Saskatchewan's opposition NDP presented three fictitious “awards” in parliament Thursday in a satire to the provincial government for its travel spending over the past year.
According to travel expense documents released to MLAs, the Government of Saskatchewan spent approximately $423,400 on interprovincial travel from April 2023 to April 2024, of which nearly $200,000 was spent on international travel. Ta. These totals include travel expenses such as flights, ground transportation, accommodations, and meals, as well as costs associated with hosting a business event.
“Spendies,” as NDP trade and export development critic Aleana Young jokingly called the award, was an acknowledgment of “wasteful” spending by Saskatchewan government MLAs, part of Young's announcement. A drum roll rang out from my colleague's lectern.
”[The Saskatchewan government is] We focused on raising the most exorbitant travel expenses,” Young told Congress Thursday.
Raw | NDP awards 'Spendy's Award' for 'wasted' travel at Saskatchewan Legislature: 
Live | NDP awards 'wasted' trip with 'Spendy's Award' at Saskatchewan Legislature
Watch Saskatchewan NDP MLA Aleana Young present a fictitious award to Premier Scott Moe and his cabinet members for “wasted taxpayer money” in Parliament.
In March 2024, Energy and Resources Minister Jim Reiter spent $27,631 on a four-day trip to Toronto with four other delegates.
Mr. Young presented the Lobsterfest award for spending $12,460 in business hosting expenses while traveling. This may include expenses for government-sponsored lunches and dinners, meals, catering staff, service charges, entertainment costs, etc.
“The reports were not just about me, but about many of the department's employees who were meeting on the ground,” Reiter said in response.
“In reality, Toronto actually costs less than $2,000 for an economy flight and hotel room,” he said.
Mr Young also criticized Prime Minister Scott Moe, who traveled to Dubai to attend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change conference in December 2023.
The five-person nine-day trip to Dubai cost a total of $32,417, but Young added the already controversial government advertising and pavilion space, which together cost about $1 million. .
View | Saskatchewan's $765,000 pavilion at COP28 in Dubai: 
Saskatchewan's $765,000 pavilion at COP28 in Dubai
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and other delegates are in Dubai, UAE, this week for the COP28 conference. The state has been criticized for spending $765,000 on pavilion space, as well as large sums of money on advertising and travel.
Mr Mo also claimed a $31,390 flight ticket to New Delhi, India, in February 2024.
The NDP also criticized Crown Investment Corporation Minister Dustin Duncan for paying for transportation around Paris, including spending the equivalent of $3,500 on a shuttle van.
Government defends spending
Throughout the year, other than the writer's trip to Toronto, the most expensive trips were overseas.
Government spokesperson Sam Sass said in an email that more than 65 per cent of what is produced in Saskatchewan is exported around the world. Last calendar year, exports totaled $49 billion, Sasse said.
“It's important that this government champions our industry around the world,” Reiter said.
Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison defended the Government, saying he was proud of the boost to international travel and associated export growth.
Government officials cited trade ties between Saskatchewan and India as a reason for Mo's trip.
In 2023, Saskatchewan's agriculture and food exports to India reached $700 million.
Moe also defended his trip to the COP28 conference in Dubai, saying, “It's an opportunity to engage with about 200 countries around the world, not only from Saskatchewan but also from Canada, about what we're doing in industry.” said. It creates wealth for our state and country. ”
A spokesperson for the provincial Ministry of Trade and Export Development said in an email that Saskatchewan is the only Canadian province to have a trade and investment office in Dubai. They said the office helped export more than $1 billion of goods to the Middle East and North Africa.
They also said their visit to Dubai and office there led to a trade deal with potential sales of more than $200 million and a signed letter of intent.
