WEBVTT 00:00:00.170 --> 00:00:03.049 Welcome to Drumbeats, the must -listen -to podcast 00:00:03.049 --> 00:00:05.710 which explains why Indigenous partnerships are 00:00:05.710 --> 00:00:08.689 the key to securing successful outcomes in natural 00:00:08.689 --> 00:00:11.070 resource and infrastructure investment in Canada. 00:00:13.230 --> 00:00:16.329 I'm Mark McNacca. Today on Drumbeats, my co -host 00:00:16.329 --> 00:00:19.410 Rob Brant and I are joined by Alex Fallon, CEO 00:00:19.410 --> 00:00:22.230 of Birch Narrows Denny Nation Development Incorporated, 00:00:22.309 --> 00:00:24.750 who are leading one of the most interesting economic 00:00:24.750 --> 00:00:27.070 development opportunities in Saskatchewan's resource 00:00:27.070 --> 00:00:31.210 sector. Alex brings a national and an international 00:00:31.210 --> 00:00:34.390 perspective to the table. He's the founder and 00:00:34.390 --> 00:00:37.530 chair of the Western Canada Economic Forum, and 00:00:37.530 --> 00:00:40.750 for 14 years has served as British Honorary Consul 00:00:40.750 --> 00:00:43.909 to Saskatchewan, helping to connect capital trade 00:00:43.909 --> 00:00:46.890 and opportunity between Indigenous nations and 00:00:46.890 --> 00:00:50.399 international markets. In this episode... You'll 00:00:50.399 --> 00:00:53.520 hear how Indigenous nations are securing early 00:00:53.520 --> 00:00:56.100 -stage economic positions in critical minerals, 00:00:56.299 --> 00:00:59.299 using nation -owned corporations to build lasting 00:00:59.299 --> 00:01:02.320 prosperity, preparing for opportunities in uranium, 00:01:02.619 --> 00:01:05.719 small modular reactors, and energy projects that 00:01:05.719 --> 00:01:08.420 could reshape Western Canada's economy for generations. 00:01:09.579 --> 00:01:12.760 Preparing for opportunities in uranium, small 00:01:12.760 --> 00:01:16.219 modular reactors, and energy projects that could 00:01:16.219 --> 00:01:18.900 reshape Western Canada's economy for generations. 00:01:20.040 --> 00:01:22.719 This conversation serves as a roadmap for Indigenous 00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:25.579 communities to build capacity, launch nation 00:01:25.579 --> 00:01:28.019 -owned businesses, and prepare to become long 00:01:28.019 --> 00:01:31.340 -term equity partners, not just observers, in 00:01:31.340 --> 00:01:35.400 significant projects. Let's get started. Welcome 00:01:35.400 --> 00:01:38.620 to our podcast, Alex Fallon, CEO of the Birch 00:01:38.620 --> 00:01:40.780 and Arrows Denny Nation Development Incorporated. 00:01:41.019 --> 00:01:43.239 Great to have you on the show. Thanks, Mark. 00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:45.700 Great to be here today. Hi, Alex. Great to see 00:01:45.700 --> 00:01:47.579 you again. Thanks for taking the time. Hey, Rob. 00:01:47.599 --> 00:01:50.269 You too. Nice to see you again. Alex, you wear 00:01:50.269 --> 00:01:52.750 a number of hats. So why don't for our viewers 00:01:52.750 --> 00:01:56.650 in the UK who might recognize an accent hidden 00:01:56.650 --> 00:01:59.670 deep in there in your Canadian accent, tell us 00:01:59.670 --> 00:02:02.569 a bit about yourself, your background and how 00:02:02.569 --> 00:02:04.709 you've got to where you are today, because you've 00:02:04.709 --> 00:02:07.760 been over in Canada for a number of years. but 00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:10.659 also representing the UK and now Indigenous nations. 00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:13.039 Yeah, that's right. Thanks, Mark. You know, I 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:15.180 was looking forward to this podcast and our chat 00:02:15.180 --> 00:02:18.020 because my kind of role and experience, I think, 00:02:18.020 --> 00:02:21.340 fits very well with what you folks are doing 00:02:21.340 --> 00:02:24.699 with the summit. So, yeah, I grew up in Saskatchewan, 00:02:24.699 --> 00:02:27.479 so prairie boy at heart. But as a young guy, 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:31.009 about 13, 14, I moved to the UK. So in the UK, 00:02:31.250 --> 00:02:34.030 I went to school in a sunny place called Sleaford, 00:02:34.030 --> 00:02:37.150 Lincolnshire, if you know where that is. University 00:02:37.150 --> 00:02:40.050 started working for the UK government, etc. Long 00:02:40.050 --> 00:02:42.270 story short, moved back to Saskatchewan about 00:02:42.270 --> 00:02:46.229 15 years ago. And during that time, through kind 00:02:46.229 --> 00:02:48.810 of twists of fate, my role has been very much 00:02:48.810 --> 00:02:51.849 in economic development in UK -Canada relations. 00:02:52.669 --> 00:02:56.030 So as you mentioned, I'm the CEO of the BNDDI, 00:02:56.330 --> 00:02:58.810 which is an Indigenous Economic Development Corp. 00:02:59.400 --> 00:03:02.199 I'm also founder and chair of the Western Canada 00:03:02.199 --> 00:03:05.159 Economic Forum, which gives me great insight 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:08.199 into all things Western Canada, resources, agriculture, 00:03:08.460 --> 00:03:11.939 energy, and all that. And then about 14 years 00:03:11.939 --> 00:03:14.539 ago, because I'm not busy enough, I had the good 00:03:14.539 --> 00:03:17.180 fortune of being appointed as the British Honorary 00:03:17.180 --> 00:03:20.680 Consul to Saskatchewan to help on that Saskatchewan 00:03:20.680 --> 00:03:24.080 -UK relationships. So economic development of 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:27.409 First Nations, kind of the Western Canada. outlook 00:03:27.409 --> 00:03:30.830 and knowledge and then the uk saskatchewan uh 00:03:30.830 --> 00:03:34.770 relationship so all comes together uh in terms 00:03:34.770 --> 00:03:38.270 of what i do on a day -to -day basis wow that 00:03:38.270 --> 00:03:42.409 kind of follows the shifting of gravity of canada 00:03:42.409 --> 00:03:45.389 as it's moved gradually to the west and the western 00:03:45.389 --> 00:03:47.710 provinces have played an even in greater role 00:03:47.710 --> 00:03:53.180 in confederation Yeah, agreed. I think, you know, 00:03:53.199 --> 00:03:57.439 that whole natural resources sector across the 00:03:57.439 --> 00:03:59.379 West and then with the ports, the logistics, 00:03:59.460 --> 00:04:01.599 the infrastructure for that trade and exporting 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:04.520 to the world in BC, you know, Western Canada 00:04:04.520 --> 00:04:07.000 is such an interesting kind of big market at 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:10.699 the moment, which is great. And Alex, this isn't 00:04:10.699 --> 00:04:12.479 the first time you've worked with a First Nation, 00:04:12.620 --> 00:04:15.180 but tell us a little bit about Birch Narrows 00:04:15.180 --> 00:04:18.720 Dene Nation. Yeah, really opportunity. So I started 00:04:18.720 --> 00:04:21.860 in this role probably just under a year ago. 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:25.439 And really interesting opportunity because Bursch 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:29.180 Narrows is a small community, small nation, north, 00:04:29.300 --> 00:04:32.399 north, north Saskatchewan. Beautiful location 00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:36.279 right by Turner Lake. And across the lake is 00:04:36.279 --> 00:04:39.319 uranium mine being developed by NextGen, which 00:04:39.319 --> 00:04:41.779 I'm sure you've heard of. So I think once it's 00:04:41.779 --> 00:04:44.629 under... In operations, it'll be one of the, 00:04:44.629 --> 00:04:47.449 well, maybe the largest uranium mine in Saskatchewan. 