Federal and provincial officials were in Prince Albert on Friday to announce a new $15.6 million support package aimed at helping Saskatchewan workers and employers deal with the effects of tarrifs.
The announcement took place at the University of Saskatchewan’s Prince Albert campus, formerly the Prince Albert Forest Centre.
The funding will be delivered over three years through a new Canada-Saskatchewan Workforce Tariff Response agreement. Officials said the money is meant to help people whose jobs are affected by tariffs, while also helping employers keep workers or prepare them for other oppoutunites.
Buckley Belanger, secretary of state for rural development and MP for Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River, said the issue is already being felt by workers and communities.
“Tariffs and global tensions aren’t something we can push to the side. They’re hitting real industries, real communities and real paychecks, and through it all, I want Saskatchewan workers to hear this clearly. The Government of Canada has your back, not with empty words, but with real support and real options,” Belanger said.
He said the new funding is being added on top of existing federal labour market support already provided to Saskatchewan.
“This is targeted support for workers and employers in the sectors feeling the pressure most,” Belanger said.
Saskatchewan Immigration and Career Training Minister and Saskatchewan Rivers MLA Eric Schmalz said the government is meant to respond to uncertainty caused by U.S tariffs and other trade pressures.
“Trade disruptions, including United States tariffs, are creating uncertainty for employers and workers across Canada,” Schmalz said. “While Saskatchewan has avoided severe impacts, we recognize the pressures facing employers and the risks facing workers in tariff-affected sectors.”
Schmalz said the funding will cover three areas: softwood lumber, steel, and other sectors affected either directly or indirectly. He said that could include industries such as manufacturing and construction.
He said $1.5 million will be used in the current fiscal year for skilled trades curriculum updates and workforce development work. Starting in 2026-27, Schmalz said $9.2 million will go toward direct retraining and reskilling for workers and employers facing tariff impacts.
Rather than create a separate new system, the province plans to use existing SaskJobs offices and current workforce programs to deliver support.
During the media questions, reporters asked what the announcement would mean for Prince Albert and northern Saskatchewan, especially for forestry workers. One question referred to the Carrot River sawmill and the recent uncertainty there.
Schmalz said business affected by tariffs would be able to apply for support. He said the goal is to help workers stay employed where possible or move into another job if necessary.
Officials gave a broad outline of the program but did not provide many details about which local employers may qualify first or how many Prince Albert area workers could end up receiving support.
Belanger said the province would decide how best to spend the money. He also said the province would be required to report back to the federal government about what progress they had made.
“I think they recognize that they have to have real results attached to some of these dollars.”
Schmalz said they would look at each case on an individual basis to determine if the funding was working as intended.
Belanger added that they determined how much funding Saskatchewan would receive on a per-capita basis.
–with files from Jason Kerr/Daily Herald
arjun.pillai@paherald.sk.ca
