Western Standard - January 21, 2026


CHRIS OLDCORN SHOW： Carla Beck on pipelines, trade, gun policy and Saskatchewan healthcare

Topics
pipelines unity in politics healthcare improvements
Mentioned
Scott Mullen Carla Beck Scott Moe Carney Chris
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Episode Stats


Length

17 minutes

Words per minute

148.14

Word count

2,635

Sentence count

171


Summary

Summaries generated with gmurro/bart-large-finetuned-filtered-spotify-podcast-summ .

In this episode of the Chris Olkorn Show on the Western Standard News Media Network, Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck talks about her party s differences with the federal party on issues such as pipelines, gun control, and trade with the United States.

Transcript

Transcript generated with Whisper (turbo).
Topics generated with Qwen2.5-3B-Instruct.
Hosts, guests, and mentioned names generated with spaCy (en_core_web_sm), reconciled against Wikidata.
00:00:00.000 Hello and welcome to the Chris Olkorn Show on the Western Standard News Media Network.
00:00:24.340 I'm here today with Saskatchewan NDP leader, Carla Beck.
00:00:27.800 Thank you for joining us.
00:00:28.800 Yeah, great to be here with you, Chris.
00:00:30.380 Well, thank you for your time.
00:00:32.280 Let's start off talking about some differences between the federal NDP and the SaskNDP.
00:00:36.620 I noticed when I moved here that there was substantial differences between the two.
00:00:41.680 Matter of fact, when your own MLA has even said to me, you're almost like the progressive
00:00:45.320 conservators in the province because you have a lot of fiscal policies that are conservative
00:00:48.880 and a lot of social policies that are progressive.
00:00:52.580 Let's first talk about pipelines because that's the big thing in the news lately, particularly
00:00:56.640 given our issues with the U.S.
00:00:59.180 Where does the SaskNDP stand on pipelines and their development?
00:01:03.240 Yeah, well, maybe I'll just respond a little bit to the preamble.
00:01:07.700 And certainly that is true and has been the case for a long time in this province.
00:01:12.300 This is a NDP in Saskatchewan has been pragmatic, prairie pragmatist, as you might say, and have
00:01:20.800 been very good at managing the books in this province.
00:01:23.660 So I would agree with whoever your source was on that one.
00:01:26.880 When it comes to pipelines, you know, not just since the last election and what we've seen
00:01:34.600 with the growing uncertainty in the U.S., but, you know, for a long time, we're in support
00:01:41.420 of pipelines.
00:01:42.080 We understand and support the oil and gas industry here in Saskatchewan.
00:01:46.560 The largest contributor by dollar value when it comes to exports to the coffers of this
00:01:54.600 province, incredibly important to the economy.
00:01:58.240 Right across the province, communities like Carnduff, where I have family, in the southeast,
00:02:05.900 around Lloydminster, right across this province, oil and gas is an important part of our past
00:02:13.640 in Saskatchewan, the present, and will be for some time into the future.
00:02:19.400 So definitely one of those areas where we have some difference with the federal party.
00:02:26.440 But that has been our position since we've existed here in Saskatchewan.
00:02:34.260 And also, there's also the federal gun registry.
00:02:37.560 Scott Moe has said that he won't fund any police force that would be enforcing that.
00:02:42.240 And you're also the farming critic as well for the Sask NDP.
00:02:48.080 Where does the NDP stand in terms of guns in the province and how they should be used?
00:02:54.660 Yeah.
00:02:54.840 Another longstanding position of the Saskatchewan NDP, going back to the 90s with the long gun
00:03:01.300 registry, not something that we have ever supported or been on side with here in Saskatchewan.
00:03:06.000 When it comes to the federal buyback program, that is not something that we have ever supported.
00:03:11.600 You know, I grew up in a farming community, grew up with guns back, you know, before changes, you know, the shotgun was always present in the truck for coyotes or pests.
00:03:27.780 We had cattle.
00:03:28.640 We had chickens.
00:03:30.160 My mom and dad have owned an outfitting business for over 25 years now.
00:03:35.720 I understand that guns are part of the way of life here in Saskatchewan, part of the culture.