00:04:47.750 --> 00:04:51.089 So you've got this small nation, about 800 members 00:04:51.089 --> 00:04:55.189 in total, very remote North Saskatchewan, and 00:04:55.189 --> 00:04:58.629 a huge opportunity for economic development with 00:04:58.629 --> 00:05:00.850 the mine site being developed. And then you've 00:05:00.850 --> 00:05:03.370 also got the Paladin mine site kind of further 00:05:03.370 --> 00:05:06.550 down the road and Denison as well. So I saw it 00:05:06.550 --> 00:05:09.430 as a great opportunity to kind of remain in the 00:05:09.430 --> 00:05:13.160 Indigenous economic development space. But such 00:05:13.160 --> 00:05:15.660 a unique opportunity for a small nation like 00:05:15.660 --> 00:05:18.439 that to have what we call mutual benefit agreement 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:21.800 with such a large mining opportunity with NextGen. 00:05:22.040 --> 00:05:25.839 And I've been enjoying trying to, you know, win 00:05:25.839 --> 00:05:27.819 business, which is what it's all about, is get 00:05:27.819 --> 00:05:32.180 involved in business and help the community grow 00:05:32.180 --> 00:05:36.860 and look for employment opportunities. And before 00:05:36.860 --> 00:05:40.339 we talk about what you've been doing with Birch 00:05:40.339 --> 00:05:42.920 Narrows. Maybe talk a little bit about what you 00:05:42.920 --> 00:05:45.560 did previous to that in the First Nation you 00:05:45.560 --> 00:05:49.660 worked with in Saskatchewan. Yeah, so economic 00:05:49.660 --> 00:05:52.639 development career really started. I was in private 00:05:52.639 --> 00:05:55.160 industry with Cameco and other energy companies 00:05:55.160 --> 00:05:57.939 before moving to the government of Saskatchewan 00:05:57.939 --> 00:06:00.220 at the provincial level to do economic development. 00:06:01.129 --> 00:06:03.290 And then moved to the city level to do municipal 00:06:03.290 --> 00:06:06.370 economic development in Saskatoon. But then over 00:06:06.370 --> 00:06:09.509 that kind of 10 -year period, just saw the emergence 00:06:09.509 --> 00:06:11.889 of Indigenous economic development, economic 00:06:11.889 --> 00:06:15.769 reconciliation, and just the uptake in business 00:06:15.769 --> 00:06:20.250 opportunities in that space. So I think four 00:06:20.250 --> 00:06:24.050 years ago, I had the opportunity to join Papika's 00:06:24.050 --> 00:06:26.689 Cree Nation's economic development organization 00:06:26.689 --> 00:06:30.009 called Sparrowhawk, lead that organization for 00:06:30.009 --> 00:06:32.970 about two years. They've since moved that back 00:06:32.970 --> 00:06:36.529 into the nation and then a bit focused on the 00:06:36.529 --> 00:06:39.769 forum and now with Bursch and Arrow. So seeing 00:06:39.769 --> 00:06:42.610 Indigenous economic development with two different 00:06:42.610 --> 00:06:46.410 nations. Different locations, different sizes, 00:06:46.430 --> 00:06:49.589 different issues and opportunities has been a 00:06:49.589 --> 00:06:51.930 great experience and learning opportunity for 00:06:51.930 --> 00:06:56.470 sure. And at Papik, if I got that right, you 00:06:56.470 --> 00:07:01.009 were involved in a really interesting transaction 00:07:01.009 --> 00:07:05.850 with Royal Helium. And it's a great example of 00:07:05.850 --> 00:07:09.250 how we've seen Indigenous participation evolve 00:07:09.250 --> 00:07:12.470 over the years into some really interesting. 00:07:13.740 --> 00:07:16.899 more than just promises of jobs and maybe a royalty 00:07:16.899 --> 00:07:19.639 stream. But tell us a little bit about that transaction 00:07:19.639 --> 00:07:23.379 and why it's so unique. Yeah, so our work with 00:07:23.379 --> 00:07:26.759 Royal Healing was really interesting. You know, 00:07:26.779 --> 00:07:29.819 at Papixis, at Sparrowhawk, we looked at what 00:07:29.819 --> 00:07:32.519 was going on in and around the traditional territory 00:07:32.519 --> 00:07:35.410 of the nation. And one of those things was there 00:07:35.410 --> 00:07:38.529 was huge land ownership from helium companies, 00:07:38.689 --> 00:07:41.389 exploration companies looking to develop the 00:07:41.389 --> 00:07:46.189 helium resource in Saskatchewan. Royal Helium 00:07:46.189 --> 00:07:50.189 was an interesting opportunity because they were 00:07:50.189 --> 00:07:53.490 at that time commissioning a helium plant in 00:07:53.490 --> 00:07:56.410 Alberta. And actually during our discussions, 00:07:56.649 --> 00:08:00.120 they actually moved into production. So which 00:08:00.120 --> 00:08:03.160 was a huge achievement and did some exports to 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:06.579 the US. At the same time, they had some significant 00:08:06.579 --> 00:08:09.800 land holdings in Saskatchewan, again, near the 00:08:09.800 --> 00:08:12.620 nation. And we're like, this is a great opportunity 00:08:12.620 --> 00:08:15.019 for us to be involved in the development of that 00:08:15.019 --> 00:08:18.519 resource. So we worked with Royal Helium for 00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:22.060 a long time, developed an MOU for an investment. 00:08:22.259 --> 00:08:24.420 And we were looking at other government programs 00:08:24.420 --> 00:08:28.370 that could support that investment. So for example, 00:08:28.970 --> 00:08:31.089 there's the Saskatchewan Indigenous Investment 00:08:31.089 --> 00:08:34.750 Finance Corp that provided loan guarantees to 00:08:34.750 --> 00:08:36.889 certain types of projects, especially in the 00:08:36.889 --> 00:08:39.370 resource sector. Now, Royal Helium went through 00:08:39.370 --> 00:08:41.190 some changes. I think there's been a change of 00:08:41.190 --> 00:08:44.350 ownership. We never kind of finalized that investment. 00:08:44.590 --> 00:08:48.370 But it was a good example of a First Nation looking 00:08:48.370 --> 00:08:51.490 to get involved early in the critical mineral 00:08:51.490 --> 00:08:55.070 space, work with a company, develop a framework 00:08:55.070 --> 00:08:59.419 for a deal. and kind of be ready to move. Market 00:08:59.419 --> 00:09:01.639 conditions and corporate restructuring kind of 00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:05.899 prevented that. But it was such an interesting 00:09:05.899 --> 00:09:08.299 process to get First Nations involved in that 00:09:08.299 --> 00:09:11.840 opportunity. I think that just reinforces the 00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:15.019 importance of Saskatchewan in terms of mining 00:09:15.019 --> 00:09:18.059 and critical minerals across the board. And, 00:09:18.159 --> 00:09:20.259 you know, it's one of the largest producers of 00:09:20.259 --> 00:09:23.600 potash. uh in the world can you talk a little 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:25.539 bit about the Saskatchewan's critical mineral 00:09:25.539 --> 00:09:32.059 strategy and the overall market yes Saskatchewan's 00:09:32.059 --> 00:09:36.320 got such a unique uh natural resources uh history 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:39.039 and I hate to admit it but when I first moved 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:41.539 