Legislative Report
November 4, 2021

Debate Continues on Speech from the Throne

This week the Saskatchewan Legislature saw the continuation of the 2021 Speech from the Throne debate, which sets out our government's priorities for the future. Over the past year, we have worked together to do what was needed during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are now seeing the case numbers decrease, thanks to the actions you are taking.

Our government will continue to provide opportunities to receive vaccines and support our healthcare workers. In the past year, the Government of Saskatchewan has invested more than $530 million to support the efforts to address COVID-19. While there is still more to do, our government will continue to invest in our province to build a stronger, safer, healthier, better educated and a more independent Saskatchewan.

Investments in Early Childhood Education

Our commitment to building a better educated Saskatchewan is reflected in our commitment to invest and support Early Childhood Educators (ECEs). To this end, we are investing $9.6 million to fund a wage increase of up to $3 per hour for qualified ECEs in the province. This investment recognizes the dedication of ECEs while creating an incentive for people to consider becoming ECEs themselves.

The wage increase is retroactive to July 1, 2021. It is anticipated that centres will be able to access the funds for distribution by December 2021. The increased amount will vary according to ECE certification levels with up to $1 per hour, $2 per hour, and $3 per hour for ECE certification level I, II, and III. The remaining amount from the $17 million investment will go toward funding accelerated ECE certificate or diploma training and supporting ECEs who participate in continuous professional learning and skills enhancement.

Supporting Investments at the Municipal Level

Our government is continuing to support municipalities with the Targeted Sector Support Initiative. This grant is open to municipalities partnering to strengthen their core responsibilities through projects focused on regional co-operation, capacity building and good governance.

Now accepting new applications, this program provides cost-sharing grants up to 75 per cent to municipalities.

Applicants must be a municipal government and partner with at least one other community, such as other municipalities, regional committees, First Nations and parks. Since 2020, 56 grants totaling more than $1.9 million have been approved by the Targeted Sector Support Initiative. Applications for this intake will be accepted from November 1, 2021, to February 1, 2022. Interested municipalities can learn more and apply at https://www.saskatchewan.ca or email info@targetedsector.ca for more information.

Agriculture Student Scholarship Program

If you know a student in Grade 12 or recent graduates entering agriculture-related post-secondary studies in 2022, tell them about the 2022 Saskatchewan Agriculture Student Scholarship Program. Applications consisting of a creative three-minute video or 1,000-word essay discussing this year's theme of transparency in agriculture are now being accepted. The awards consist of one winning scholarship of $4,000 and three runner-up scholarships of $2,000. The deadline for applications is March 1, 2022. For more information on the Saskatchewan Agriculture Student Scholarship Program, visit Saskatchewan.ca/ag-scholarship.

Supporting Mental Health

An important issue for all of us is that of supporting mental health in our communities. In Regina, our government is partnering with Phoenix Residential Society to provide 25 new mental health beds to support people transitioning from hospital stays back into their communities. These beds will help those experiencing severe and persistent mental health needs, in turn, reducing the use of emergency rooms, police calls, homeless shelters and mental health beds in hospitals. This is a part of the measures announced in the 2019-20 Provincial Budget commitment to deliver approximately 75 residential mental health beds across the province, with $6 million of annualized funding beginning in 2020-21.  

These enhanced residential supports are a key recommendation under Saskatchewan's Mental Health Addictions Action Plan. Further announcements will be made in the near future for another new 50 mental health treatment beds. This year, the province has invested a record $458 million in mental health and addictions supports and services, accounting for 7.5 per cent of the overall Health budget.

New Highway Signage Will Mark Treaty Territory Boundaries

In the future, as you travel on our highways you will see official Treaty boundary signage delineate the two largest Treaty Territories in Saskatchewan, Treaty 4 and Treaty 6. This new initiative will help to bring awareness to the Treaty Territories in Saskatchewan. In support of the application put forward by the Office of the Treaty Commissioner, our government is working to further Treaty education and to work towards reconciliation.

We will work with the Office of the Treaty Commissioner to determine the exact location and composition of signs and ensure that the proper protocols and ceremonies are observed prior to any installation. This will make Saskatchewan the first province in Canada to mark Treaty Boundaries along major provincial highways.

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.