Pipeline Online: $15.6M workforce program targets tariff impacts in Saskatchewan

By Brian Zinchuk

A new federal-provincial agreement will invest $15.6 million over three years to help Saskatchewan workers adapt to economic pressures linked to global tariffs.

The funding, announced by Buckley Bélanger on behalf of Patty Hajdu alongside Saskatchewan minister Eric Schmalz, will support training and employment services for workers affected by trade disruptions.

The Canada–Saskatchewan Workforce Tariff Response program is expected to assist up to 1,800 workers in sectors such as steel and softwood lumber, as well as others indirectly impacted by shifting global markets.

Support will be delivered through SaskJobs offices and training partners across the province. The program will target unemployed workers seeking in-demand skills, employees involved in Employment Insurance work-sharing agreements and those already working in tariff-affected industries who need to upgrade skills.

Officials said the initiative will coordinate with businesses to help retain jobs while giving workers opportunities to retrain or transition into new roles.

“Canada’s workforce is strongest when employers and training partners work together,” Hajdu said, adding the program is intended to ensure workers can secure stable employment and communities remain resilient.

Bélanger said the investment will help workers adapt to economic change and take advantage of emerging opportunities, while Schmalz emphasized the province’s efforts to protect its economy amid global uncertainty.

The agreement builds on existing federal funding of more than $65 million annually through labour market programs in Saskatchewan, which support about 32,000 people each year.

According to the release, Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate was 5.6 per cent as of February 2026, the lowest among provinces.