Scott Moe talks trade, gov’t policy and wildfire prep as 2025 closes out

A year in review with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe.

Premier Moe would agree that 2025 was a transitional year, from the global order of trade relationships being upended to a new prime minister being sworn in to a truly devastating wildfire season. Saskatchewan’s premier reflects on the history that was made in 2025 and what is to come in 2026.

The list of tariffs facing Canadian industry seemingly grows by the day. During a year-in-review conversation with Lee Jones, Moe highlighted the challenges of a constantly changing trade environment with the U.S., China and India.

“Those are the three largest markets that Saskatchewan and Canada have,” Moe explained. “We are in a very challeng[ing] environment in the short term and it’s taking literally billions of dollars, not just out of the Saskatchewan economy, but tens of billions of dollars out of the Canadian economy.”

While speaking on trade, the premier credited the effort his government has taken to build relationships between Saskatchewan and international partners through assets like trade offices – arguing that his government’s approach to international relations will assist in today’s global environment.

“We want Canada to be at the negotiating table, to find our way through these challenges that we have that are impacting Saskatchewan farmers and more broadly impacting the Canadian economy,” he said.

Saskatchewan and Ottawa

It’s a perspective and method that is shared by the current federal government, according to Moe. Just a year ago, relations between Ottawa and Moe’s government could not have been more ice cold with former prime minister Justin Trudeau in the top job. However, with Prime Minister Mark Carney now at the helm, the relationship has seemingly thawed.

“Prime Minister Carney has certainly put Canada’s credibility in the international trade environment at the forefront of his government. That’s appreciated. We’ve always done that as a province, and it’s appreciated to see a prime minister that is moving into that space to regain some credibility at each of those negotiating tables,” Moe noted.

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Moe, who offered an olive branch in the form of a press conference the day after the election, has admitted that the federal-provincial relationship has improved immensely since Carney’s election.

Following Moe’s post-election press conference, arrangements were made to host the then upcoming first ministers meeting in Saskatoon – the first time in decades that the province had hosted a meeting of Canada’s premiers.

“That certainly is, I think, evident in the change of tone that we have taken as a government to the new prime minister and the federal government,” the premier added. “It’s not a perfect relationship and we don’t agree on everything, but I would say that it’s much more collaborative, much more productive, and the challenges that we’re facing are different.”

A record wildfire season

Saskatchewan’s summer was especially smoke filled in 2025 as the province suffered through an abnormally severe wildfire season.

A provincial state of emergency, thousands of evacuees and the loss of communities like Denare Beach and East Trout Lake were just some of the events that made headlines throughout the summer of devastation.

Moe said his government is looking ahead at preparations for next year’s fire season, while also waiting for the results of an external review of the province’s performance during the 2025 season. He noted that the government’s work on preparation begins with last year’s hardest hit community.

“I think Denare Beach is a place for us to work collaboratively with the federal government, Minister Belanger and the community on ensuring that we are fire smart,” he said. “… extend that fire smart program across the north so every northern community knows that they have the best chance of defending against if we have another terrible year like what we saw this last year.”

A new approach to addictions

Moe spoke extensively on the government’s efforts in the realm of quelling addictions. Critics have labelled the province’s new approach as “involuntary treatment.”

Moe defended the government’s actions, arguing the crisis caused by fentanyl and other toxic narcotics has caused untold stresses on the health care system and as a result, new approaches are needed.

“We need the recovery supports in place, but we also need the enforcement in place as well,” he said.

“If we can agree on the fact that when someone is struggling with mental health and all too often the subsequent addictions issue, that the street is not the place to be … and we need to work together to make every opportunity available for that individual to enter a recovery lifestyle in a provincial recovery facility that is the place to be.”

Looking ahead to the new year

While making sure to note the issues of the day, Moe’s outlook for the future is still a positive one.

“We live in an area of the nation that is growing on the economic side, and we have one of the strongest, if not the strongest, and quickest growing economy in the nation of Canada, and that is precisely what we’re able to use to make these investments on behalf of the people that we represent,” he noted.

“We’re very focused on, as I say, putting patients first, putting students first, and ensuring we remain the most affordable place in the nation to live, and doing so by using the proceeds of that economy to make those investments.”