00:03:43.000 And, again, this is a point of difference, I wouldn't say just with New Democrats.
00:03:49.880 I think with prairie folks who are comfortable and understand the importance of gun safety and, you know, larger urban centers like Toronto where, you know, they don't have that culture or that understanding.
00:04:04.440 Instead of putting money into registries and buybacks, we should be fighting crime with the people who are committing crime in this country.
00:04:15.940 So, again, that's a well-established position, not one that I took on my own, but certainly one that I support.
00:04:23.040 Also, you brought up some trade issues with the U.S. and also with China.
00:04:28.280 You've mentioned in the past that you wanted to go with Scott Mullen trade missions.
00:04:34.440 What do you feel you could have brought to the table if you were at the table with Scott Mullen and other representatives from the Saskatchewan government?
00:04:42.220 You know, and I've said this on different issues at different times.
00:04:47.560 There's a time for political differences.
00:04:50.060 There's a time for discourse and, you know, and fights.
00:04:53.200 And I like a good debate as much as anyone else.
00:04:55.700 Sometimes when you need to show strength and solidarity, it's important to say, hey, look, not only the government is in favor, but the opposition as well.
00:05:07.740 This is a position setting partisan politics aside that we both agree on.
00:05:13.240 And I'm hearing from people that they want to see that, not on every issue.
00:05:16.600 There's a need for debate.
00:05:18.120 There's a need for a strong opposition.
00:05:19.820 I hope we get to switch roles very soon, but that need is there.
00:05:26.420 But on issues as important as the unity, the economic future of this country and this province, sometimes I think people want to see across the aisle support.
00:05:41.500 And we have seen this.
00:05:42.760 I've been elected here since 2016.
00:05:44.940 You know, there have been some times when we've been able to put differences aside because we know that we are both working in the interests of Saskatchewan people.
00:05:55.360 I think that this would have been one of those instances.
00:06:00.340 I also, yeah, you know, the more resources, the more people who are bringing that same message, I think the more effective we can be.
00:06:10.740 Again, not on every issue, but on this one.
00:06:14.160 We're now seeing Kearney also is now going to go to China.
00:06:18.460 Mo was there a couple of months ago.
00:06:22.120 Canola farming is massive in this province.
00:06:24.080 I mean, you drive on any highway, you see the yellow fields all over.
00:06:27.820 What do you think can be done to get China to lift that and to, once again, not put a massive tariff on everything connected to canola?
00:06:37.880 Because they've done it on everything now connected to canola.
00:06:41.020 Yeah.
00:06:41.520 Well, let's look at the root of the imposition of these tariffs.
00:06:46.720 It followed the measures against Chinese EVs.
00:06:52.360 And, you know, looking at removing those tariffs on Chinese EVs has to be part of the discussion.
00:07:03.920 This is a point of difference between myself and the federal conservative leader, for example.
00:07:14.600 Again, I think it's important, regardless of political stripe here in this province, as someone who wants to be the premier of this province, that that has to be consistent, no matter who is in power or who is taking those positions in Ottawa.
00:07:28.840 Certainly, we've been clear about that from the very beginning, and we've made that clear with all three federal parties.
00:07:37.180 So that would be an important first step would be to be talking about taking those EV tariffs off Chinese cars.
00:07:51.300 I think, you know, Prime Minister Carney going to China is an important step.
00:07:57.920 I think using all the diplomatic channels that we have available to us is incredibly important.
00:08:03.880 I've heard from producers, you know, this year we saw a suppression of prices, it had an impact.
00:08:11.200 I'm very worried about what this means going into next year, because if these tariffs continue, all indications are that it is going to be very devastating into the next year.
00:08:23.900 So I think I'm in support of all efforts to get those tariffs removed and make sure that we've got, you know, I'm sure a lot of nervous producers, farmers out there right now thinking about what's going to go in the ground in the spring.
