The Saskatchewan NDP claims that a major Sask. Party donor lobbied for Bunge prior to its merger with Viterra, which the party says will kill Saskatchewan jobs.

The NDP says the Saskatchewan’s Lobbyist Registry shows that Monte Solberg and his team have held potential meetings, phone calls and written communication with Premier Scott Moe and other senior members of the Sask. Party government on behalf of Bunge’s campaign to promote the “merger transaction with Viterra”.

An NDP news release says Solberg donates to the Sask. Party regularly, with his record displaying thousands of dollars in contributions since 2020.

Aleana Young, Shadow Minister for Jobs and the Economy, says because of the merger, “Producers are going to take a big hit on their incomes now that there’s less competition, with no control over where they sell their crops, or for how much. The loss of 200 head office jobs in Regina will be a gut punch.”

The release continues that the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan and other organizations representing producers have strongly opposed the merger. For example, the University of Saskatchewan calculated that the merger would cost farmers $770 million in lost revenues annually.