to the UK people would say where are you from 00:09:41.539 --> 00:09:44.340 and you know for the first while I would say 00:09:44.340 --> 00:09:48.049 Saskatoon Saskatchewan And they, you know, they 00:09:48.049 --> 00:09:49.990 couldn't pronounce it. They'd never heard of 00:09:49.990 --> 00:09:52.809 it. They didn't know where it was. And you kind 00:09:52.809 --> 00:09:54.750 of got tired of trying to explain it, especially 00:09:54.750 --> 00:09:59.570 in just informal, you know, chitchat. So I started 00:09:59.570 --> 00:10:02.570 saying I'm from near Calgary because that was 00:10:02.570 --> 00:10:05.970 just, that was terrible. My Saskatchewan friends 00:10:05.970 --> 00:10:08.649 are going to think, not going to be happy with 00:10:08.649 --> 00:10:11.990 that. But that was kind of, so this was, gosh, 00:10:12.210 --> 00:10:18.169 1993, 92. So that time, yes, Saskatchewan wasn't 00:10:18.169 --> 00:10:20.850 really talked about in the UK. And I say close 00:10:20.850 --> 00:10:22.830 to Calgary, we're about a six hour drive from 00:10:22.830 --> 00:10:24.629 there. So that gives you an indication of the 00:10:24.629 --> 00:10:27.870 space. But, you know, the Saskatchewan story 00:10:27.870 --> 00:10:30.570 really started with this bread basket of the 00:10:30.570 --> 00:10:34.149 world concept, where we were the largest exporter 00:10:34.149 --> 00:10:37.029 of wheat in the world. And that was kind of the 00:10:37.029 --> 00:10:41.360 foundation of Saskatchewan. It wasn't until years 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:43.360 later, I think it was the 60s, but we should 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:46.559 fact check that, where Saskatchewan moved into 00:10:46.559 --> 00:10:49.519 uranium production. You mentioned potash being 00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:52.440 one of the world's largest exporters of potash, 00:10:52.440 --> 00:10:55.980 producers of potash. And you had this agriculture, 00:10:56.279 --> 00:11:01.179 mainly wheat, uranium, potash mix. But then from 00:11:01.179 --> 00:11:02.720 there, it's really developed the agricultural 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:08.029 resources. breadbasket of the world, I view very 00:11:08.029 --> 00:11:11.230 much as a global grocery store, where we've got 00:11:11.230 --> 00:11:16.110 the wheat, but it's lentils, peas, canola, mustard, 00:11:16.590 --> 00:11:20.129 flax seeds, etc. So that agriculture sector is 00:11:20.129 --> 00:11:25.049 just enormous. Uranium, potash, you know, foundations 00:11:25.049 --> 00:11:28.450 to the economy, but now critical minerals. And 00:11:28.450 --> 00:11:31.590 so looking to develop those minerals in Saskatchewan 00:11:31.590 --> 00:11:33.779 like helium. It's kind of, I think, an evolution 00:11:33.779 --> 00:11:37.039 for the Saskatchewan economy. And that's why 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:39.519 I think it's such an exciting point because it's 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:43.019 growing our products, so to speak, and getting 00:11:43.019 --> 00:11:46.000 those to the world and getting global investors 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:50.220 involved in this opportunity. Yes. And so when 00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:53.240 you speak about that, just thank you for providing 00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:56.779 the background. And I'm sure besides not knowing 00:11:56.779 --> 00:11:58.820 where Saskatchewan is, but it's in the center 00:11:58.820 --> 00:12:01.279 of the country, I think, just slightly west of 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:06.610 center. that's manitoba uh but i guess in saskatchewan 00:12:06.610 --> 00:12:08.809 when you go when you see the highway saying north 00:12:08.809 --> 00:12:11.049 it has a different sensation because i always 00:12:11.049 --> 00:12:13.850 laugh at my friends here when you leave london 00:12:13.850 --> 00:12:15.470 and you're heading north there's a big sign in 00:12:15.470 --> 00:12:17.870 the north and you drive you know five hours and 00:12:17.870 --> 00:12:21.009 you're there right exactly i family and i did 00:12:21.009 --> 00:12:24.889 a road trip from saskatoon to vancouver over 00:12:24.889 --> 00:12:28.029 the summer and it was about 18 hours And that 00:12:28.029 --> 00:12:30.230 was just Saskatchewan, Alberta. That's just going 00:12:30.230 --> 00:12:33.590 west. That's just going west. So just huge. And 00:12:33.590 --> 00:12:36.529 that, I think, speaks to the resource opportunity, 00:12:36.909 --> 00:12:40.830 just the land mass. I think Saskatchewan has 00:12:40.830 --> 00:12:46.309 about 40 % of Canada's arable farmland. But then 00:12:46.309 --> 00:12:49.669 the challenges of transport logistics, remote 00:12:49.669 --> 00:12:53.350 mining, huge farms, northern conditions, minus 00:12:53.350 --> 00:12:56.210 30 weather, all those things. So very unique. 00:12:56.720 --> 00:13:02.000 um place in the economy yes and also the percentage 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:05.320 of indigenous people in the province is i think 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:07.220 one of the highest if not the highest in the 00:13:07.220 --> 00:13:10.039 country yeah correct good point you know the 00:13:10.039 --> 00:13:12.679 entire province of saskatchewan which i think 00:13:12.679 --> 00:13:15.840 is about the size of germany france but huge 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:20.860 uh current population is only 1 .2 million so 00:13:20.860 --> 00:13:22.580 i don't i don't know how many neighborhoods of 00:13:22.580 --> 00:13:26.049 london that would be but You know, it's a fraction 00:13:26.049 --> 00:13:29.590 the size of the city of London. In this entire 00:13:29.590 --> 00:13:32.669 province, spread across two major cities, Regina 00:13:32.669 --> 00:13:36.490 and Saskatchewan, and then big rural communities 00:13:36.490 --> 00:13:40.409 as well. So, again, that makes it a unique place 00:13:40.409 --> 00:13:43.529 and, you know, challenges as well in terms of 00:13:43.529 --> 00:13:46.950 the workforce available. But on the Indigenous 00:13:46.950 --> 00:13:49.029 side, you're right, Mark, I mean, large Indigenous 00:13:49.029 --> 00:13:51.509 population and specifically in terms of youth. 00:13:51.690 --> 00:13:54.669 So over the next 10, 15 years, that's going to 00:13:54.669 --> 00:13:58.370 grow. And, you know, that's why employment for 00:13:58.370 --> 00:14:01.049 First Nations communities is so important because 00:14:01.049 --> 00:14:03.789 it's the future, it's the present and also the 00:14:03.789 --> 00:14:06.409 future of Saskatchewan in terms of demographics. 00:14:07.830 --> 00:14:10.629 Yeah, it is more ingrained Indigenous participation 00:14:10.629 --> 00:14:13.269 in the economy in Saskatchewan is more ingrained 00:14:13.269 --> 00:14:15.779 and there's a longer history of. Things like 00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:21.559 partnerships and meaningful involvement and Indigenous 00:14:21.559 --> 00:14:26.059 -owned businesses doing some pretty amazing things. 