Sask. gov't disputes Opposition's claims of local procurement misrepresentation

Laura Sciarpelletti · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 24, 2025 7:39 PM EDT | Last Updated: 29 minutes ago

Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP claims the state has been misrepresenting its procurement practices by categorizing out-of-province businesses arsenic Saskatchewan-based.

In response, the Sask. Party government said it's pursuing Canadian Free Trade Agreement criteria.

In an April government quality release, the state said 90 per cent of caller procurement was awarded to Saskatchewan companies.

On Tuesday, the NDP released documents obtained done a Freedom of Information (FOI) petition that the party says tell a antithetic story.

In a quality release, the NDP said SaskBuilds reported awarding 666 contracts successful the 2024–25 fiscal year. The FOI shows the fig of businesses classified arsenic "Saskatchewan-based" was "significantly inflated," the NDP said.

The Opposition said 51 per cent of contracts went to companies headquartered successful Saskatchewan, and lone 58 per cent of full declaration dollars went to those Saskatchewan-based firms. 

Meanwhile, the NDP said businesses labelled arsenic "Saskatchewan-based" by the province include Crumb Rubber Manufacturing (CRM), based successful Newport Beach, Calif., and Mitsubishi of Canada, headquartered successful Ontario. 

"Anybody connected the thoroughfare volition archer you that you can't conscionable telephone immoderate institution a section concern conscionable due to the fact that they've got a P.O. container here. That's not however it works," NDP jobs and system professional Aleana Youngsaid at a quality league Tuesday morning.

"Not lone is this dishonest and a betrayal of Saskatchewan workers and businesses, it's besides portion of a disturbing signifier of behaviour with this government. Say 1 thing, bash another." 

Young said tariffs from the U.S. and China marque it more important than ever to "stand up" for provincial workers and businesses.

"Earlier this month, the Sask. Party softly walked backmost their expected Sask. First procurement argumentation — a determination that, combined with today's revelations, confirms that they were ne'er committed to supporting section businesses," she said. 

Province says it's pursuing national guidelines

In an emailed connection to the media early Tuesday afternoon, the Saskatchewan authorities called the NDP's quality merchandise an "irresponsible onslaught connected Saskatchewan workers."

"Under the NDP definition, they wouldn't see companies similar Evraz to beryllium Saskatchewan companies. They accidental they enactment Saskatchewan alloy workers, but don't deliberation they should beryllium allowed to bid connected Saskatchewan work," the state said successful the statement.

The NDP changeable retired a 2nd quality merchandise connected the substance soon aft the state responded.

"We cognize that Evraz Regina makes immoderate of the champion alloy successful the world, and we person called connected the authorities for years to usage Saskatchewan alloy successful each imaginable project," Young said successful the release.

The state said its authorities procurement policy uses the explanation for a Saskatchewan-based institution laid retired successful the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, meaning the definition comes from the Government of Canada itself.

It said businesses gathering the pursuing criteria are considered Saskatchewan-based:

• Have a spot of concern successful Saskatchewan wherever regular concern activities are conducted connected a imperishable basis, is intelligibly identified by sanction and is accessible during mean concern hours.

• Employ Saskatchewan residents oregon sole proprietorship owned by a Saskatchewan resident.

• Be a registered concern successful Saskatchewan with an Information Services Corporation illustration oregon equivalent.

According to the Sask. Party's quality release, SaskBuilds and Procurement awarded astir $689.5 cardinal successful procurements this fiscal year.

It said that astir 90 per cent of that value, oregon $617.6 million, was awarded to Saskatchewan-based companies, astir 10 per cent of that worth was awarded to businesses from different provinces successful Canada, and astir 0.1 per cent of the procurement worth was awarded to companies from the United States.

"The NDP presumption connected procurement would exclude galore Saskatchewan companies from bidding connected Saskatchewan work. These companies employment thousands of Saskatchewan employees that physique our province, wage taxes and put successful section communities."