The Premier of Saskatchewan, Scott Moe, said he chose not to meet with the Federal Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, during his visit to Regina, the provincial capital, last Thursday after Trudeau offered him a 5-minute meeting.

Moe explained that this "brief break" proposed by Trudeau was not sufficient for an in-depth discussion of issues related to clean electricity regulation and infrastructure financing, especially to discuss the Natural Resources Transfer Agreement (NRTA).

Trudeau had stated on Thursday, at a press conference held in a grocery store in Regina, that his office had informed Moe's office in advance of his visit to Saskatchewan. However, according to the Federal Prime Minister, the provincial Premier had other scheduled activities.

"I will always be happy to talk with Mr. Moe and will always be happy to work with him. I had hoped to meet him today, but unfortunately, it seems he is out of town," Trudeau added in Regina.

Also, according to a statement issued by the Government of Saskatchewan, Moe was participating that day in meetings in his electoral district, Rosthern-Shellbrook, and in the Prince Albert area.

"I would not have made an eight-hour round trip without fully discussing these three items as well as possibly discussing some other items," the Premier of the Saskatchewan Party said at a press conference yesterday.

This was the second visit Justin Trudeau made to Saskatchewan in western Canada this year.

He traveled in January to Saskatoon, the province's largest city, to inspect a rare metals processing plant. Moe then expressed his disappointment at not being informed in advance by Trudeau’s office about this visit.

For his part, Daniel Westlik, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Saskatchewan, believes that the lack of face-to-face meetings between Trudeau and Moe indicates a "problematic relationship" between them.

The two governments have differing political interests, added the university professor.

He also gave an example of this in Saskatchewan's government's defense of natural resource exploitation, particularly through the "Saskatchewan First" bill, while the federal government views environmental protection with a focus on combating climate change.