NDP Leader Ryan Meili calls for more green jobs and initiatives

There should be more emphasis on reducing greenhouse gases and creating more “green” jobs in Saskatchewan, according to NDP Leader Ryan Meili.

Standing in front of an electrical substation in Saskatoon’s Riversdale neighbourhood Thursday, Meili said Premier Scott Moe has killed the solar industry and has blown off chances to lead in geothermals and biofuels.

“We could be leading the way. We have the best environment for the production of energy from the sun (and) from the wind,” Meili said.

“We could be at the forefront of this, putting people to work. Instead, we’ve been dealing with Scott Moe’s approach where, even with 23,000 more people out of work today than there were a year ago, we’ve got a premier who turns up his nose at opportunities.”

Meili called for a commitment for reducing greenhouse gases, developing a provincewide on-bill financing program to allow homeowners, renters and businesses to invest in renewable power and to retrofit their homes. He’s also asking for a commitment from the province of 100 per cent emissions-free electricity by 2050.

“We should be working with advanced education and Innovation Saskatchewan, investing in those areas so that we’re exploring every day the new opportunities that are emerging in energy storage and production,” he added.

Meili said his party would begin a provincewide series of consultations involving the public and what he’s calling “key sectors,” to gauge what kinds of environmental initiatives and jobs they’d like to see in the future.

He says people in Saskatchewan recognize that climate change is real.

“I think as we see as we get further down the road since the pandemic started more and more people out of work and we’re seeing climate change progress, people are looking for those new opportunities,” he concluded.

He said he hopes to see some environmental initiatives in next week’s provincial budget, but wasn’t holding his breath for it.

“The point is today to start this conversation about our future,” he said.

Meili said he did hope for an overall jobs plan from the provincial government, but added green jobs are also a part of that. No date was given on when the series of consultations would begin, or where.