Legislative Report
17 December 2020

COVID-19 Vaccinations Underway

This has been a year of uncertainties, and now the new year is in sight. Under the direction of Dr. Shahab, our Chief Medical Officer, we have been able to pull together by staying apart. We are not quite out of the woods yet, but we know that there are better days ahead.

The Pfizer vaccine has arrived in our province and health care workers are currently being immunized. This pilot test will see the vaccines administered to 1,950 of our ICU, Emergency Department and COVID Units workers who are on the front-line against the virus working hard to keep our loved ones healthy and safe.

While this is good news, we remind everyone to continue to stay disciplined throughout the vaccine delivery process. The roll-out will take time so please continue to wear your mask, wash your hands, and practice social distancing.

The global pandemic brought many obstacles to our legislative processes that many of us could not have imagined. However, our government was able to introduce important legislation that will improve safety in our province.

New Initiatives Introduced in Legislature

The Protection From Human Trafficking Act was introduced this fall to provide additional support to victims and survivors of human trafficking. This legislation creates a streamlined process for victims to seek protection against their traffickers and increase penalties if the protection is compromised. Our government consulted with partners in community-based organizations and law enforcement and will continue to develop tools to better assist victims.

Our government also introduced legislation to better assist survivors of sexual violence. The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act, 2020 will now allow for those who have experienced sexual violence to end a long-term lease without penalty by providing 28-days’ notice to their landlord.

While these two pieces of legislation are not the end of our work on these issues, they are a step in the right direction. Our government is committed to continuing to work with partners across the province to ensure survivors of interpersonal violence or trafficking remain a priority and are protected.

During the fall session, our government announced an allocation of $200 million for phase two of our Accelerated Site Closure Program (ASCP). This program prioritizes Saskatchewan-based oil and gas service companies and will support more than 2,000 full-time equivalent jobs while reclaiming 8,000 inactive wells and facilities over two years. The ASCP has engaged 52 licenses and 253 Saskatchewan-based service companies, including Indigenous-owned companies.

As of this fall, Saskatchewan is on track to open new international trade offices in India, Japan, and Singapore in 2021. Building relationships and ensuring Saskatchewan is represented on the international stage is paramount to our COVID-19 economic recovery. Our province has what the world needs, and we will continue to build these relationships safely and effectively.

This program is one piece of our government’s plan to strengthen our economy and get Saskatchewan people back to work. The legislation and programs that were announced during the fall session of the legislature have set us on the right path to an economic recovery. Your government will continue to act to protect Saskatchewan’s interests and support our economy.

Have a Safe and Merry Christmas

This holiday season we will reflect on the year past. Normally, we would celebrate together, with family, friends and with our community. Though Christmas plans will be different this year, the meaning of Christmas has not changed. It is a time to connect with our loved ones, reflect on the past year, and to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Saviour. This is all still possible to do; we can pick up the phone and call a loved one who needs our support, we can shovel the sidewalk for our neighbour, or safely support our local businesses.

Our government has already begun the work to begin the new year with a strong budget that will help our economy recover. The distribution of the vaccines will take time, but if we respect the public health orders and the advice of our medical professionals, we will be well on our way to returning to normalcy in 2021.

From my family to yours, have a safe and Merry Christmas.