Legislative Report
July 13, 2023

Parks Week July 9-15

Saskatchewan celebrated Parks Week July 9-15 with many events and themed programs available in provincial parks for visitors to enjoy. Whether through hiking, relaxing at the beach, fishing or water sports, people of all ages enjoyed the outdoors and celebrated the natural beauty of our great province!

Province Continues to Grow

Our province recently received great news on the population and labour force. Saskatchewan continues to enjoy the largest population growth since 1914, with an increase of over 33,000 in the past year reaching an all-time high of 1.221 million. In the first quarter of this year alone, over 6,000 people chose to make Saskatchewan home.

A labour force record has been broken, too; over 604,700 people are working in Saskatchewan today, more than ever before. Regina and Saskatoon are seeing record employment levels at 148,300 and 198,800, respectively. The province has added 3,300 new jobs in the past year, and our unemployment level of 4.7 per cent is the third lowest in Canada.

Health HR Action Plan Seeing Results

Saskatchewan’s growing population and workforce supports a growing economy and allows our government to invest in priority areas, like health care. Our government invested $98.8 million in the Health Human Resources Action Plan in this year’s budget and we are seeing strong results. Since December 2022, 485 grad nurses from across the province and Canada have been hired to join the health care system. A group of Registered Nurses (RNs) from the Philippines have arrived and begun training, the first group of over 400 Filipino RNs recruited.

Progress continues toward filling 250 new and enhanced permanent full-time positions in rural and remote areas, with 157 positions now filled. Incentives of up to $50,000 have been approved for 140 health care professionals and are still available, as well as incentives packages for physicians in rural and remote areas of up to $200,000.

For students and adults interested in careers in health care, the Saskatchewan Health Authority offers job shadowing opportunities; learn more at www.Saskatchewan.ca/HHR.

Premiers’ Meeting in Winnipeg

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and fellow provincial and territorial premiers were in Winnipeg July 10-12 for the Council of the Federation summer meeting. The premiers discussed several priorities and issues that impact all Canadians, including health care, infrastructure, and the British Columbia port workers’ strike.

The Government of Saskatchewan continues to stand up for the best interests of the people of Saskatchewan. If you have questions, concerns or feedback, please don’t hesitate to contact my office by using the link in the left column.