00:14:26.580 --> 00:14:29.779 What are you working on at Birch Narrows that's 00:14:29.779 --> 00:14:35.059 interesting? Yeah, so at the moment, I mentioned 00:14:35.059 --> 00:14:37.639 we have this mutual benefit agreement, partnership 00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:40.740 agreement with NextGen. So we've already started 00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:42.919 doing some work with NextGen, which is fantastic. 00:14:43.340 --> 00:14:47.519 I have a couple of contracts with them to provide 00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:50.759 services at the mine site. So we're doing some 00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:53.860 work around waste management and also security 00:14:53.860 --> 00:14:56.919 and electrical. It's a great starting point, 00:14:57.019 --> 00:14:59.679 absolutely. But when you look at the NextGen 00:14:59.679 --> 00:15:02.419 site, I think it's... They mentioned a $2 billion 00:15:02.419 --> 00:15:04.879 project, $2 billion investment, probably increasing 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:07.960 since I looked. You know, and they've made a 00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:10.100 commitment to spend a certain percentage with 00:15:10.100 --> 00:15:14.340 Indigenous nations and organizations. So that's, 00:15:14.340 --> 00:15:17.320 you know, for a nation like Burjaneros, that's 00:15:17.320 --> 00:15:21.580 a $100 million -ish opportunity. And so I would 00:15:21.580 --> 00:15:25.259 say we're at the start. Electrical, some waste 00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:28.899 management, security. But it's like the sky's 00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:31.059 the limit in terms of what areas we can get involved 00:15:31.059 --> 00:15:33.539 in. You know, there's shaft sinking and the underground 00:15:33.539 --> 00:15:37.500 mining and environmental monitoring and things 00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:39.519 like that to be done. So we're really focusing 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:44.580 on that in the process of finalizing an MBA with 00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:48.159 Paladin, was the fission organization. So obviously 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:50.580 that uranium mining sector is huge for us, huge 00:15:50.580 --> 00:15:53.600 opportunity for us, the next gen Paladin. You've 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:57.340 got Denison down the way as well. At the same 00:15:57.340 --> 00:15:59.860 time, we've all seen commodity markets go up 00:15:59.860 --> 00:16:02.919 and down and nuclear industry uranium is on a 00:16:02.919 --> 00:16:06.440 growth stage at the moment. But there's that 00:16:06.440 --> 00:16:08.600 risk that at some point something could happen, 00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:11.159 the price could drop, those mines slowed down. 00:16:12.299 --> 00:16:14.440 And so because of that, we started looking at 00:16:14.440 --> 00:16:17.200 other opportunities as well, kind of outside 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:19.600 the mining sector. So I think it's important 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:22.539 to, you know, our focus, priority, absolutely, 00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:24.940 is the resource sector in northern Saskatchewan. 00:16:26.409 --> 00:16:29.549 You know, commodities go up and down, and it's 00:16:29.549 --> 00:16:32.110 looking at what else we can do. And so that's 00:16:32.110 --> 00:16:34.610 exciting because you can do a little bit of both. 00:16:35.389 --> 00:16:39.250 Yes. And what about the transition in terms of 00:16:39.250 --> 00:16:41.909 your current role and what you've done in the 00:16:41.909 --> 00:16:44.149 past up to now? And all of a sudden, the world 00:16:44.149 --> 00:16:46.929 changed at the beginning of this year, right? 00:16:46.990 --> 00:16:51.049 Our southern neighbor became unstable, to say 00:16:51.049 --> 00:16:55.360 the least, changed their priorities. Building 00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:57.360 Canada Act, Prime Minister Carney won the election, 00:16:57.580 --> 00:17:01.340 got his mandate, trying to speed things up. How 00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:04.079 does the work you're doing fit in terms of some 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:06.720 of these bigger projects that are going on? Because 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:09.400 this is a sizable investment you're talking about. 00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:13.160 Yes, good point, Mark. The US has always been 00:17:13.160 --> 00:17:16.799 Saskatchewan's leading customer and market. I 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:20.599 think it will remain that way because it's just 00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:23.920 such a huge trading relationship. But kind of 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:26.799 that instability, maybe, or uncertainty, kind 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:30.240 of the changes you mentioned, have, and I think 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:36.680 this is a good thing, kind of accelerated Saskatchewan's 00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:40.039 need to diversify its markets. And to be fair 00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:41.619 to the government of Saskatchewan, they had already 00:17:41.619 --> 00:17:44.220 started this, recognized this and started this 00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:48.059 process over the last several years. So you've 00:17:48.059 --> 00:17:50.519 seen Saskatchewan open up international trade 00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:55.210 offices. The UK office opened years ago, but 00:17:55.210 --> 00:17:59.349 not decades. Yes, and have done very well at 00:17:59.349 --> 00:18:02.150 raising the profile of Saskatchewan. Having that 00:18:02.150 --> 00:18:05.809 person in market, in office, every day, meeting 00:18:05.809 --> 00:18:08.829 with investors and partners is huge. You see 00:18:08.829 --> 00:18:12.309 Saskatchewan put offices in Asia, India, and 00:18:12.309 --> 00:18:15.750 kind of across the world. So it's fortunate they've 00:18:15.750 --> 00:18:19.710 started that journey, diversified markets. Number 00:18:19.710 --> 00:18:23.269 one customer is the U .S. So that's interesting 00:18:23.269 --> 00:18:25.890 because it's starting to make the First Nations 00:18:25.890 --> 00:18:29.569 think about exporting products to the world, 00:18:29.589 --> 00:18:33.450 not just to the U .S. Hear, hear to that, Alex. 00:18:35.089 --> 00:18:38.769 And as Mark and you have said, Saskatchewan during 00:18:38.769 --> 00:18:43.130 my time in London was always visible. Premier 00:18:43.130 --> 00:18:48.799 has visited the office, the trade office. And 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:52.480 participating in things like our summit last 00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:55.440 year, a big delegation from Saskatchewan. Yeah. 00:18:56.079 --> 00:19:00.480 And lots of international trade possibilities 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:03.240 opening up more and more all the time. Do you 00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:07.500 see international investors outside North America 00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:11.700 taking a new, renewed interest in Canada and 00:19:11.700 --> 00:19:14.109 Saskatchewan? In particular? Yeah, definitely. 