The Saskatchewan Party government was grilled on the latest layoffs at EVRAZ in Regina during Question Period on Thursday.
NDP leader Ryan Meili says the loss of close to 600 jobs at the steel mill could have been prevented, accusing the province of not standing up for those workers.
Meili questioned where pipe for some of SaskEnergy’s projects is coming from.
“He talks about standing up for Saskatchewan, but that pipe is being built in northern Alberta with steel from outside of this country, not with steel that the workers who are out of work (Thursday) could have built,” Meili said. “He says he stood up for it. Why did he fail so badly when he called (Alberta Premier Jason) Kenney, when he called TC Energy, why did he get nowhere for our workers?”
Premier Scott Moe responded, saying SaskEnergy purchased 87,000 metres of 20-inch pipe last year. He adds pipelines need to get built in Canada.
“Each and every member of this caucus Mr. Speaker, of the government caucus of the province of Saskatchewan, will vocally — each and every time — advocate for the people that work in our energy industry, and the people that work in building pipelines to ensure that sustainable energy can get to other Canadians, can get to others in North America, and can get to other people around the world” Moe said. “I’d ask the leader of the opposition if he can say the same.”
Premier Moe was referencing Meara Conway, the newly-elected MLA for Elphinstone Centre, who in the past has voiced her opposition to pipeline projects such as Kinder Morgan.