Wishes, hospitals, and the carbon tax: Sask. premier looks back at 2019

As the last pages fall from the calendar and 2019 comes to a close, many people are turning around to look back at the year that was.

When Premier Scott Moe looks back at 2019, he said he’ll particularly remember the opening of the two hospitals — the Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford and the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon.

“Not just because we were opening those buildings, but because we were embarking on — in both cases — offering a new level of service and services that have never been offered in the province before,” said Moe.

The children’s hospital is a particularly personal accomplishment for him.

“I have two nephews that were born premature and they spent some time in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) and they quite likely would have spent some time in the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital, had it been there,” said Moe. “They’re strong, young, vibrant boys now and I think of that investment and I think of what that hospital is there for, and how it supports families just like my nephews.”

Moe said that just shows what growth can do, pointing to the Growth Plan his government unveiled this fall — he put the plan as one of the big things for the year as well.

The year was also one of losses for the Moe government, with both the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal and its counterpart in Ontario siding with the federal government and affirming the constitutionality of the carbon tax. Moe seems to have taken it in stride though, repeating that the one out of Saskatchewan was a split decision.

The fight will continue with the Supreme Court of Canada hearing arguments early in the new year.

As for what he would have liked to see go differently in 2019, Moe said he would have liked to be in a more collaborative position with the federal government.

“At times, I think I would be viewed as a fairly confrontational when it comes to the dealings that we have with the federal government. And that is not my first place of comfort and that is not the first place that I go.”

Moe said he would much rather work together to come to agreements, but when that can’t happen he said it’s his “job and duty” to defend the interests of Saskatchewan.

The end of this year is also the end of a decade and looking at where he was in 2009 to 2019, Moe called it an enjoyable journey, travelling around the province, meeting people, and seeing their pride in their communities.

“It truly makes me proud to be from this province and it makes me very proud to have a hand in talking to those people, listening to those people, and putting forward policies that will be conducive to, not only their success, but the success of communities right across this province,” said Moe.

He’s been elected now for about eight years, having gone through two elections, and said he’s learned a lot. Moe said he’s grown, but his family has grown as well.

“This has been a change for all of us in our family. No one in this legislature serves without the love and support of their family. So this has been a growth period, if you will, for not just myself singly, but for my wife and even my children who are also now grown,” said Moe.