Many people know 2019 was a year of challenges and planning for future growth for Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and the provincial government.
Moe sat down with 620 CKRM recently for a year end interview to discuss the year that was and the year ahead, that also includes an election come October.
A big topic of discussion was the Sask. Party’s ten year growth plan announced this fall.
Moe said that includes reaching a population of 1.4-million by 2030, a goal they know is a lofty one.
“This is the recipe of success in this province, is if we’re able to continue to attract investment, creating jobs and adding value to our export based economy while providing that opportunity for people to move here from other parts of the world, but also providing our young people the opportunity to choose a rewarding career right here in the province of Saskatchewan, ” Moe said.
A possible future investment is nuclear power and small modular reactors.
Moe said when it comes to small modular reactors, they could provide an opportunity to add to the current emissions reduction goal of 40 percent for 2030.
“We have a 40 percent reductions target in our emissions by 2030, by going to some semblance of natural gas or coal with CCS (carbon capture and storage) and combining that with renewable’s, but if we were to put small modular reactors into the mix somehow it starts to change that target to something like a 70 percent reduction by 2030, or even 80 percent by 2040,” said Moe.
Throughout the year that was Moe was challenged by the opposition NDP on many fronts, including health care and surgical wait times at hospitals in Regina and Saskatoon.
Moe said the opening of the children’s hospital in Saskatoon is a start to a situation they are taking very seriously.
“It is addressing some of the wait times, this is something that the Ministry of Health and the Saskatchewan Health Association is taking very very seriously and making every effort to address, but the children’s hospital is something that is indicative of something that is only available due to the growth of our economy and then reinvesting the proceeds of that growth back into our community,” Moe said.
You can hear the entire interview with Premier Scott Moe New Year’s Day on 620 CKRM.