00:08:43.220 It would be great to be able to say that those tariffs are removed and they don't have that worry on top of all the others.
00:08:50.140 Speaking of crises, health care obviously is a major issue in the province.
00:08:55.320 We're seeing ER closures.
00:08:58.680 Just here in Regina, we're seeing some ICU doctors leaving, like half the ICU doctors between the two hospitals were either fired, quit or leaving in the next few months.
00:09:08.800 Alberta has floated the idea and is starting to go down the path of having both public and private, private like in the evenings and on weekends, public during the day.
00:09:21.680 What do you think can be done here in Saskatchewan on a fairly short time frame that we could do to improve health care in the province?
00:09:32.120 Number one is listen to those doctors who are saying and have been saying for years now, this system needs change, that those who are making decisions often, unfortunately, in small rooms here in the legislature and here in Regina need to listen to those communities,
00:09:58.840 those frontline physicians, nurses, healthcare providers, because that's something that hasn't been happening.
00:10:04.760 And we are losing more healthcare providers in this province at a faster rate than any other province in the country.
00:10:12.040 That's number one.
00:10:13.000 And that doesn't cost us a damn thing, honestly.
00:10:15.340 I think that is the number one thing that government needs to do and certainly is the number one thing that I hear.
00:10:22.560 There are problems, absolutely.
00:10:24.480 Everyone who goes into an emergency room or tries to get a family doctor understands that there are problems.
00:10:30.900 What I also hear every time I talk to those who are on the frontline who desperately want to be providing care to people,
00:10:35.960 who trained their whole lives, have spent their career dedicated to bettering health outcomes for people,
00:10:42.460 the number one thing that is driving them out of this province is the sense that we have a government that is simply not listening to them
00:10:49.280 and is not that interested, frankly, in taking their advice or their ideas and making healthcare better within the public system.
00:10:59.080 Okay.
00:10:59.760 Let's talk a bit now.
00:11:01.680 Let's say the legislature was sitting right now and you could go into the legislature, pass three different pieces of legislation.
00:11:07.120 What three pieces of legislation would you pass that you think would have the most positive impact on the province?
00:11:16.020 Okay.
00:11:16.480 Am I in government or am I in opposition?
00:11:18.820 Well, you're in opposition, but let's say they're going to let it go through.
00:11:22.980 Okay.
00:11:23.700 Okay.
00:11:24.780 Well, one is not even hypothetical.
00:11:27.100 You know, the number one issue, again, healthcare, a strong second, but the number one issue I'm hearing from people is a growing sense that they are falling further and further behind financially.
00:11:41.060 Something to address the cost of living that is frankly, for most people or many people in this province, getting to the point where it's out of control,
00:11:50.220 where people are putting their groceries on their credit cards.
00:11:53.840 And I'm talking about people who have worked their whole lives, who have never struggled before, all of a sudden are looking at the price of turkey and thinking,
00:12:01.080 hmm, maybe we'll have sausage for Christmas this year.
00:12:04.320 One of the things that we've brought forward is a rent control bill.
00:12:09.740 You know, had we been building housing, had we had a housing plan and we're building that housing out, maybe we're not here.
00:12:18.140 But right now, we've had 40 months of steady rent increases for people in this province.
00:12:25.160 This is the Wild West.
00:12:27.180 There's no controls, no limits on how much companies like for-profit companies from Alberta can come in here and jack up rents.
00:12:37.820 We've heard 20, 30 percent, often from seniors and young people who are really struggling with those increased costs.
00:12:45.200 So there's one.
00:12:48.200 If I was going to be guaranteed it was going to pass, maybe I'd look at the taxes and the other ways that this government has increased costs for people
00:12:56.040 and maybe throw some of those in, some relief for people.
00:12:59.320 Number two has to be something around health care.
