Fall Sitting of the Legislative Assembly Delivers Key Initiatives to Keep Saskatchewan Strong

Released on November 30, 2016

• Adding a three day vehicle seizure for experienced drivers who are charged for the first time with having a blood alcohol content (BAC) over .04;
• Applying zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol to drivers 21 and under; and
• Strengthening ignition interlock laws to be the most effective in Canada, by extending mandatory ignition interlock to drivers who register a BAC over .16 or refuse to provide a breath sample (first offence - two years; second offence - five years; third and subsequent offence - 10 years).

• Establish a rebuttable presumption for all forms of psychological injuries, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to ensure that workers will not have to prove their injury happened in the workplace; and
• Make Saskatchewan the first province in Canada to enact legislation that covers other forms of psychological injury that workers experience as a result of being exposed to traumatic events or situations at work.

“We made a campaign commitment to update provincial compassionate care provisions for Saskatchewan families,” Wall said.  “We know that nothing can truly ease the stress of caring for a gravely ill loved one but we believe the last thing families need to worry about is how it will impact their job, and these changes provide that peace of mind.”

Government also kept other key campaign commitments this sitting:

• Passing The Patient Choice Medical Imaging Act, fulfilling the campaign commitment to reduce wait lists for CT scans by allowing patients to pay for private CT scans under the two-for-one system already in place for MRI services; and
• Expanding private liquor retailing in Saskatchewan to give consumers more choice, more convenience and more competitive pricing through the selection of 49 private retailers through a Request for Proposals conducted by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority and KPMG.