REGINA — The Sask Party government is ending the procurement countermeasures that favoured Canadian suppliers and bidders over American ones.
The province had brought in the countermeasures as a retaliatory measure after the sweeping 25 per cent tariffs against Canada imposed by President Donald Trump in March.
Now, the province will return to the process it used before. The government provided this statement to Sask Today:
“The Government of Saskatchewan is returning to its standard procurement processes and documentation.
“This change was made to allow Saskatchewan people the option to choose whether they want to buy these products or consider alternatives.
“The Government of Saskatchewan has demonstrated its commitment to purchasing from Saskatchewan and Canadian suppliers and continues to encourage supporting Saskatchewan and Canadian products whenever there is an option to do so.”
The statement also noted that over the past five year period, the government had “awarded nearly 90 per cent of all procurements to Saskatchewan companies with more than 99 per cent of procurements awarded to Canadian companies, and less than one per cent awarded to US companies.”
When the province had brought in the procurement changes in March, Premier Scott Moe told reporters that goods and services procured by Government of Saskatchewan Ministries as well as Crown Corporations were “going to make every effort to prioritize Canadian suppliers.” A temporary pause was also placed on capital projects to “reassess how they are moving through the Sask Builds procedure.”
The decision to return to the previous procurement policy comes on the heels of the federal government quietly dropping a number of its own retaliatory tariffs against the USA, amid rumours of a potential trade deal being negotiated. It also comes on the heels of the decision this week by Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority to allow U.S.-made liquor to return to the shelves for sale in the province.
Opposition New Democrats have made known their dismay with the latest announcements. NDP Leader Carla Beck had this to say in a statement issued Thursday morning:
“It’s hard to believe — at a time when Donald Trump is doubling down on tariffs and attacking Canadian industries — that Scott Moe’s response is to sell out Saskatchewan workers and businesses.
“This is a complete reversal of what the Premier promised just months ago. He said he would stand up for Canadian workers. He said he would put Saskatchewan and Canadian businesses first. And now, he has broken his promise and is siding with Donald Trump, a man who constantly threatens to force us to become the 51st American state.
“This decision by the Sask. Party will send Saskatchewan jobs and Saskatchewan tax dollars south of the border — at the exact moment our steel industry is being hammered by 50 per cent tariffs. Scott Moe had a chance to show leadership, and he folded.”
