A growing separatist movement in Saskatchewan claims its catalyst for sovereignty stems from what they call the federal government\u2019s overreach, which is hampering the province\u2019s export potential, they say.<\/p>\n
Clark Brotzell is chairman of the board at Unified Grassroots, a citizens\u2019 advocacy group that supports Saskatchewan\u2019s economic and social sovereignty.<\/p>\n
\u201cSovereignty is the only way we\u2019re going to move forward. Shaping society as we believe it should be shaped, not as Ottawa believes it should be shaped,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Brotzell said despite recent announcements made by Prime Minister Mark Carney to ease western alienation concerns, he has not seen much progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cFifty years of neglect is hardly addressed in a few months of a couple of projects being announced,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Western alienation sentiments are not new, and have long been echoed by Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe<\/a>. However, Moe is now among those who have said Saskatchewan has benefitted from a \u201cmuch more collaborative<\/a>\u201d relationship under Carney compared to his predecessor, Justin Trudeau.<\/p>\n Saskatchewan\u2019s mining industry is also optimistic, according to the executive director of the Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association (SIMSA), Eric Anderson.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve seen a seismic shift in things,\u201d he said. In the past, SIMSA sent letters to Ottawa. Those letters were ignored or denied, Anderson recounted.<\/p>\n Now, he said, in a \u201chuge development\u201d the federal government is phoning SIMSA. The House of Commons committee on the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) and Major Projects Office reached out to the association recently.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s some minor concerns because you hear something said and then you don\u2019t know if it\u2019s actually going to become true. However, there\u2019s been enough things said, on such a significant change in turn, that we\u2019re very confident in them,\u201d Anderson said.<\/p>\n Bill Prybylski, president of the Agriculture Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) agrees.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve seen a shift in the attitude coming out of the federal government,\u201d Prybylski said, adding it \u201cseems to have shifted to the positive side.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHopefully (Ottawa) will continue to recognize the importance of agriculture and the whole idea, decisions that are being made in Ottawa will certainly have an effect on how we\u2019re able to do our business and farming here in Saskatchewan.\u201d<\/p>\n Environmental regulations and tariffs on Saskatchewan exports, including canola, were said to be among the sources of farmers\u2019 frustrations with the federal government under its previous leader, Prybylski said.<\/p>\n He is reserving judgment on the Carney government to see if the ideas being brought to the table \u201cwill translate into concrete actions that are going to be of benefit to producers,\u201d the APAS president said.<\/p>\n Moe told Global News that while he may not agree with all of Carney\u2019s ideas, he is glad to be heard \u201cthe Canadian way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe work together (and) try to work through our differences. Ultimately, you don\u2019t get your way every time, but you do get your way sometimes. And often, you can find a mutual landing spot,\u201d the premier said.<\/p>\n Separatists dispute this. The Saskatchewan Prosperity Project told a town hall in Moose Jaw that those changes aren\u2019t manifesting for the common person.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have government overreach that is beyond belief now with our resources. We can\u2019t get our resources off the ground. We can\u2019t do anything. We have no vote. We have no say,\u201d said Brad Williams, president of the Saskatchewan Prosperity Project, a group separate from United Grassroots, though both appear to have similar goals, with Brotzell telling Global News that the prosperity project is \u201cdoing great work\u201d.<\/p>\n Williams said the neglect experienced by western and northern provinces is unacceptable and fundamental to the separatist movement in Saskatchewan.<\/p>\n