Premier Scott Moe recently announced the formation of the Pipeline Projects Assessment Committee (PPAC). The committee will initially be made up of four cabinet ministers, and they will be tasked with reviewing and assessing the viability of pipeline projects in Saskatchewan. The committee would also be tasked with exploring the possibility of government involvement in investing, stimulating, or generally advancing these projects.

Mr. Jeremy Harrison, the Minister for Provincial Trade and Export, says the development of the committee is about helping to reduce the political risk in pipeline projects.

"We've made a decision as a government to look beyond advocacy. It could be different arrangements to equity positions in projects, which is a new approach. It is necessitated. One thing we've heard over and over again is the challenge of securing financing in the open market because of political risk. There is a number of reasons for that from targeted litigation and delay tactics, to political uncertainty created by things like bill C-69."

Pipeline expansion and development were two items that were laid out in the government's '2020-2030 Growth Plan.' The formation of this committee is one of the steps the government will be taking to ensure Saskatchewan oil has better access to markets. Also included in the plan was the encouragement of Indigenous equity in Saskatchewan pipeline projects.

"In terms of indigenous participation, a real success story in the forestry sector in Northern Saskatchewan. I can speak for Meadow lake where it's been a wonderful success. I really do envision in the future having indigenous ownership, indigenous equity positions, in energy infrastructure projects in the future. I think you'll find a lot of indigenous leaders that we've spoken to, want to see these projects move ahead and want to be apart of these projects. That will be a focus of this committee as well, to make sure we are maintaining those relationships."

At the time of the announcement no details were provided on whether the committee would have a budget, or if it made a decision to take an equity interest in a pipeline where that finding would come from.

"From a historic perspective, government involvement in energy infrastructure projects, the Trans Canada pipeline, the government did guarantee the loans to Trans Canada and it did result in a profit for the government ultimately when the pipeline was built."

During the scrum Minister Harrison could not confirm if any serious projects were yet on the table. He did not rule out that the government would be interested in a project that could provide greater access to the Port of Churchill. He also added the committee would encourage any project that moves Saskatchewan oil no matter the direction."

"There are broader economic impacts. We have a differential right now, even if you were to shave $4 off the differential, 50,000 barrels, that's $200 million dollars a year in economic activity that our taxpayers are not getting value for because we don't have the ability to get market price for our energy product."

The PPAC will be made up of Minister Harrison, Minister of Finance Donna Harpauer, Minister of Energy and Resources Bronwyn Eyre, and Minister of Environment Dustin Duncan.