Premier talks Ukrainian president, oligarchs and Evraz Regina

As the war wages on in Ukraine and the damage and casualties mount, local leaders are looking to figure out what they can do here.

Premier Scott Moe watched Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s address to Parliament on Tuesday morning. In the afternoon, Moe said that what Zelensky told Parliament — asking lawmakers to imagine what’s happening in Ukraine was happening in Canada — resonated with every Canadian.

“It really strengthens our resolve with respect to what we can do as a province here in Saskatchewan in supporting our federal government where they need it but also supporting Ukrainian people in however we may do that,” Moe said.

Moe said what’s happening in Ukraine is unlike anything we’ve seen in decades and his heart, likely along with those of the rest of the province, aches for Ukrainians.

“What we’re seeing is beyond what I think you could imagine. For the last two years, we’ve been talking about COVID and how we find our way through this global pandemic, but it pales in comparison to what we’re seeing on the ground happening in Ukrainian communities,” he said.

On the work the Saskatchewan government has been doing at home, Moe said officials are working closely with the federal government on sanctions.

“We’re fully supportive of where the federal government has implemented sanctions to this point, the individuals that they have implemented sanctions on, and continuing to work with them on any required additional work they might require,” Moe said.

Moe said the situation is one where the province needs to work together with the federal government, and that communications on all fronts have tightened up between the two levels.

The premier said his government wants to make sure no profits are flowing from Saskatchewan or Canada to Russia to fund the attack on Ukraine.

But at the same time, Moe talked about making sure that operations continue at Evraz in Regina.

“We need to support the people and the families that are showing up to work every day and deriving their household incomes from that industry,” said Moe.

Moe said his government has been having conversations with leadership at Evraz North America to that end. The premier said the company continues to operate and that’s the expectation for the days ahead.

According to Moe, conversations continue to happen with the federal government about whether there are other Russians with investments in Saskatchewan, and any information on that would be passed on to the federal government for any decisions on sanctions.

Moe said the war has created a lot of uncertainty.

“We’re working as best we can with all of those involved to hopefully arrive at the best outcome that we can for everyone,” he said.