Scott Moe

Scott Moe (born July 31, 1973) is a Canadian politician serving as the 15th and current premier of Saskatchewan since 2018. He is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan for the riding of Rosthern-Shellbrook. He served in the executive council of Brad Wall from 2014–2017, twice as Minister of Environment and as Minister of Advanced Education, after which he resigned to launch his campaign for the leadership of the Saskatchewan Party.[1]

The Honourable Scott Moe MLA
15th Premier of Saskatchewan
Incumbent
Assumed office February 2, 2018
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Lieutenant Governor	Vaughn Schofield W. Thomas Molloy Russell Mirasty
Deputy	Gordon Wyant
Preceded by	Brad Wall
Leader of the Saskatchewan Party
Incumbent
Assumed office January 27, 2018
Preceded by	Brad Wall
Member of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly for Rosthern-Shellbrook
Incumbent
Assumed office November 7, 2011
Preceded by	Denis Allchurch
Personal details
Born	(1973-07-31) July 31, 1973 Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada
Nationality	Canadian
Political party	Saskatchewan Party
Spouse(s)	Krista Moe
Children	2
Residence	Shellbrook, Saskatchewan, Canada
Portfolio	Minister of the Environment (2014-2015, 2016-2017) Minister of Advanced Education (2015-2016)
Website	http://saskatchewan.ca/premier

Early life

Moe was born in Prince Albert and raised on a farm near Shellbrook. He graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. He later worked in various community initiatives in and near Shellbrook, including the Economic Development Corporation, and the Shellbrook and District Physician Recruitment committee, which seeks to attract general practitioners to rural areas of the province without convenient access to local medical facilities.[1]

In 1992, Moe was convicted of drunk driving.[2]

In 1997, he caused the death of one person in a highway traffic incident for which he was issued a ticket for driving without due care and attention. Alcohol was not a factor, but he claimed he couldn't recall the incident happening.[3]

In the mid-1990s, while still attending university, Moe and his wife established a farming business, buying equipment and renting land. By the early 2000s, he had filed for bankruptcy with $208,500 in assets and $320,900 in liabilities.[4]

Political career

Moe was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 2011 election, and re-elected in the 2016 election[5][6][7] as a Saskatchewan Party MLA. Scott served as a member of the legislature’s Standing Committee on Crown and Central Agencies and was deputy chair of the legislature’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts.[8] Moe entered Cabinet on June 5, 2014 as Minister of Environment and Minister responsible for SaskWater and the Water Security Agency.[9] On May 21, 2015, he was appointed as Minister of Advanced Education.[10] On August 23, 2016, Moe returned to his former role as Minister of Environment and Minister responsible for SaskWater and the Water Security Agency.

Environment Minister

On October 3, 2016, while provincial Environment Ministers were meeting with Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna to work on an agreement to reduce emissions as a collective nation, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rose in the House of Commons to announce the federal government's plan to introduce a carbon tax for provinces that did not have one. Moe and two other Ministers walk out of the meeting with the Federal Environment Minister, describing the federal government's actions a reminiscent of a 'national energy program 2.0.'[11] Observers and pundits in the province have called the carbon tax "his issue from the beginning", pointing out the Premier is largely on-side with public opinion in Saskatchewan, where polls have placed opposition against the tax as high as 88%.[12][13]

While he was Minister of the Environment and responsible for the Water Security Agency, Moe met with a fellow Saskatchewan Party Member of the Legislative Assembly, Bill Boyd, regarding Boyd's personal irrigation projects. The projects were reviewed by Moe, and later found to have illegally cultivated protected grasslands and involved building irrigation infrastructure into a river without obtaining the proper licensing permits. Regarding the process, Moe commented that he did not discuss the matter with Boyd after he was made aware that the project was in contravention of the Wildlife Habitat Protection Act, but that "There was a failure in following the law."[14] When asked about specifics of the meeting with Boyd, such as where it was, when it was, who all attended, if there was a record of the meeting, or how it came about, Moe said he could not recall or did not know.[15] Boyd was fined a total of $35,000 in relation to two charges laid in 2017 and ordered to remediate the shoreline violation. He was also removed from the Saskatchewan Party caucus by then-premier Brad Wall over the matter, and eventually resigned his position as a Member of the Legislative Assembly.

