Affordability and health care focuses of Sask throne speech

The Saskatchewan Party’s throne speech commits to tackling affordability and health issues in the province among other key issues.

The fall sitting commenced Nov. 25 beginning with the election of Toud Goudy, Melfort MLA, as Speaker in the Legislative Assembly.

Goudy made his non-partisan speech before speaking about his interest in becoming the Speaker, and likened it to being a referee in sports.

“I love the role of being an MLA and yet I’m kind of looking forward to being the ref for a little while,” he said.

During Goudy’s speech, he talked about faith and a golden rule of faith across the world.

“My background has a little to do with faith, and there’s a golden rule that just about every faith across the world holds,” began Goudy. “I think the golden rule in every faith is the same, do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.”

“So, house leaders, I’m expecting that will be the tone of this room,” he said.

Goudy continues by saying he wants the legislature during its time to set an example for the rest of Canada.

“I hope we will be able to be that group that are able to be the example of what it is to have good debate, good decorum and the golden rule,” he said. 

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe took the first opportunity to congratulate Goudy on his appointment. 

“I appreciate the words that you’ve brought to the floor of the assembly this is an honourable position. It’s one that I know you will conduct yourself in a very honorable way,” said Moe. “To have that debate on behalf of the people of this province, to have that debate on the floor of this assembly with you presiding over that debate ensuring we are finding our way to a better place.”

Moe says he’s happy to have someone like Goudy in that position.

“(I’m) Proud to have someone with your genuine interest as you talked, your ability to bring people together in that very chair,” said Moe. 

Carla Beck, leader of the Saskatchewan NDP and leader of the official opposition congratulated Goudy on his election as the speaker.                   

“It is a very important role and I know you will serve all of us honourably,” she said. “As the premier said, and I will agree, you’ve earned a reputation on both sides of the chamber as someone who is kind and someone who is able to see the good in others, who genuinely cares about people.”

Speech from the throne

The speech from the throne, read by Lt.-Gov. Russ Mirasty outlines the Saskatchewan Party’s key focuses following the election.

“Many Saskatchewan people voted to re-elect our government to keep our economy strong and our future bright, while many others voted for change,” Moe said. “My government will deliver both.”

Moe says this speech marks a new beginning for his government.

“The recent election and this Throne Speech mark a new beginning for our government,” he said. “We will work to deliver on all the commitments we made in the election campaign, and we will work to address those areas where voters told us we need to do better.”

Health

The government is committing to shorten surgical wait times by ensuring 450,000 surgeries are performed over the next four years.

They plan to open urgent care centres in Saskatoon, Prince Albert, North Battleford, Moose Jaw and Regina. 

Moe’s government is promising big investment into health care infrastructure. 

“Over four years my government will invest more than 2.6 billion into health care infrastructure. My government will continue to increase the number of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals working in Saskatchewan through its Health Human Resource Action plan,” stated the speech. 

Moe is setting a goal of everyone in Saskatchewan having access to a primary health provider by the end of 2028. 

According to the speech, 84 per cent of residents have access to some kind of primary health provider. 

Among the health promises Moe says his government will make fertility treatments more affordable. 

“My government will make it more affordable for individuals and couples to access fertility treatments by introducing a new fertility treatment tax credit,” he said. 

The speech outlines expanded options for women giving them the option to do cervix self-screening at home for HPV.  Moe says this builds in the 2024-25 budget which included an increase in funding for breast-cancer care and the development of a breast health centre of excellence in Regina and a 1 million grant for ovarian cancer research.

Education

In education Moe says his government will continue to expand the specialized support classroom pilot to 200 or more schools throughout the province. 

“My government will continue to focus on improving reading levels in kindergarten to Grade 3 giving students every opportunity for academic success throughout their time in school. More teachers and education support staff will be added to deliver on these commitments,” stated the throne speech. 

The Sask party is also promising an increase in funding to school divisions to add more teachers and support staff to help meet the pressures of growing student enrolment and the challenges of classroom complexity.

“My government has also initiated planning for the construction of nine new schools and two major renovations,” stated the speech.

The government is also promising funding for 12,000 additional new childcare spaces.

Affordability

Affordability has been a major topic throughout the election and now the Sask Party is looking to remedy concerns of residents.

“My government has heard this concern on the doorsteps during the recent campaign. That is why the centrepiece of my government’s election platform was a plan to make life more affordable for students, for seniors, for homeowners, for families and for everyone,” stated the speech.

The plan is to introduce the largest personal income tax reduction since 2008. 

“By raising the personal exemption, the spousal exemption, the child exemption and the seniors supplement by $500 a year in each of the next four years in addition to fully indexing income tax brackets,” said the speech.

When it’s fully implemented, an additional 54,000 people will no longer pay any Saskatchewan income tax.

The low-income tax credit will also see an increase by 20 per cent.

Carbon tax will once again be removed from home heating for another year. Moe’s government also plans to introduce legislation to extend the carbon tax exemption on natural gas through 2025.

The government is doubling the Active Families Benefit, creating a Home Renovation Tax Credit, increasing the First-Time Homebuyers Tax Credit and increasing the Personal Care Home benefit.

To help with affordability in the province there is also an increase in the Disability Tax Credit, the Disability Tax Credit supplement and the Caregiver Tax Credit by 25 per cent.

There will also be an increase to the Graduate Retention Plan benefit by 20 per cent to a maximum of $24,000.

Campaign Commitments

The throne speech outlined the rest of the government’s campaign commitments.

Moe’s government is promising to keep the small business tax at one per cent. They are also developing a new investment tax incentive, creating a young entrepreneur bursary, creating a $5,000 class 1 truck driver training rebate and doubling the Community Rink Affordability grant.

A fund will also be created to help fund half of the cost of new playground projects.

There is also a commitment in the throne speech to work to improve the tone and decorum of the Legislative Assembly. 

Read more: Sask government back in session Nov. 25