The opioid crisis, getting Saskatchewan’s resources to market and the lockout at the Co-op Refinery in Regina were a few of the topics discussed during the Municipalities of Saskatchewan, formerly known as SUMA, bear pit session on Wednesday morning.
Wakaw’s mayor, Steve Skoworodko commented that the Federated Co-op is restricting cardlock volumes on cards, which is affecting ambulance services and other emergency services in his area.
Premier Scott Moe agreed that the lockout and the illegal blockades around the refinery are not just impacting the Regina area.
The ripple effects are hitting the trucking industry, school buses and emergency services that need the access to fuel.
Moe says he hasn’t heard from FCL or Unifor about his offer to appoint a special mediator.

Mental health and addictions concerns were brought up by Humboldt city councillor Michael Behiel, with the rising opioid deaths and addictions cases across the province.
Health minister Jim Reiter says the government increased funding by $30-million in the last budget and he believes there will be more in the next, because it’s an issue of extreme concern.

Choiceland’s mayor, Robert Mardell wanted to know what the government is doing to help get resources to market, referring to whether there would be collaboration with Manitoba to upgrade the rail line or build a pipeline to the Port of Churchill.
Trade minister Jeremy Harrison says they are looking at all options to get products to market.
He cites $300-million a year is what the province loses in terms of revenue for the government and billions in terms of economic activity because of the lack of pipeline infrastructure in Canada.
Harrison also mentioned the Pipeline Project Assessment Committee appointed by Premier Scott Moe which will work to find options in order to get a pipeline built. (CKRM)