SASKATOON — Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck has raised concerns about Nutrien’s plan to develop a central potash export terminal on the US West Coast, citing its potential impact on workers, communities, and the province’s broader economic stability.
Nutrien, earlier this month, announced it would expand its operations in Port Longview, Washington State, citing better logistics, rail access, and the avoidance of Canadian port congestion to better serve its growing Asian markets, such as China, India, and Japan.
Company officials added that the Port Longview facility, expected to cost $1 billion, is also near their existing potash export terminal in Portland, Oregon. Both facilities are less than an hour away. However, Nutrien will not make a final investment decision until 2027.
And Beck, who followed Ottawa’s call for the project to remain in Canada, believes the company should favour one of the country’s ports, since Nutrien is a major contributor to Saskatchewan’s economy, workforce, and global reputation as a reliable mineral supplier. Early this month, Beck had previously urged Nutrien to consider moving its investment back to Canada.
In her letter to Nutrien President and CEO Ken Seitz, Beck said Nutrien’s continued growth would create opportunities for thousands of Saskatchewan families, emphasizing the importance of employment and the need to ensure reliable, long-term export capacity for the province’s potash industry.
“Our province has a strong interest in ensuring that our potash continues to move through Canadian corridors, strengthening domestic infrastructure, maintaining jobs here at home, and deepening the long-term value that this resource contributes to Saskatchewan. With proactive planning, intergovernmental cooperation, and a shared commitment to building export capacity, we can develop a project that meets Nutrien’s commercial needs and supports the long-term growth of Saskatchewan and Canada,” Beck said in the letter.
She asked that, given the scale of the project, Seitz and other top Nutrien officials meet with her, along with the Canadian government, British Columbia, Canadian labour, and the national railways, to develop a more efficient and reliable port option in Canada for Nutrien’s expansion.
“From that discussion, I propose we jointly initiate a working table with: Government of Canada — including support mechanisms related to trade infrastructure and capital investment; Government of British Columbia — with respect to port capacity, infrastructure, and permitting; Major rail carriers — to ensure competitive, reliable, long-haul logistics to tidewater; Saskatchewan industry stakeholders — to ensure alignment with long-term provincial growth,” said Beck.
“Saskatchewan believes that Canada’s ports will offer the best opportunities to deliver on Nutrien’s long-term ambitions and will provide the best chance for prosperity and diversification of export customers. I would appreciate the opportunity to sit down with you and your senior executives — at your earliest convenience — to understand what conditions, timelines, and infrastructure requirements would be necessary for Nutrien to consider a Canadian port outcome.”
She said that Saskatchewan has the workers, with the proper skills and training, to mine potash and help the province achieve its goal of becoming the world’s most reliable potash supplier. With the federal and provincial government’s support for Nutrien, a plan can be developed to benefit Canadian jobs and the economy, while also keeping the company’s strategic advantage and competitiveness in the global fertilizer market.
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