Sask. government spends $238K on ads for pavilion at COP28

The most expensive trip by government officials ever recorded in Saskatchewan history is adding another cost.

Saskatchewan is spending $238,000 on the advertising at Dubai airports and metros for the COP28 climate conference.

The week-long conference is taking place in the United Arab Emirates. It’s being recorded as the most expensive trip in Saskatchewan history, with an estimated cost of $765,000.

NDP Jobs Critic Aleana Young said these additional costs are difficult to justify.

“It’s another example of the steady drip, drip, drip of disorganization and a real lack of transparency that we’re seeing when it comes to this trip,” she said.

Young said these advertising costs are comparable to an average house price in Regina. For that money to be gone in the blink of an eye is something to question, she added.

“I think it is eminently reasonable to have some questions, especially during a generational affordability crisis,” Young said.

Jeremy Harrison, the minister of trade and export development, said the ads are not going to register as an additional expense. He noted the ministry has an annual advertising budget of $2 million to dip into.

Harrison said this trip and advertising will be worth it.

“This is absolutely something we need to be doing. Absolutely,” Harrison said. “Our ag producers know that if we are not out there working to sell their commodities that they work so hard growing and harvesting, those products aren’t out there getting sold. That’s why we are out here doing this.”

Young said the proof of the success of the conference will come after everyone returns home and whether it brings money, jobs and partnerships to the province.

Harrison said the provincial government needs to tell the world about Saskatchewan’s sustainable resources.

“If we are not there telling our story (and) talking about our sustainable resource production, Justin Trudeau won’t be doing it for us,” Harrison said.

According to Harrison, the investment was a necessary one. When Harrison asked the federal government to talk about a dozen topics at the Canadian pavilion, Saskatchewan was rejected.

Nearly 60 different organizations will be using the province’s pavilion. Young questioned why out-of-province entities on the guest list were using the pavilion on Saskatchewan taxpayers’ dime.

Young added she found it ironic the provincial government is going to a global climate conference when the Saskatchewan Party celebrated its own lack of care when it comes to climate change.

“I think it only adds to the questions that people have when it comes to this government spending $1 million of public money at the United Nations climate change conference,” she said.

The ads that are running in Dubai will be seen in Saskatchewan soon.

Travel expenses from the trip will be released as part of the quarterly travel disclosure.