Legislative Report
9 September 2021

Timber Allocations to Support Continued Growth in Forestry Sector

Northern Saskatchewan's economy is getting a boost with the approval of timber allocations to support the proposed One Sky Forest Products (One Sky) Oriented Strand Board mill in Prince Albert. Forestry is the area's most significant economic driver, supporting nearly 8,000 jobs and hundreds of businesses. The One Sky production facility will create 700 new jobs in northern Saskatchewan.

In 2020, more than $1.1 billion worth of Saskatchewan forest products were sold, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year. Our government will continue to work with industry partners to ensure that our forests continue to be well managed, healthy, and sustained over the long-term.

Increased Support for Cattle Producers

While this hot, dry weather is good for highway work, it has taken its toll on the ranching industry. Our government has heard the concerns of ranchers and is acting to provide increased support to livestock producers. The AgriRecovery program, now referred to as the 2021 Canada-Saskatchewan Drought Response Initiative, provides two payments totaling up to $200/head for cattle, with adjustments based on animal unit equivalents for other livestock. 

The initial payment will provide producers with $100 per breeding female equivalent in inventory as of August 1, 2021. Secondary payments will be up to $100 per breeding female equivalent in inventory as of December 31, 2021. Eligible livestock for the initiative includes Canadian-owned female beef and dairy cattle, bison, elk, sheep, or goats that are bred or intended to be bred. The number of open replacement females considered eligible livestock is 15 per cent of the total number of bred females. Further details on the Initiative and applications will be available on the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation's website, www.scic.ca.

2021 Good Year for Highway Construction

The highway construction season continues into the autumn throughout the province. The warm weather has provided good conditions to continue work on projects like the $1.7 million rehabilitation of the two northbound bridges on Highway 11 near Lumsden.  

This year more than 1,350 km of provincial highways have been improved, the second of our government's 10-year Growth Plan goal to build and upgrade 10,000 km of highways. With this year's projects, the province is ahead of the pace needed to meet this target. Since 2008, more than $10.6 billion has been invested in highways infrastructure, improving more than 17,100 km of Saskatchewan highways.

A new made-in-Saskatchewan device is helping protect some of the highest-risk workers on highway construction sites. Guardian Angel Auto Flagger, manufactured in Watrous, is part of a pilot project in which three automatic flagging assistance devices are used in construction zones. These truck-mounted, remote-controlled devices allow the flag person to be off the roadway while controlling traffic, minimizing their risk of injury. Taking workers off the road and away from traffic helps negate the very real danger that is present every minute of each shift.

This model is ideal for patching or maintenance where workers frequently move because the truck can be driven forward as needed. Currently, these devices are being used by crews in the Moose Jaw, Outlook, and Prince Albert areas. This pilot program will evaluate the number of near misses, miscommunications, and feedback from flag persons in these work zones.

As always, if you have questions, comments, concerns, or require assistance with provincial government programs or services, please get in touch with our Constituency Office.