SASKATOON — Unified Grassroots is looking to use a referendum for a sovereign Saskatchewan as leverage, which the provincial government could then utilize to negotiate better terms with Ottawa, which Western Canadians feel have been alienated by their policies.
Unified Grassroots held the first of many planned town hall meetings across the province on May 25 at Saskatoon’s Prairieland Park, where almost 200 people showed up and listened to organizer Nadine Ness’s explanation of the group’s mission.
Nadine Ness clarified with Â鶹ÊÓƵ that their non-profit group calling for a referendum is not a cry for immediate separation from the country but aims for a greater economy and to steer the province in the right direction of economic opportunity.
“If we were to define that, that would be having more economic opportunity for our children than we had. Having a future where they can own homes, or a future where they can find jobs. That's the core root of what we want,” said Ness.
“We need a list of demands that we would be happy with. But we want our province to start going in the right direction.”
However, Ness, founder and leader of one of Saskatchewan’s grassroots political movements, said that they want to clarify that what they are doing serves as a warning signal to Ottawa, as they are not ruling out separation.
She said Unified Grassroots is a non-profit organization, run by volunteers, and no one is getting paid. They crowdsource their funds from voluntary donations from people who support their cause, and a business or a person in the United States does not bankroll them.
She added that they do not see any hope in the federal government, under Prime Minister Mark Carney, based on the value system of the Liberal-led Parliament.
Ness said they want the current provincial government, led by Premier Scott Moe and the Saskatchewan Party, to stand up more for residents, whether through managing natural resources or handling immigration.
“Mark Carney said he would cap immigration at five per cent. That is still two million a year, but it is not sustainable when we can only build 250,000 homes yearly. So, there are many things we need to push back on as a province,” said Ness.
“The best way to do that is from a firm negotiating standpoint. When you can show that most of the province is willing to go to the level of separating, if things don't change, it sends a strong message to Ottawa.”
She said that collecting signatures is one way to let the country’s leaders know how many people are discontent with how the Liberals governed the country under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“If they know how many of us there are, that is a strong message because people's voices get hidden or go on the sidelines. That's why we started this organization: to give people a place to gather so that we could be in a stronger position to negotiate,” said Ness.
“Now, does that mean we separate from Canada? No, that's the last resort. We will try to work with Ottawa and get the current [provincial] government to work with Ottawa to get some of the things we believe we've been mistreated about.”
She added that they might consider electoral reforms, such as having better representation by electing senators instead of having them appointed by the governor general on the advice of the sitting prime minister.
“We're going to start asking for some of these changes. We're not going to go directly; we must separate. Do we support a referendum? Yes, because let's say we were to get yes in a referendum, and we get a yes,” said Ness.
“It doesn't mean automatic separation. What it forces, in essence, is for Ottawa to renegotiate new terms with Saskatchewan.”
She said she knows Moe would have his demands when he joins the other premiers in a meeting with Carney on June 2 in Saskatoon, which she hopes would be added to their own that will be presented, discussed and addressed.