00:19:14.329 --> 00:19:17.549 And you mentioned that, and time flies. I remember, 00:19:17.849 --> 00:19:20.710 I'm sure he wasn't the first premier to visit 00:19:20.710 --> 00:19:23.029 the UK, but I remember my first international 00:19:23.029 --> 00:19:26.009 mission with the Saskatchewan government to the 00:19:26.009 --> 00:19:29.910 UK with former Premier Brad Wall. And gosh, that 00:19:29.910 --> 00:19:34.890 would have been 2012 -ish, I think, maybe 2011. 00:19:35.970 --> 00:19:40.009 Yeah, he spoke to the Canada -UK Chamber of Commerce. 00:19:40.089 --> 00:19:42.240 That's right. Yeah, that's right. That's probably 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:44.440 where we first met. And Nigel and the team there, 00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:47.119 you know, did a great job. And, you know, we 00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:50.960 had a great turnout. And, you know, I think that 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:52.839 was the first time a lot of people in the audience 00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:56.099 heard the story about Saskatchewan. And since 00:19:56.099 --> 00:19:58.420 then, you've mentioned the work the current government 00:19:58.420 --> 00:20:01.359 of Saskatchewan has done, Premier Mo, the UK 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:04.380 office. So, yeah, now people have heard the story 00:20:04.380 --> 00:20:06.660 once, they're hearing it again. And now they've 00:20:06.660 --> 00:20:08.859 kind of moved from the thought process of like, 00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:13.089 oh, wow, interesting to hear that. And now they're 00:20:13.089 --> 00:20:16.529 like, oh, this is an opportunity. And how do 00:20:16.529 --> 00:20:21.230 we invest? So I think that kind of education 00:20:21.230 --> 00:20:24.349 and knowledge and interest journey has happened. 00:20:24.430 --> 00:20:28.509 And now we're moving to kind of investment discussions. 00:20:28.970 --> 00:20:31.289 And I saw the great delegation of Indigenous 00:20:31.289 --> 00:20:35.490 leaders that went to the summit in London. And, 00:20:35.609 --> 00:20:37.130 you know, when I first saw that, I was like, 00:20:37.170 --> 00:20:40.430 what? And I was like, wow. That's amazing. Some 00:20:40.430 --> 00:20:42.950 of the most significant leaders in Indigenous 00:20:42.950 --> 00:20:45.930 economic development in Saskatchewan go into 00:20:45.930 --> 00:20:49.630 the UK to talk about investments to a large UK 00:20:49.630 --> 00:20:53.609 and international audience. And now we're like, 00:20:53.769 --> 00:20:57.349 okay, 10 years ago, never would have happened. 00:20:57.490 --> 00:20:59.869 It wasn't even being talked about. And if you'd 00:20:59.869 --> 00:21:01.769 said 10 years ago, you're going to the UK to 00:21:01.769 --> 00:21:04.309 talk to investors as an Indigenous economic development 00:21:04.309 --> 00:21:07.140 organization, people would be like, what? What? 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:09.359 Why are you doing that? We don't even have our 00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:11.799 first investment in Saskatchewan. We're working 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:15.420 on our first couple. International markets, UK 00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:18.799 large investors, Saskatchewan, indigenous. You 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:20.380 wouldn't have believed it if someone told me 00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:24.460 this 15 years ago. So when the summit came along 00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:27.480 and you see that delegation, it was just like 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:31.799 a perfect kind of picture of how things have 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:36.230 changed. And I'm working on some things that 00:21:36.230 --> 00:21:38.890 touch on Saskatchewan that had their genesis 00:21:38.890 --> 00:21:44.190 at the summit. So yeah, that delegation, those 00:21:44.190 --> 00:21:47.309 folks are believers in the value of outreach 00:21:47.309 --> 00:21:51.730 across the Atlantic. Exactly. And I've seen this 00:21:51.730 --> 00:21:53.650 with the Western Canada Economic Forum too, where 00:21:53.650 --> 00:21:56.829 you start the first couple of years and you have 00:21:56.829 --> 00:22:00.450 this, you know, these delegations come. Imagine 00:22:00.450 --> 00:22:04.390 it in five years or 10 years. You know, I think 00:22:04.390 --> 00:22:07.309 the summit is going to be the stage where deals 00:22:07.309 --> 00:22:09.549 are getting announced, investments are getting 00:22:09.549 --> 00:22:11.730 announced, and more and more people are going 00:22:11.730 --> 00:22:13.650 to be interested. So it's exciting to see how 00:22:13.650 --> 00:22:15.750 you've gone from, you know, there wasn't a summit 00:22:15.750 --> 00:22:19.329 back in my day to this summit gets pulled together. 00:22:19.809 --> 00:22:22.990 First year was great. It's gone like this. And 00:22:22.990 --> 00:22:25.769 it's like, okay, you know, our strategic plan, 00:22:25.990 --> 00:22:28.809 what does that look like for five years now for 00:22:28.809 --> 00:22:31.910 a nation like Birch Narrows to be on that international 00:22:31.910 --> 00:22:36.259 stage? So it's exciting to see what, yeah, it's 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:39.519 exciting. Great. Thank you for that. Just to 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:43.180 come back, as your Royal British Honorary Consul, 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:46.319 what's the perspective now when you're talking 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:51.420 to guests from the UK, potential investors, they're 00:22:51.420 --> 00:22:54.279 coming to Saskatchewan, how do they perceive 00:22:54.279 --> 00:22:58.539 Canada post -Brexit? Yeah, you know, it's the 00:22:58.539 --> 00:23:01.099 old story about Saskatchewan kind of being the 00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:04.200 place investors, international visitors fly over. 00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:07.339 They traditionally did these delegations, investor 00:23:07.339 --> 00:23:11.140 groups, probably fly into Toronto or Ottawa, 00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:14.240 you know, look at some opportunities there. And 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:17.779 they would, you know, the stereotype is fly to 00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:20.279 Calgary, bypassing Saskatchewan. So that definitely 00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:23.920 happened a lot, especially 10, 15, 20 years ago. 00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:27.200 And I think that was still the case when I started 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:29.500 in the honorary consul role. And part of their 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:33.180 role was to help the UK government on that trade 00:23:33.180 --> 00:23:37.480 and investment