Legislative Report
October 20, 2022

Preparing for Upcoming Fall Session

The halls of the Saskatchewan Legislature are buzzing with activity as we prepare for the upcoming fall session. This summer, we spent a lot of time canvassing communities and meeting with everyone we could. Thanks to your feedback, we are now prepared to continue down the path of sustainable growth. 

We have heard the call for support and more staff in the healthcare sector. In response, we have launched the Health Human Resources Action Plan, a four-point approach to recruit, retain, train, and incentivize the healthcare system. A large part of that plan is ensuring we have the boots on the ground to support residents across the province. 

We are cutting red tape to allow those trained in healthcare to apply their skills here in Saskatchewan and encourage new candidates to consider the field. Over 125 new, full-time, frontline positions are now available on HealthCareersInSask.ca, with another 50 part-time jobs enhanced to full-time. These opportunities span 49 communities, drawing professionals towards rural and remote areas where their skills are needed.

Investing in healthcare and bolstering our workforce supports the growth that Saskatchewan is enjoying right now. August figures show Saskatchewan leads the nation in wholesale trade growth, increase in building investment also ranks first in the country, and we are second nationwide in manufacturing sales growth. Each month we see new reports showing Saskatchewan is an economic leader, and we intend to keep that going into the future. We believe in building a supportive business climate that will welcome investment, create jobs, and allow growth that works for everyone. 

Defending Saskatchewan’s Economic Autonomy

To that end, we have heard the call from residents to stand up to the federal Liberal-NDP coalition plans that will negatively impact our province. Fertilizer mandates, the carbon tax, confiscating legal firearms and blocking economic growth are just some of the concerns we have heard from you. 

Our white paper released this month titled Drawing the Line: Defending Saskatchewan’s Economic Autonomy speaks to our government’s intentions. In 1930, Saskatchewan secured constitutional authority over natural resources. In recent years, the current federal government has encroached on those rights, disguised as environmental concerns. Continued interference could cost Saskatchewan $111 billion by 2035. Our government will deliver the Speech from the Throne October 26th, 2022, outlining steps to protect our economy and the jobs that Saskatchewan families need. 

We are also joining with other provinces to let the federal government know that we will not use police funding to support the confiscation of legal firearms. Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Yukon governments are all calling on the federal government to halt their plans to use police resources to take over 100,000 legally purchased firearms across Canada. Provinces opposed to the program are saying the misuse of firearms by criminals is where the focus needs to be.

Saskatchewan is leading the way. We have made significant progress in creating an economic climate that will attract businesses and industries looking to invest. Ongoing private investment shows confidence in our people, creates jobs that support families and allows for more government programs and services. It’s growth that works for everyone.