Article – Saskatchewan’s NDP made waves at the provincial legislature this week, introducing legislation that would effectively slam the door on any future Saskatchewan independence movement. The proposed bill requires a constitutional amendment before any province could separate from Canada, raising the bar significantly higher than what separatist groups have long envisioned.
Carla Beck, the provincial NDP leader, stood firmly at the legislative building Tuesday defending the proposed legislation. “Saskatchewan belongs in Canada, full stop,” she told reporters gathered in the marble-floored rotunda. “This bill provides clarity on a matter that shouldn’t even be up for debate in the first place.”
The move comes amid growing frustration in western provinces over federal policies on carbon pricing, resource development and equalization payments. While Alberta has often garnered headlines for separatist sentiment, Saskatchewan has its own simmering discontent that occasionally bubbles to the surface.
Premier Scott Moe, though not openly advocating separation, has repeatedly employed the rhetoric of provincial autonomy. His “Saskatchewan First” approach and the controversial Saskatchewan First Act have positioned the province in direct confrontation with Ottawa on jurisdictional matters – stoking concerns that separation talk could eventually move from fringe to mainstream.
“What we’re seeing is a dangerous flirtation with ideas that threaten the very fabric of our confederation,” Beck said. The NDP bill would establish that any path to independence would require following the constitutional amending formula – meaning approval from Parliament and at least seven provinces representing 50 percent of Canada’s population.
Saskatchewan Party MLAs have already signaled their opposition. Jeremy Harrison, the government house leader, dismissed the bill as a “distraction” from pressing issues facing Saskatchewan residents. “This is political theatre, pure and simple,” Harrison said Wednesday morning on CBC’s The Morning Edition. “The NDP is trying to create division where there isn’t any.”
Constitutional experts note the legislation treads into legally complex territory. Professor Emmett Macfarlane at the University of Waterloo told me the proposal aligns with existing understandings of constitutional law. “The Supreme Court’s 1998 Quebec Secession Reference already established that unilateral separation isn’t legal. What this bill does is codify that reality at the provincial level.”
The political calculation behind the anti-separation bill appears multi-faceted. With provincial elections scheduled for next fall, the NDP may be attempting to force Saskatchewan Party MLAs into uncomfortable positions – either supporting the bill and alienating their more sovereigntist supporters, or opposing it and appearing to leave the door open to separation.
Polling from the Angus Reid Institute last year found roughly 25 percent of Saskatchewan residents would support independence under certain circumstances. While far from a majority, this represents a significant constituency that conservative politicians are reluctant to alienate.
“I’ve knocked on thousands of doors across this province,” said NDP MLA Aleana Young, who represents Regina University. “People are worried about healthcare staffing, classroom sizes, and affording groceries. Nobody’s asking for separation except a vocal minority that seems to have the Premier’s ear.”
The Saskatchewan First Act, passed last year, asserts provincial jurisdiction over natural resources and was framed by the Moe government as standing up for provincial rights. Critics, however, viewed it as needlessly confrontational and potentially unconstitutional.
“There’s a pattern of behavior here that’s concerning,” said Jim Farney, head of politics and international studies at the University of Regina. “While the Premier maintains he’s committed to confederation, his government continues to push boundaries that embolden those with more extreme views.”
Outside the legislature, reactions to the bill split along predictable lines. The Buffalo Party of Saskatchewan, which advocates for greater provincial autonomy, condemned the bill as “an affront to democratic principles.” Party leader Phil Zajac issued a statement claiming “Saskatchewan people deserve the right to determine their own future without artificial barriers.”
Meanwhile, business leaders expressed quiet relief. The uncertainty created by separation talk has occasionally dampened investment confidence, particularly in sectors dependent on cross-border trade. “Political stability is essential for economic growth,” noted Sandra Masters, Regina
