Legislative Report
March 17, 2022

Strong Economic Indicators Ahead of March 23 Budget

In the coming days, the Government of Saskatchewan will present the 2022 budget. This roadmap for the future will provide the framework for further economic growth and prosperity for Saskatchewan families. In recent weeks and months, our province has been making positive headlines, from economic development and private investment to record-breaking exports and job numbers. Saskatchewan is leading the way, and we are committed to keeping things on track.

We want to ensure communities have the financial support needed to grow and prosper. One way is through Municipal Revenue Sharing Grants that will see the Government of Saskatchewan invest $262 million for 2022. This unconditional funding helps lay the foundation for stronger communities and a stronger Saskatchewan. Since 2007, more than $3.7 billion has supported municipalities and the needs that matter most to them.

Despite the employment challenges COVID-19 presented us, our economy is off to a roaring recovery. A strong indicator can be found in February job numbers from Statistics Canada. That report indicates Saskatchewan added more than 30,000 new jobs compared to February 2021. That breaks down to three jobs created per hour, every hour, every day, for the last 365 days. Month-to-month seasonally adjusted employment increased by 7,400, the highest employment growth rate in western Canada. Unemployment for the province fell to 4.7 per cent, the second-lowest in the country. That is the lowest unemployment rate that Saskatchewan has recorded since spring 2015.

In addition to a thriving labour market, Saskatchewan’s year-over-year wholesale trade is leading the nation. Between January 2021 and January 2022, wholesale trade increased by over 34 per cent. This is yet another major indicator that Saskatchewan’s economy is in a strong position. Last year, Saskatchewan recorded all-time highs in agriculture exports, forestry product sales, and merchandise exports. In January 2022, wholesale trade in Saskatchewan was valued at more than $3.3 billion.

While our economic indicators are strong, we continue our work to keep on the right track. Our government has announced $4 million for the Economic Recovery Work Experience Initiative to make that happen. This one-time pandemic recovery initiative will provide paid work experience for job seekers to obtain practical skills in priority areas. Our goal is to address the skilled labour gap in several key sectors such as hospitality, agriculture, retail services, health, and child care.

To be eligible, job seekers must be working with SaskJobs Career Services or another approved service provider. The applicant must be at least 18 years of age, entitled to work in Saskatchewan, facing job search and skill-related barriers to employment and be unemployed or underemployed. Employers interested must provide meaningful work experience and then receive cost-sharing for wages up to $6,000 for each participant per week.

1,202 More Childcare Spaces Announced

We want to ensure Saskatchewan families can have access to affordable, high-quality early learning and child care should they choose to use these services. In partnership with the federal government, we are pleased to announce that another 1,202 child care spaces are on the way for 21 Saskatchewan communities.

This announcement is in addition to the December 2021 announcement of 601 new spaces and is part of a much larger goal to create 28,000 new spaces by the end of March 2026. This partnership with the federal government will bring down average fees for regulated child care to $10-a-day.

New Program to Deliver Education for International Students

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, international students contributed more than $252 million to the provincial economy. This week, our government launched a first of its kind in Canada new program to deliver international education training to the post-secondary education sector. The International Education Practitioner Program is a key component of the new International Education Strategy and strengthen the international education program in Saskatchewan.

The International Education Practitioners Program will ensure service delivery of international education is consistent across Saskatchewan. Students will benefit from the same experience and level of support no matter where they study in our province.

Crop Insurance Deadline Extended to April 14

It is not too late to enroll or change coverage for 2022 Crop Insurance. The deadline to enroll for 2022 Crop Insurance has been extended to April 14 to allow additional time to review all insurance options for your operation. For more information, contact your local Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation office or call 1-888-935-0000.