Kaeding talks about the challenges and highlights of 2025 as MLA, Trade and Export Minister
January 5, 2026, 11:09 am
Nicole Taylor, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Melville- Saltcoats MLA and Minister of Trade and Export Warren Kaeding talked about what kind of year 2025 was and what he’s looking forward to in 2026.
What were some of the highlights of 2025?
As the Minister of Trade and Export Development I participated in a number of trade missions to South East Asia. These included stops in Vietnam, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. These stops provided a fascinating look into the incredible trade opportunities we have in a rapidly growing and emerging market.
Trade visits into the Northern United States provided me an opportunity to meet with industry and trade representatives from some of our most important trading states within the USA. We were able to discuss a number of issues with partners that we share a strong trading relationship with.
I had the opportunity to tour a number of our mining, manufacturing and production facilities throughout the province from Estevan to Esterhazy to McArthur River. We have an incredibly diverse economic, industrial powerhouse in our province that will be providing tremendous opportunity for those in the provincial workforce and those wanting to enter it.
A most recent highlight was having Mosaic make a significant investment in our skilled trades and training space in the constituency with their investment in the Churchbridge Millright Lab and Suncrest College in their expansion of their trades center in Esterhazy. What began as a dream of local Churchbridge millright, Bob Haacke, and myself has now blossomed into a significant trades training center for our area students.
We ended up with a remarkable harvest in this area considering the early growing season issues, the lingering forest fire smoke and lower than normal in-season rainfall.
I met some incredible local and provincial entrepreneurs that were willing to take a chance on building a successful business in Saskatchewan. Their perseverance, drive and initiative was an inspiration to continue supporting business development in the province.
There are a number of significant businesses that have developed new or expanded current facilities in our area. From new buildings in Langenburg—Smith Creek Villas and Churchbridge Credit Union Langenburg Branch to the new UFA card lock in Melville to completed municipal infrastructure projects in Esterhazy and Melville to the huge expansion of the canola plants in Yorkton to the new pea processing plant being built in Yorkton. There were a number of new small businesses that opened throughout the constituency from consulting services to interior decorating stores.
There were two new, large daycares that will be developed in Esterhazy and Melville.
What were some of the things you accomplished?
As the Minister of Trade I was able to take Saskatchewan to the world and tell our story to new audiences. We were able to diversify trade even more throughout the world (over 160 countries), reducing our dependency on two or three major markets.
I was able to meet with hundreds of provincial stakeholders listening to their issues and concerns and facilitating opportunities between them. We were able to introduce a number of programs and initiatives that supports business development including the Young Entrepreneurs’ Program which benefited a number of local businesses.
I was part of the organizing committee that brought over 400 American and Canadian politicians to Saskatoon for the Midwest Legislative Conference in July.
On a constituency level we were able to advance the planning and development of our new Integrated Health Facility in Esterhazy to the next level.
We were able to facilitate a number of stakeholder meetings that ended up with a number of positive results in and around the constituency. Nothing big, but lots of successful outcomes.
We were able to get more highway projects completed such as repaving Highway 16 from Saltcoats to Yorkton, the start of developing passing lanes on Highway 10 from Melville to Fort Qu’Appelle and a commitment by Highways to repave Highway 16 from Manitoba border to Churchbridge. We just received a commitment to resurface the #247 from the #9 to the #47. All of these are going to improve the safety of our constituents.
What were some of the disappointments in 2025?
Tariff issues with our major trading partners in the United States, China and India resulted in a lot of uncertainty and hesitation for expansion in 2025.
The Blue Jays losing in game seven! I am still in mourning over the sting of defeat, however the disappointment was made up by the Riders winning the 2025 Grey Cup with local talent such as Noah Zerr contributing.
What happened in 2025 that had the most effect on your constituents?
A relatively long, open harvest provided some great crop yields and positive returns in the livestock sector.
Tariff issues with the United States, China and India increased the level of uncertainty. This resulted in many of our businesses pausing their large capital expenditure decisions.
What are some of the most common things you hear from your constituents?
Constituents are concerned with access to specialists in healthcare. They are also nervous that we are having difficulty retaining doctors, long-term.
As part of that discussion is the continued, increasing demand for access to mental health services and addictions recovery support. We are starting to see professional clinics, supporting that sector, opening in our constituency.
Constituents are generally satisfied that our East Central region has a stable economy with ag, potash, rail, manufacturing and government sectors performing well.
We hear a lot from our businesses about their struggles in attracting skilled professionals to the various job openings in the area. A number of our office calls and visits are with local businesses that are having difficulty getting their newcomer employees approved through the federal immigration process.
I hear about the great work that my constituency assistant, Tim Ziola, is doing in getting results and solving problems for our constituents on a daily basis.
What do you want to see accomplished in 2026?
We need to continue to support and attract private sector capital investment in our province.
We need to continue our work on improving health care outcomes.
We need to ensure our kids have every opportunity to succeed in this province, to make this the destination where they want to live, work and raise a family.
We need to continue our work on improving the safety of our communities by improving access to mental health and addictions treatment.
We need to continue our focus on removing illegal drugs from our streets of all of our communities whether urban or rural.
What will be some of the biggest challenges for your party in 2026?
One of our biggest challenge will be attracting enough skilled professionals for all of the opportunities that are going to exist in the province.
We will continue to be challenged in receiving the recognition from our federal government regarding the role we play in the national economy.
We will continue to be challenged by balancing the needs of our province with the revenue that we are generating. We will need to continue our focus on building a strong economy to be able to underpin all of the services that are required to support our constituents.
What do you want to see accomplished by the next election?
Construction of a new integrated health centre in Esterhazy.
I would like to see a full complement of skilled trades instructors populating all of our comprehensive high schools.
We need to have a health care sector that is stable and able to support the needs of a growing province.
What are some of the most challenging things about being an MLA?
My biggest challenge as an MLA is not being able to attend all of the great community events that are happening in our constituency. Often events and activities are happening on the same day on opposite ends of the constituency.
I struggle with balancing family time with the role and responsibilities of being an MLA. Events and activities that I need to attend are often on weekends and evenings, which are also the time when there are family events and grandkids’ activities.
Unfortunately a negative of the job is when we are not able to achieve the outcome that a constituent is hoping for when they bring an issue forward to our office.
What are some of the most rewarding things about being an MLA?
I get to work every day with people that are committed to making the province better.
I enjoy engaging with our fascinating constituents and having them tell their story.
I enjoy talking to young people about the incredible opportunities that they are going to have available to them in the province.
I have had the opportunity to meet business leaders of the province, the country and even internationally. Everyone has a great story of success and failure to learn from.
I really enjoy positioning our province as an economic powerhouse that is going to continue to play a pivotal role in providing food, fuel, fertilizer and more to the world.
