Takeaway from Trudeau

Continued from Front

As he departed the Sherwood Co-op, Trudeau was greeted by booing and jeers from the protesters, but simply smiled and waved at them as he entered his automobile and headed off in the motorcade.

No meeting with Scott Moe again

During his last visit to Saskatchewan to a rare earth elements plant in Saskatoon earlier this year, Trudeau was criticized by Premier Scott Moe for failing to inform the Premier he was coming and not arranging a meeting.

As for why there was no meeting with Premier Moe this time either, Trudeau told reporters that they had reached out to Moe’s office in advance and was told he wasn’t in town that day. But Trudeau said he “very much looks forward to seeing him sometime in the future.”

Trudeau added that he thanked Moe for his “leadership particularly on health care,” noting his work as one of the three Premiers leading those talks.

RCMP Depot future

The future of the RCMP training Depot in Regina has been under the spotlight in the past number of days after a recommendation in the Mass Casualty Commission report into the killings of 22 people in Nova Scotia, to close RCMP Depot and replace it with a three year program offered across the country.

Trudeau said they would look “very carefully” at the report recommendations and while the Prime Minister spoke favourably about Depot, he was nevertheless non-committal regarding its future.

“Depot is a Canadian institution just as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are,” he said, citing the great work that Depot does. “We know how important it is for the local economy.”

But Trudeau added “we all recognize there have to be changes in how we move forward to ensure communities are safe.” He said those are conversations they will continue to have, and they will take things “one step at a time.”

Natural Resources Transfer Agreement furore

A major brouhaha that erupted in the past number of days came over the recent remarks to First Nations leaders by Justice Minister David Lametti that he would commit to looking at the Natural Resources Transfer Agreement.

That touched off a reaction from Prairie premiers including Premier Moe said.

Some demonstrators even drove in from Saskatoon to voice their support of the event.

“We’ve had drag protesters show up at our events … I was one of the first in-person drag story times at the Saskatoon public library, and we had some haters show up, and we just really need to show some solidarity with drag performers in our community,” drag monarch Killa Watt said.

“... some of my drag performer friends in Calgary had their shows rushed, you know like the different types of threats are escalating. It’s also (against) our queer and trans community. We just need to make sure we’re checking in on our communities,” they said.

Funds raised by the sold-out fundraiser event for Battleford’s branch of CMHA will support mental health in the Battlefords, Saskatchewan and Canada. that the Feds might review or overturn that agreement. The three premiers issued a joint statement calling on Trudeau to “immediately retract these dangerous and divisive comments.”

On Thursday Trudeau specifically said “we will not be touching the NRTA.”

“National resources are constitutionally directed to be the purview of the provinces. We are not putting that into question.”

But he did add that what was important was “we all be having real conversations about reconciliation,” and said that is what his government is committed to doing.

Revenue Canada strike possibility

On another issue that could impact Canadians waiting for their tax refunds, Trudeau was asked about the prospect of a strike by workers at Revenue Canada.

“We obviously want to ensure we’re doing everything we can to avoid a strike,” said Trudeau, saying “that’s why we’re working hard at the bargaining table.”

He added public servants had “worked incredibly hard” to deliver services and supports particularly through the pandemic, and acknowledged they faced challenges with the rising cost of living.

Derina Harvey May 6, 2023 7:30 pm

$2500ea + tax

Students $2125ea + tax

Derina Harvey leads the award-winning Celtic Rock sensation, the Derina Harvey Band (dHb), who were very well-received on their 2018 Saskatchewan tour. dHb returns this season with new original music and reimaginings of traditional folk songs - songs that are streamed over a million times per month across the globe. Derina’s vibrant personality takes centre stage with humour, storytelling, and her world class vocals. dHb has been likened to a “rockier” version of Great Big Sea... if fronted by Adele! They’ve brought their high- energy east coast kitchen party across North America, leaving many an audience out-of-breath and hollering from their seats!

For tickets: 306-445-7700 dekkercentre.com