Legislative Report
April 14, 2022

Back On Track

With our provincial economy and finances back on track, the 2022/23 Provincial Budget will allow the Government of Saskatchewan to expand investments in health care. This budget represents the largest health investment in the history of the province, totalling $6.4 billion.

Since 2007, our government has invested over $2 billion into capital facilities and equipment. This investment has improved the delivery of health care across the province. Over the next four years, we plan to invest nearly $1 billion more. Projects for this year include the redevelopment of the Prince Albert Victoria Hospital, the replacement of the Weyburn General Hospital, new Urgent Care Centres in Regina and Saskatoon, and long-term care centres throughout Saskatchewan.

Our government is determined to make significant improvements to the health care system, despite the recommendations that we have received from the NDP. This month marks the anniversary of the former NDP government closing 52 health care facilities across the province. Recently, members of the Official Opposition called for us to follow experts who recommend consolidating health care in rural areas even further. We will not accept those suggestions. We will work with our front-line staff and communities to ensure families have the services they need.

To attract more health care professionals to staff these facilities, $3.5 million in new funding will increase the number of specialty and family medicine residency training seats, expand intake for the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment program and enhance rural practice incentives for physicians. The budget also includes a $4.9 million increase to expand nurse training by 150 seats in the province, which is critical to meeting future demands in the health system. Expanding foreign recruitment is also part of our plan to ensure residents receive timely care closer to home.

Rural and remote areas will benefit from a nearly $11 million increase to support emergency medical services with more than 70 new paramedics, more ambulances and more training. This funding will also support additional training and resourcing for community paramedicine in rural and northern communities.

Top of mind for many of us right now is getting back to normal following the COVID-19 pandemic. The last two years saw surgical wait times increase with several procedures put on hold. This budget will see a $21.6 million increase specifically dedicated to reducing the surgical waitlist. Our goal is to perform an additional 7,000 surgeries this year, compared to normal, and eliminate the COVID-19 backlog by spring 2025. By prioritizing surgical plans and setting aggressive, achievable targets, Saskatchewan will deliver the largest volume of surgical procedures in the history of the province starting this year.

This budget will also work to expand intensive care unit beds to meet the future needs of a growing province. A further $12.5 million investment will support the first of a multi-year strategy to create 31 additional ICU beds. We will start with 11 beds this year for a total of 90 ICU beds, the first step to achieving 110 beds to address capacity, ultimately leading to a higher quality of care.

Saskatchewan's economy is growing well past pre-pandemic levels. Our finances are strong, our fiscal plan is on track, and our commitment to health care is unwavering. This budget not only creates better facilities for staff and patients, but it lays the foundation to expand the health care system even further by attracting professionals to our great province.