The funding was announced in Humboldt on Tuesday morning (Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW)

By Ben Tompkins

Community Building

Sask Gov invests $250k towards local municipalities in preparation of BHP potash mine

Sep 3, 2024 | 5:48 PM

Earlier on Tuesday, the Government of Saskatchewan announced another investment of $250,000, in regards to the BHP Jansen Project.

These particular funds will go directly to the Sylvite Four-Six Regional Development Incorporation (S4-6).

The funding will be provided in 2024-25 to ‘help position the region for the exciting growth from the potash project by supporting outcomes in the areas of housing, child care, labour, training and education, inclusive relationships, emergency services, infrastructure and economic development.’

“These are good challenges to have, given that there are 1000s of jobs being created in the region, but they are still challenges, and that’s why we need to work together, so having a very close integration between the different levels of government really does make a difference,” explained Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison.

“BHP could deploy billions of dollars of capital anywhere in the world, but they have chosen very specifically to make that investment here in Saskatchewan, and it’s because we have the conditions in place for them to be successful. Having all of our municipal partners at that same table makes it more attractive going forward, and I’m very hopeful that the investment that’s been made thus far is not the end.”

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S4-6 was established in the fall of 2023 and takes its name from the mineral sylvite, from which potash is derived, and the two Treaty areas, Treaties Four and Six, in which the development is taking place.

The group consists of leaders from local First Nations, urban and rural municipalities, and is supported by the Mid-Sask Municipal Alliance.

“We’ve done quite a substantial amount of work in terms of building relationships and learning to understand each other. The more we discussed what our values and priorities are, we began to understand that we all have really a lot in common. Everybody was quite inviting, and it really snowballed from there for what we need to get done,” added S4-6 Chair and Community Navigator, Fishing Lake First Nation Brent Sunshine.

“This is a testament to the leaders within the communities of Saskatchewan and the people of Saskatchewan whose first concern is actually getting work done. I think the refreshing part is that we all understand we’re just people, regardless of what we do or where we come from, and we have a lot of the same needs and values, which I think is what brings us together.”

BHP will also be joining in on the investment, as they’re set to fund $500,000 to S4-6 over the next two years, bringing the total funding until 2026 to $750,000.

According to BHP Potash Asset President Karina Gistelinck, the company is happy to invest in the people, as well as the area.

“The project that we’re building here is not just an exciting growth opportunity for us, as it brings equally exciting opportunities for economic development in the Jansen region. We’re really happy to see the provincial government chip in with $250,000 of funding, as well as our own funding, to really enable the longevity and the community-led initiative that is S4-6,” she told northeastNOW.

“We believe that community-led solutions, built by the communities, led by the communities, and implemented for the communities, are really the only way of solving some of the challenges we have. For us, it is crucial that funding goes into a partnership that is representative of the communities in which we will be operating, and one that is not dictated by BHP.”

As of now, the project is ahead of schedule, with construction set to be finished in 2029, but the first stage completed in 2026.

The plan is to have 900 permanent workers at the facility, which will bring in an expected 3,000 new people to the region.

Along with the workers who will be employed at the mine, the construction of the project included has created roughly 5,000 jobs.

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