Saskatchewan Party Leadership Campaign

On September 1, Moe formally launched his campaign for the leadership of the Saskatchewan Party with the backing of many prominent cabinet and caucus members.

Moe's campaign promises focused on restoring $30 million in education funding to Saskatchewan schools, as well as the PST on health, life, and accident insurance products,[16] and a renewed focus on trade and exports Saskatchewan undertakes with customers around the world.[17]

During his campaign to replace outgoing premier Brad Wall, Moe stated that he does not personally support abortion, and that he would support a discussion of parental notification for abortions.[18]

On January 27, 2018, he was elected the new leader of the Saskatchewan Party, beating Alanna Koch with 54% of the vote on the 4th ballot.[19] He was sworn in as premier and appointed his first Cabinet on February 2, 2018.[20]

Priorities as Premier

Moe with Andrew Scheer in November 2019.

100 days after being sworn-in as Premier, Moe fulfilled some of the promises he made during the Saskatchewan Party leadership campaign, including restoring $30 million in education funding to classrooms, as well as the PST exemption on life, health, and accident insurance products. Moe has also carried the legacy of former Premier Brad Wall in opposing a federal carbon tax, citing Saskatchewan's strong environmental leadership in sectors such as agriculture.[21]

Moe has also been an outspoken advocate for getting pipelines built to ensure Saskatchewan oil can get to market. He has supported legislation to "turn off the taps" for oil to British Columbia for their opposition to pipeline construction, and has also publicly called on the federal government to restrict infrastructure funding to provinces that oppose federally-approved and regulated pipelines that cross provincial borders.[22]

Moe has called for changes to Canada's Equalization program, claiming that “Equalization is an incredibly inequitable and flawed program, which has seen provinces like Saskatchewan, Alberta and Newfoundland receive zero year after year, even through the economic downturn in the resource sector. Meanwhile, other provinces continue to receive billions every year. That means our taxpayers continue to pay for programs and services in other provinces, even when those other provinces’ economies are strong.” Moe proposed a 50/50 formula for Equalization, which would see 50% of the program operate as it currently stands under the existing formula, and the remaining 50% be distributed as a per capita transfer to provinces.[23] Not long after Moe announced the changes, it was revealed the federal government quietly renewed the Equalization formula until 2024, preempting a discussion on the topic at the upcoming meeting of Canada's Premiers in July.[24]

Moe has made trade with other nations a focus of his government, replacing the Ministry of the Economy with the Ministry of Trade and Export Development, and has undertaken a number of international trade missions. Those missions include travel to Saskatchewan's largest trading partner, the United States, to meet with Senators, Congressmen, and members of President Donald Trump's cabinet,[25] a mission to China, Saskatchewan's second-largest trading partner,[26] a mission to India, Saskatchewan's third-largest trade market,[27] and a mission in October 2019 to Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong.[28]

On March 20, 2019, Moe's government introduced a balanced budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year without any brand new taxes, but an increase in the Provincial Sales Tax.[29]

Electoral history

2016 Saskatchewan general election

2016 Saskatchewan general election: Rosthern-Shellbrook
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Saskatchewan	Scott Moe	4,724	71.59	+6.53
	New Democratic	Rose Freeman	1,288	19.52	-12.32
	Liberal	Orrin Murray Greyeyes	468	7.09	+7.09
	Green	Jade Duckett	119	1.80	-1.30
Total valid votes			6,599	100.0
Eligible voters			–
	Saskatchewan hold		Swing		-
Source: Elections Saskatchewan,[30] CBC News.[31]

2011 Saskatchewan general election

2011 Saskatchewan general election: Rosthern-Shellbrook
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Saskatchewan	Scott Moe	4,442	65.06	+7.56
	New Democratic	Clay DeBray	2,174	31.84	-3.67
	Green	Margaret-Rose Uvery	212	3.10	+0.83
Total valid votes			6,828	100.0
Eligible voters			–
	Saskatchewan hold		Swing		+5.62%