relationship. Great consul general 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:41.940 office in Calgary, managing Manitoba, Saskatchewan 00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:44.700 and Alberta. And I think now what you're seeing 00:23:44.700 --> 00:23:49.720 is investors are coming to the West. And so they 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:52.799 might still start off in Toronto. But they will 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:55.960 look at the West and it'll be Saskatchewan, maybe 00:23:55.960 --> 00:23:58.740 a night or two in Alberta, Calgary, Edmonton, 00:23:58.759 --> 00:24:02.380 and then maybe finish in BC. So it's gone from, 00:24:02.380 --> 00:24:04.880 you know, kind of investors, I think, thinking 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:08.619 of the opportunity as provincial, going to energy, 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:10.799 we're going to the Global Petroleum Show in Calgary 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:13.519 and we'll find home. And now they're like, huh, 00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:16.119 you know, let's go to Saskatchewan and talk about 00:24:16.119 --> 00:24:18.240 oil and gas because we have a good energy sector. 00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:20.420 Let's look at other investment opportunities. 00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:24.500 and maybe leave from Vancouver. So in my time 00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:26.099 as honorary consul, I've definitely seen the 00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:29.380 shift of, you know, trying to get investors here. 00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:32.119 And now they're coming on their own and they're 00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:34.119 making a couple of stops in Canada, which I think 00:24:34.119 --> 00:24:37.720 is great because to me, the opportunity, you 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:39.619 know, should never just be provincial, right? 00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:42.079 We're going to do investments in business in 00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:45.660 Alberta. It's like, well, you know, you kind 00:24:45.660 --> 00:24:49.039 of erase these. provincial borders and there's 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:51.819 business opportunities across Canada, but across 00:24:51.819 --> 00:24:55.359 the West, especially in the energy, natural resources 00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:58.980 sector. So that's been a huge change that you 00:24:58.980 --> 00:25:02.660 can see on these delegations. And what about 00:25:02.660 --> 00:25:05.779 the perspective of working through environmental 00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:08.599 legislation at the federal level and provincial 00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:10.960 level? Have you started to see some changes on 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:13.240 that under Prime Minister Carney's leadership? 00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:16.539 Are they pushing it down more to the provincial 00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:18.859 level or what's going on with that regard? Yeah, 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:21.579 I think, you know, Carney's made some good, you 00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:23.680 know, announcements and commitments and maybe 00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:25.519 trying to shift the culture a little bit around 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:28.420 that approval process because you do have that 00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:31.359 unique situation of that, you know, provincial 00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:35.240 jurisdiction and then the national, I guess, 00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:38.740 oversight or another approval process to go through. 00:25:39.059 --> 00:25:41.319 So, you know, too early to say what will happen, 00:25:41.380 --> 00:25:44.069 but... The hope is that streamlines the regulatory 00:25:44.069 --> 00:25:47.910 process, gives investors certainty and speeds 00:25:47.910 --> 00:25:50.130 up, you know, in an environmentally conscious 00:25:50.130 --> 00:25:53.349 way, the development of the resource opportunities. 00:25:54.009 --> 00:25:56.069 There have been some concrete steps on that. 00:25:56.170 --> 00:25:58.670 Absolutely. Just in the last few weeks. And I 00:25:58.670 --> 00:26:00.569 can't remember whether Saskatchewan is part of 00:26:00.569 --> 00:26:02.730 it or not. I'm sure they'll become part of it 00:26:02.730 --> 00:26:07.170 if not yet. But Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario have 00:26:07.170 --> 00:26:10.329 all signed. agreements with the feds where the 00:26:10.329 --> 00:26:12.750 federal government is going to relinquish and 00:26:12.750 --> 00:26:16.690 delegate some of its authorities to the provinces 00:26:16.690 --> 00:26:20.450 to reduce duplication and hopefully speed up 00:26:20.450 --> 00:26:23.890 some of these timelines for major projects. Yeah, 00:26:23.950 --> 00:26:26.730 absolutely right. Good point. And I think every 00:26:26.730 --> 00:26:29.849 year the Fraser Institute, one of the leading 00:26:29.849 --> 00:26:34.519 think tanks in Canada, does their i forget the 00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:36.220 exact title of the report but it's kind of like 00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:38.619 top investment jurisdictions in the world for 00:26:38.619 --> 00:26:41.619 natural resources and saskatchewan always ranks 00:26:41.619 --> 00:26:43.740 as far as i can remember kind of you know one 00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:46.880 to four and often at the top of that so you know 00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:49.220 that speaks to yes there's that environmental 00:26:49.220 --> 00:26:53.539 framework but the overall kind of stability and 00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:57.740 then the regulatory environment is still you 00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:59.559 know world class and if we can speed that up 00:26:59.559 --> 00:27:02.240 a little bit that's great i know kind of from 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:05.180 a burst narrows angle that you know there's nothing 00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:10.460 um more important than the environmental uh regulations 00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:13.400 around these mine sites especially in beautiful 00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:17.779 natural kind of untouched places like northern 00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:21.660 saskatchewan just building on that coming back 00:27:21.660 --> 00:27:24.539 to your role also as chair and founder of the 00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:28.079 western canada economic forum what do you see 00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:32.240 as the overall And what are some of the key issues 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:35.519 members of the forum are talking about with you 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:40.940 and other supporters of the forum? Yeah, I think 00:27:40.940 --> 00:27:44.599 the way I look at it is each of the provinces, 00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:47.339 Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, BC, each of 00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:49.200 those provinces have different opportunities 00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:51.619 and challenges. And I'll speak to those in a 00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:54.920 second. But then when you zoom out and look at 00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:57.740 it as a Western Canadian market and put all that 00:27:57.740 --> 00:28:02.750 together, it's like, Wow. Then you're really 00:28:02.750 --> 00:28:06.230 talking about all those key sectors. And I think 00:28:06.230 --> 00:28:10.269 you look at Manitoba, strong manufacturing sector. 