building highways, getting value for contracts, capital builds, working on procurement models. I have history working in infrastructure.”
After the completion of 2025, his first full year as Canora-Pelly MLA, Wilson said he has thoroughly enjoyed “going to events and meeting people. For example, I was just in Kamsack as part of Literacy Week, reading a book to kids there along with Mayor Beth Dix.
“A big part of my job is listening to people, and over the past year there was a lot of concern about the Canola tariffs. So the recent tariff agreement with China was a big highlight. I recently visited the big canola plant in Yorkton, and it really impressed me how our region is adding value to things like canola through processing. That’s how you increase the value of something, by processing it here.”
Wilson said another major concern he has heard around the riding is the high cost of living.
“We’re always looking for more economic activity. Increasing economic activity gives us more money for education, health, social services, and so on.”
Wilson said when he was first elected as Canora-Pelly MLA, he missed being the mayor of the Village of Buchanan, but then he realized, “It’s kind of like Buchanan grew into the whole Canora-Pelly riding. I can get to know more people, see their success stories as well as what needs to be done.”
With his new responsibilities as Minister of SaskBuilds and Procurement, and Minister responsible for the Global Transportation Hub Authority, Wilson said he has discovered an important partner just next door in the Kelvington-Wadena riding.
“Chris Beaudry is the Minister of Energy and Resources and he is really talented. His job is to bring investment to Saskatchewan, so I am really looking forward to working together with him on present and future projects.”
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