Sask. NDP calls on province to ensure local workers benefit from infrastructure projects

The Saskatchewan Legislative Building is shown on Jan. 29, 2022. (Cole Davenport/CTV News Regina)

The Saskatchewan NDP has introduced a bill to ensure local workers benefit from infrastructure projects.

Bill 621, The Public Works and Services (Prioritizing Local Jobs) Amendment Act, was presented by NDP MLAs Sally Housser and Nathaniel Teed on Wednesday.

“Under this law, successful bidders for major government projects would be required to prioritize hiring Saskatchewan residents, building trades, affiliated workers, apprentices, and Indigenous people, and to publicly report on their progress throughout construction,” Housser explained ahead of Legislative Assembly.

Housser said the legislation would also require bidders on major public works project to set clear targets for hours worked by Saskatchewan workers, with those targets considered as part of the bidding process.

“Ultimately, this bill is about making sure Saskatchewan workers are building Saskatchewan projects. We need to be building a homegrown workforce so we can keep growing our economy for years to come.

“We think this is a common sense measure.”

Teed offered his concerns on the matter and his support for the bill.

“Too often, people see out of province licence plates lining job sites, while Saskatchewan workers are left out,” he said. “Other provinces have already taken steps to ensure local workers benefit from major projects.”

“It’s time Saskatchewan did the same.”

Teed and Housser reiterated their concerns during question period on Wednesday afternoon and called on the province to put workers first.

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“Saskatchewan is at such a critical moment for resource development and investment in infrastructure,” Housser said. “This critical time represents an opportunity to strengthen our local economies and workforce and ensure we are generating lasting benefits for our communities.”

Minister of SaskBuilds and Procurement Sean Wilson said the province does stand up for Saskatchewan companies and has been successful in awarding major contracts to local contractors.

“Over 90 per cent of our government procurement is awarded to Saskatchewan suppliers, and over the past five years, this government has awarded more than 99 per cent of procurements to Canadian companies with less than one per cent awarded to U.S. companies,” he said.

“SaskBuilds is always working to procure more Saskatchewan and Canadian goods while getting the best value for the taxpayer dollar.”

Housser said when public dollars are invested, Saskatchewan workers are the ones who must see the benefit.

“If this is something that the government is already doing out of the good of their hearts, they should have no problem putting it into writing,” she said.

According to the NDP, the bill would apply to public projects valued at $50 million or more.

Jeff Sweet, executive director of Sask Building Trades, endorsed the bill when it was introduced.

“We’ve waited a long time for legislated protection for Saskatchewan workers,” Sweet said. “This is critical, especially as the government turns to the development of major, game changing infrastructure for Canada.”

“We know Saskatchewan has a critical role to play in building our country and our workers here should be at the centre of that conversation. We need to be developing our homegrown workforce for the future.”