Moe expresses concerns about Canada-India relationship

Premier Scott Moe is showing some concern over Canada’s relationship with one of Saskatchewan’s biggest trading partners after the last couple weeks of headlines.

A little over a week ago, the trade deal being hammered out between Canada and India was abruptly put on pause. Then, at the G20 summit in New Delhi over the weekend, the relationship between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seemed less than warm.

Moe said Tuesday his concerns are heightened because India is a large, emerging economy that’s going to be important to future exports from Canada and Saskatchewan in particular.

“We see that relationship between the prime minister of Canada and the prime minister of India deteriorate even more. That’s unfortunate and it would particularly be unfortunate if there was action to be taken, because that ultimately would impact Saskatchewan potash workers and Saskatchewan ag producers,” Moe said.

The premier said he thinks Saskatchewan, given its existing trade relationship, could lead the way for Canada to have a more collaborative and beneficial relationship with India.

Moe said he understands there may be other things at play between Canada and India other than economic interests.

“There’s no reason why — if (federal government officials) want to have a broader conversation about other issues with India — they aren’t capable of continuing on with the trade negotiations that are so important to Saskatchewan, but I would say by extension, certainly to all Canadians,” he said.

Moe is frustrated that the trade agreement between the two countries has been put on hold and that provinces haven’t been kept in the loop about why.

Saskatchewan has a trade office in India and Moe took a trip there earlier this year, but the premier said the federal government still has a role it needs to play.

“At the end of the day, when it comes to a formal trade negotiation and formal trade agreement, that is on a nation-to-nation basis and it was put on pause,” said Moe.

Saskatchewan’s trade and export minister, Jeremy Harrison, wrote a letter on Friday to the federal minister of export promotion, international trade and economic development to complain about the lack of information, but Moe said as of Tuesday morning there hadn’t been any response.