Today, BHP’s Jansen potash mine singlehandedly drives Saskatchewan’s economy in spite of, and not because of, provincial policy.
Saskatchewan’s premier has been keen to share indicators of this province’s economic health. We’re told that Saskatchewan is “leading the nation.” The government reports that Saskatchewan had Canada’s second highest economic growth last year, and that “many sectors” contributed.
Not only did few sectors contribute to that growth, but a whopping 72 per cent of it came from BHP’s Jansen potash project. Since 2022, more than two-thirds of Saskatchewan’s economic growth was spending on the Jansen mine. Without this project, Saskatchewan’s economy would’ve been dead last in 2024.
A single project is the difference between a booming and a stagnant Saskatchewan. Who, then, are we to thank for this economic messiah? This government has done nearly everything in its power to keep BHP out of Saskatchewan. A final investment decision on the Jansen mine was originally slated for 2011. Premier Brad Wall then decided to scapegoat the company during its attempt to purchase PotashCorp.
For the rest of this column: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-a-single-potash-project-is-saving-saskatchewan-from-stagnation