Cabinet positions

Saskatchewan Provincial Government of Brad Wall
Cabinet posts (2)
Predecessor	Office	Successor
Herb Cox Ken Cheveldayoff	Minister of the Environment August 23, 2016–August 28, 2017	Dustin Duncan
Kevin Doherty	Minister of Advanced Education May 21, 2015–August 23, 2016	Bronwyn Eyre

References

1. "Honourable Scott Moe". Cabinet, Ministries, Agencies, and Other Governments. Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
2. "Political leaders defend five candidates with DUI charges". Saskatoon Star Phoenix, March 14, 2016.
3. "Scott Moe says 1997 collision that left 1 person dead has shaped his life, career". CBC News, September 8, 2017.
4. "Premier Scott Moe filed for bankruptcy after family farm business became insolvent". Saskatoon Star Phoenix, March 27, 2018.
5. McElroy, Justin (5 April 2016). "Saskatchewan election results 2016: Sask. Party wins Rosthern-Shellbrook riding". Global News. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
6. "Scott Moe". Legassembly.sk.ca. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
7. "First time MLA Scott Moe not taking win for granted". Prince Albert Now, November 8, 2011.
8. "Honourable Scott Moe | Government of Saskatchewan Cabinet | Government of Saskatchewan". 2015-03-17. Archived from the original on 2015-03-17. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
9. "Premier Makes Cabinet Changes | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan". Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
10. "Premier Names New Deputy Premier and New Finance Minister | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan". Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
11. "Sask., N.S. and Nfld. walk out of climate talks after Trudeau announces carbon price | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
12. "Saskatchewan premier's fight against 'job-killing' carbon tax shows no sign of slowing | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
13. News, CJME. "Angus Reid poll: majority support provincial control of carbon tax". 980 CJME. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
14. "Premier Moe reviewed Bill Boyd's irrigation project, later declared illegal, sometime in 2017 | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
15. "Premier says he doesn't recall many details of meeting with former MLA Bill Boyd over irrigation project | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
16. Anton, Jessie. "Scott Moe focuses on cabinet, budget in first week as leader". 980 CJME. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
17. Ruttle, Derek. "Premier Candidate Moe Talks Issues and Goals". The Outlook. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
18. "Saskatchewan Party leadership candidate opposes abortion for rape victims". Global News. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
19. "Scott Moe Elected Leader of Saskatchewan Party, Becomes Premier-designate of Saskatchewan". Saskatchewan Party. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
20. "Scott Moe Sworn In as Premier of Saskatchewan, Appoints First Cabinet | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan". Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
21. "Moe's first 100 days focused on winnable issues like carbon tax, Trans Mountain". Regina Leader-Post. 2018-05-12. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
22. "Saskatchewan would support Alberta's decision to turn off oil taps | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
23. "Premier Scott Moe Calls for Changes to Equalization Program | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan". Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
24. "Ottawa to keep provincial equalization formula as is till 2024". Retrieved 2018-11-29.
25. "Premier Scott Moe heading to D.C. to discuss steel tariffs, NAFTA". Global News. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
26. "Premier Returns From Successful Trade Mission In China | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan". Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
27. "'Saskatchewan has what India needs': Premier Moe heads on trade mission | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
28. October 3, Thia James Updated; 2019 (2019-10-03). "Sask. premier to lead trade mission to Japan and South Korea | Saskatoon StarPhoenix". Retrieved 2019-10-25.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
29. Hunter, Adam (March 20, 2019). "Saskatchewan Budget 2019: Government touts balanced budget, says no new taxes". CBC News. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
30. "Register of Official Candidates by Constituency - March 19 - FINAL" (PDF). Elections Saskatchewan. 19 March 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
31. McElroy, Justin (5 April 2018). "Saskatchewan election results 2018: Sask. Party wins Rosthern-Shellbrook riding". Global News. Retrieved 5 April 2018.

Order of precedence
Preceded by Dennis King as Premier of Prince Edward Island	Canadian order of precedence as Premier of Saskatchewan	Succeeded by Jason Kenney as Premier of Alberta
Preceded by Russell Mirasty as Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan	Order of precedence in Saskatchewan as of 2019	Succeeded by Robert G. Richards as Chief Justice of Saskatchewan