00:13:01.280 You know, as I just said, the first idea, the first most impactful immediate thing we could do doesn't even require legislation, doesn't cost us a dime.
00:13:14.320 But, you know, looking at those first three things that we need to do to stabilize the existing workforce,
00:13:21.860 make sure that we are, we have a plan to have everyone in this province to have a family doctor.
00:13:28.500 Right now we're going in the wrong direction.
00:13:31.840 That would be the second bill, something around health care.
00:13:34.900 Number three has to be, you know, looking at the budget numbers and how much we're paying to service debt in this province again.
00:13:47.200 Something that I heard a lot about when I was a young person in this province.
00:13:52.060 I'm not that young anymore.
00:13:53.080 We're starting to hear, you know, a billion dollars.
00:13:56.160 We sent a big check at Christmas time to draw attention to the fact we're sending a billion dollars to bankers in Toronto right now to service the debt in this province.
00:14:07.180 We need better accountability.
00:14:09.980 We don't have a revenue problem in this province as much as we have a mismanagement and a waste problem.
00:14:15.800 When it comes to this government, there has to be some accountability.
00:14:19.160 People have to understand and believe that they are getting value for those dollars that we are spending.
00:14:24.540 And certainly, I would much rather be spending a billion dollars here in this province delivering affordability relief or delivering better health care for people in this province than sending that check to, you know, bankers on Bay Street or even down to Wall Street.
00:14:42.460 So those would be the three areas.
00:14:46.060 I could fill in a lot of details with some time if I'm guaranteed it's going to be passed, but we'll see.
00:14:52.300 Where do you see the government waste?
00:14:54.460 Like, where would you look first for that?
00:14:56.360 Oh, man, I mean, sometimes I realize when I'm giving a list to people, even in the time that I've been here, I've forgotten some of the ones that were a little further back.
00:15:15.160 Well, the bypass.
00:15:16.000 I mean, I still think that there are a lot of questions to answer around how much we spent on the bypass.
00:15:21.200 I think of, you know, paying 10 times what it costs in the public system to send women to Calgary, for example.
00:15:33.000 Plus, those people are paying out of pocket.
00:15:36.900 I look at some of the decisions around P3 schools, for example.
00:15:41.080 Something when I was a school board trustee that certainly had me very concerned about those costs and how those decisions were made.
00:15:51.820 But I think you only have to look at the ballooning of the debt in this province.
00:15:58.700 You know, we're now projected over $40 billion in debt going past 50 in this province.
00:16:06.180 I think, you know, there's a long list of the ways that this government has spent and not received value.
00:16:14.800 This government is very good at spending money.
00:16:17.820 What they're not so good at is ensuring that when they spend those dollars, that Saskatchewan people are benefiting from those dollars.
00:16:24.720 And I think that's the number one way that they have failed, both on the economic side, but when it comes to delivering value for people in this province.
00:16:33.920 Okay, let's end on a lightning round.
00:16:38.800 Oh, I better take a drink then.
00:16:40.120 So these are one-word answers.
00:16:43.560 Are you ready?
00:16:45.420 Okay.
00:16:45.740 All right, you got five.
00:16:47.460 One, coffee, tea.
00:16:49.040 Coffee.
00:16:50.080 Dog, cat.
00:16:51.720 Dog.
00:16:52.980 Fake or real Christmas tree?
00:16:54.860 Oh, real, for sure.
00:16:57.360 Early bird or night owl?
00:17:00.080 Early bird.
00:17:01.420 It used to be the opposite.
00:17:02.340 And finally, the one that matters the most, stampeders or rough riders?
00:17:06.340 Rough, wow.
00:17:07.980 Oh, my goodness.
00:17:09.880 I'm offended by the question, but the riders.
00:17:14.240 Well, thank you very much for sitting down with us today.
00:17:16.980 And I hope we can do this again in the future.
00:17:19.360 Good luck with the show.
00:17:20.240 Thank you.
00:17:20.780 Thank you very much for watching the Chris Oldcorn Show.
00:17:23.220 Have a great night.
00:17:23.780 Good luck with the show.
00:17:35.340 And I hope we will see you in the future.
00:17:45.140 Thank you.