00:28:10.569 --> 00:28:13.490 It's been a transport and logistics hub with 00:28:13.490 --> 00:28:17.569 Centerport and access to the U .S. market. I 00:28:17.569 --> 00:28:20.089 think for Manitoba, there's a defense opportunity 00:28:20.089 --> 00:28:23.349 now with the federal government moving in or 00:28:23.349 --> 00:28:25.650 trying to accelerate investment into the defense 00:28:25.650 --> 00:28:29.019 sector. Manitoba is well positioned. for that 00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:31.539 with the strong manufacturing sector, transport 00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:35.579 logistics. Also that Arctic Gateway opportunity, 00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:38.380 the Port of Churchill, we talked about diversifying 00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:40.299 trade markets, getting these Western Canadian 00:28:40.299 --> 00:28:44.440 commodities to market, having another port would 00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:48.759 obviously help that. Then I've mentioned Saskatchewan 00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:52.680 agriculture, mining, you've got obviously Alberta 00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:57.420 oil and gas, BC ag products and so on. So I think 00:28:57.980 --> 00:29:00.240 You know, they're unique, but I think for investors 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:03.119 to think of it as one market and expanding into 00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:08.279 Canada, into the West, so much potential. And 00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:13.440 all of that, you know, small population. And 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:16.819 so we need more investors. We need talent. We 00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:19.160 need supply chain companies. We need companies 00:29:19.160 --> 00:29:22.220 coming here and setting up. And, you know, that's 00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:25.480 the opportunity is the investment, but also being. 00:29:25.900 --> 00:29:29.059 part of the opportunity in terms of having offices 00:29:29.059 --> 00:29:35.759 and being here in the business as well. Maybe 00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:38.900 talk a little bit about the forum. What's in 00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:43.789 store for 2026? Yeah, you know, it's really about 00:29:43.789 --> 00:29:46.630 this uncertainty with the U .S. and how that 00:29:46.630 --> 00:29:48.609 impacts it and kind of everything we've talked 00:29:48.609 --> 00:29:51.309 about. So that will be a big focus. I'm looking 00:29:51.309 --> 00:29:53.990 forward to hearing Premier Canoe speak about 00:29:53.990 --> 00:29:57.069 the opportunity for Manitoba. They just, I think, 00:29:57.089 --> 00:30:00.930 two months ago, released a new economic growth 00:30:00.930 --> 00:30:04.250 strategy. And also, you know, hearing from some 00:30:04.250 --> 00:30:08.089 of the business associations. So I think one 00:30:08.089 --> 00:30:11.140 really. insightful one will be a talk from what 00:30:11.140 --> 00:30:14.180 is called the Western Business Coalition, which 00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:16.220 is a partnership between the Business Council 00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:20.160 of BC, Business Council of Alberta, the SAS Chamber, 00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:23.000 and the Business Council of Manitoba. They've 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:25.359 really started working together around this, 00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:29.559 how do you use natural resources to drive Canadian 00:30:29.559 --> 00:30:33.319 and Western Canadian prosperity? And that's the 00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:35.640 unique thing about the forum. Traditionally, 00:30:35.640 --> 00:30:38.539 there's been a Saskatchewan Economic Outlook 00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:42.579 event, Saskatchewan speakers, Saskatchewan story 00:30:42.579 --> 00:30:44.559 to a Saskatchewan audience, and a lot of them 00:30:44.559 --> 00:30:46.940 know each other. And that's great. You absolutely 00:30:46.940 --> 00:30:49.339 need that. But when you, again, zoom out, have 00:30:49.339 --> 00:30:52.059 that Western discussion, and you have BC coming 00:30:52.059 --> 00:30:55.319 to the West, to Manitoba, to talk about their 00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:58.319 economic opportunity, that's that education we 00:30:58.319 --> 00:31:02.420 need and kind of the mindset of multiple opportunities 00:31:02.420 --> 00:31:05.799 across the provinces. You don't just need to 00:31:05.799 --> 00:31:10.160 invest in one. When is the forum in 2026? Yeah, 00:31:10.180 --> 00:31:14.079 coming up January 22nd and 23rd in Manitoba. 00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:17.339 You know, we started the forum in Calgary. This 00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:20.519 year we're in Regina. Next year, Winnipeg. And 00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:24.960 similar to the summit, the kind of attention 00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:28.079 and speakers and audience is just growing each 00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:32.339 year. So, yeah, it's been an exciting ride and 00:31:32.339 --> 00:31:37.420 hard work, as you know. Yes, absolutely. Alex, 00:31:37.420 --> 00:31:41.099 at last year's summit, there was the beginning 00:31:41.099 --> 00:31:43.380 of this discussion about the nuclear opportunity 00:31:43.380 --> 00:31:46.140 in Saskatchewan. Can you give us an update on 00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:49.700 what you're hearing at the moment in Saskatchewan 00:31:49.700 --> 00:31:52.849 in terms of that opportunity that faces? Not 00:31:52.849 --> 00:31:54.410 in the province, but the country. Yeah, good 00:31:54.410 --> 00:31:57.430 point, Mark. I think that nuclear file is one 00:31:57.430 --> 00:32:00.150 of the most exciting kind of new opportunities 00:32:00.150 --> 00:32:03.569 in Saskatchewan for partners and investors. So 00:32:03.569 --> 00:32:06.410 again, going back years, it was uranium exports. 00:32:06.690 --> 00:32:09.390 We weren't doing much value added in the province. 00:32:10.589 --> 00:32:14.450 If any, it was all about exporting to other facilities, 00:32:14.609 --> 00:32:18.109 other markets. Now, you know, that nuclear discussion 00:32:18.109 --> 00:32:23.619 has started. The opportunity for SMRs in Saskatchewan, 00:32:23.640 --> 00:32:26.200 I think, is huge for remote communities, even 00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:31.000 for the municipal population. And that one's 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:33.519 going to be international partners. Saskatchewan 00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:36.799 is not a nuclear powerhouse at the moment. Obviously, 00:32:36.880 --> 00:32:39.160 Canada has a strong nuclear sector, specifically 00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:41.619 in Ontario. So seeing these partnerships with 00:32:41.619 --> 00:32:44.240 companies like Bruce Power, Ontario Power Generation 00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:47.779 is huge. And an indication of that is a few months 00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:51.579 ago, the Canadian Nuclear Association held the 00:32:51.579 --> 00:32:55.140 first, I think, I'm pretty sure, Canadian Nuclear 00:32:55.140 --> 00:33:00.740 Association West Conference. And it was hundreds 00:33:00.740 --> 00:33:04.859 of delegations. And that just speaks to the seriousness 00:33:04.859 --> 00:33:07.500 of this opportunity in Saskatchewan. Government 00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:09.019 has made it clear that, you know, we're going 00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:11.460 to move down the nuclear path, going to look 00:33:11.460 --> 00:33:14.839 at SMRs, maybe larger scale in the future. And 00:33:14.839 --> 00:33:19.799 that's absolutely newish, recent policy direction 00:33:19.799 --> 00:33:23.599 opportunity. So getting the supply chain ready 00:33:23.599 --> 00:33:26.339 for that. And there's an opportunity there for 00:33:26.339 --> 00:33:29.460 the UK in terms of the nuclear industry and experience 00:33:29.460 --> 00:33:32.799 you have is huge. What partnerships exist there 00:33:32.799 --> 00:33:35.799 on the investment side, kind of the technology, 00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:39.950 the infrastructure. Opportunity is huge as well. 00:33:40.029 --> 00:33:42.630 So that's another exciting one, which years ago, 00:33:42.769 --> 00:33:44.589 we wouldn't have been talking about that. And 00:33:44.589 --> 00:33:48.549 so that's a real emerging opportunity, absolutely. 00:33:49.930 --> 00:33:52.430 And would some of that power that would be generated 00:33:52.430 --> 00:33:57.460 also be flowing across provincial borders? Yeah. 00:33:57.460 --> 00:34:00.359 From what you've heard? I think the possibility 00:34:00.359 --> 00:34:02.460 is there for sure. I know that happens in a lot 00:34:02.460 --> 00:34:04.779 of provinces with different energy producers. 00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:07.299 So, you know, that would be exciting to see that 00:34:07.299 --> 00:34:10.059 happen. I think the first goal is kind of in 00:34:10.059 --> 00:34:12.400 Saskatchewan, but absolutely, if that sector 00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:16.139 grows and you can look at, again, that interprovincial 00:34:16.139 --> 00:34:21.840 cooperation and trade and opportunity would be 00:34:21.840 --> 00:34:25.519 fantastic. It's more markets for the provincial 00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:30.539 producers. Yes, well, that will be amazing if 00:34:30.539 --> 00:34:35.119 and when small modular reactors set up in Saskatchewan. 00:34:35.239 --> 00:34:38.039 If you look at France today, and you compared 00:34:38.039 --> 00:34:41.519 that in terms of landmass earlier, 70 % of power, 00:34:41.639 --> 00:34:43.599 obviously a different population level, but I 00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:46.559 think nearly 70 % of the power is nuclear generated. 00:34:46.980 --> 00:34:50.260 And it just gives us stability. And from a geographic 00:34:50.260 --> 00:34:54.519 perspective and stability, you can't ask for 00:34:54.519 --> 00:34:57.480 a safer place in Canada. Besides Saskatchewan. 00:34:57.559 --> 00:35:00.000 Exactly. And I think a lot of that uranium in 00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:02.039 France for the nuclear fuel would have come from 00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:04.940 Saskatchewan, right? A large percentage of it. 00:35:05.159 --> 00:35:07.380 And so to see Saskatchewan kind of move down 00:35:07.380 --> 00:35:11.980 the value chain to become a nuclear utility in 00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:17.260 the future is a game changer. Wow. Really something. 00:35:18.280 --> 00:35:20.639 Alex Fallon, it's great of you to take time. 00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:22.960 It's been interesting talking to you, finding 00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:24.719 out what's happening in Saskatchewan. I know 00:35:24.719 --> 00:35:29.750 you've got our Canadian High Commissioner to 00:35:29.750 --> 00:35:34.190 the UK returning to Saskatchewan. He has returned 00:35:34.190 --> 00:35:37.530 to Saskatchewan and he's been a great friend 00:35:37.530 --> 00:35:42.619 to First Nations and other Indigenous. people 00:35:42.619 --> 00:35:45.739 as well. He was in his role in the UK. And I 00:35:45.739 --> 00:35:49.260 know you'll do well to have him back in Saskatchewan. 00:35:49.340 --> 00:35:51.599 But thanks for joining us today. Yeah, thanks 00:35:51.599 --> 00:35:53.880 for having me. And I look forward to being in 00:35:53.880 --> 00:35:56.699 London and attending the summit in a few months. 00:35:56.760 --> 00:36:00.059 So hope to see you there. Great. And thank you, 00:36:00.059 --> 00:36:02.000 Alex. Look forward to seeing you then. And all 00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:03.900 this talk about Saskatchewan reminds me I've 00:36:03.900 --> 00:36:07.260 got to get on the call again to Manitoba, where 00:36:07.260 --> 00:36:10.130 I was born and say, come on, guys. Saskatchewan 00:36:10.130 --> 00:36:13.429 is telling their story very, very well. And as 00:36:13.429 --> 00:36:15.469 you said, there are huge opportunities for all 00:36:15.469 --> 00:36:19.050 the Western provinces, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, 00:36:19.170 --> 00:36:21.809 Alberta, and of course, British Columbia. So 00:36:21.809 --> 00:36:23.510 thank you very much for your time today, Alex. 00:36:23.530 --> 00:36:25.230 It's been great to have you with us. Thank you. 00:36:26.869 --> 00:36:29.650 Thank you to Alex Fallon for sharing his insights 00:36:29.650 --> 00:36:32.389 with us. And thank you for viewing and listening. 00:36:33.210 --> 00:36:36.210 Mark your calendars for the upcoming 2026 Summit 00:36:36.210 --> 00:36:39.329 taking place on the 8th of April. Be sure to 00:36:39.329 --> 00:36:41.510 share, subscribe, and leave a review on your 00:36:41.510 --> 00:36:44.170 favorite podcast channel. Thanks for listening 00:36:44.170 --> 00:36:46.050 to Drum Beats. Until next time.