Released on February 19, 1996
Premier Roy Romanow fulfilled a commitment to report on and respond tothe results of the provincial government's extensive public input
project in a broadcast to Saskatchewan residents this evening.
During the Preparing for the New Century - Making Choices for Today and
Tomorrow public input project, the government heard from more than
5,000 Saskatchewan residents through public meetings, satellite forums,
surveys, a toll free telephone line and the Internet.
In the broadcast, the premier reported on the project's results and
announced plans for reductions in the provincial government. He also
discussed intentions to proceed with reforms in health, education, and
social services as well as to continue discussions regarding changes to
local government structures.
In both the public meetings and surveys, residents chose health,
education and jobs as the priority for government action.
The premier noted that in the area of job creation and the economy,
Saskatchewan residents recommended that the provincial government
concentrate on marketing, technology and skills development. He said
when the next phase of the provincial economic strategy, Partnership
for Renewal, is announced later this week, it will reflect these
priorities.
"Our new economic strategy will emphasize growth through expanded
exports and will also include a bottom-line commitment to reduce
government regulations and red tape," Romanow said.
The premier said that during the many meetings and in the surveys that
were completed, Saskatchewan residents were clear in their desire to
preserve health, education and social programs and to protect these
from federal cuts in transfer payments.
In the surveys, 75 per cent of respondents said the government should
spread the federal cuts among all areas of provincial spending, but
there was no support for deficit budgets or personal tax increases.
"That's why we are looking at reducing the costs of government in other
areas, and why we are pushing hard to complete a number of major
changes in the way we deliver vital public services," Romanow said.
"We want to accomplish our reforms to better prepare Saskatchewan for
the new century; we have to accomplish them now, because the federal
government is cutting transfer payments now.
"We will manage the federal cuts and we will overcome them. However,
we will also continue to tell all Canadians that the priorities the
federal government has set for the future of Canada are wrong and must
be changed."
The premier said there was a clear message from the Saskatchewan public
that the province must make reductions, starting at the top, and these
actions will be undertaken. He said that the province is working on a
detailed plan for reducing the number of provincial departments and
agencies. As well, effective July 1, 1996, cabinet ministers' staffs
will be reduced and the salaries of those staff frozen.
In both the surveys and meetings, there was a call for greater emphasis
on linkages between education and the workplace. In the survey, 86 per
cent of respondents felt there should be more responsibility by
business and industry in developing and providing skills training and
85 per cent felt there should be more emphasis on helping young people
move from school to work. There was also a view that post-secondary
institutions should reduce duplication and overlap.
"In the discussions we held, Saskatchewan people put forward a vision
of an education system that features partnership between educators,
business and industry to produce highly skilled workers to meet the
emerging demands of the new workplace. It is a vision of a system that
makes training and upgrading more accessible and more flexible.
"We have already begun discussing these ideas with leaders of our
educational institutions and local school boards. It will be a year of
important reforms in the field of education."
Regarding social services, the public input suggested clear support for
the government directions for social assistance reform, as outlined in
the discussion paper released last month.
In the survey, 84 per cent agreed that government should provide more
employment incentives to help people leave social assistance.
Ninety-two per cent agreed that young people on social assistance
should be completing their education or acquiring work-related
experience. The premier said some changes to social assistance will be
implemented in the near future while others will be introduced over the
next year or so.
"Instead of an assistance plan that traps people in an endless cycle of
dependence, we want to build a plan that supports strong families,
strong communities and, ultimately, a stronger province," Romanow said.
In the area of health care, 86 per cent of survey respondents felt that
government should direct action toward reducing inappropriate use of
the health system. Seventy-six per cent felt the health system would
be more valuable if better use was made of a variety of health care
professionals and over half thought alternatives to the existing
fee-for-service structure for family physicians should be explored.
"It is clear there is much work to be done with our primary health
system. We have to make sure that everybody is contributing as part of
a co-ordinated team," Romanow said.
In the area of governance, 79 per cent of survey respondents said the
number of governments in Saskatchewan is too high and 73 per cent felt
the roles and structures of local government should be reviewed.
"We have already begun discussions with local governments about how to
reduce administrative costs, so that more money is available to provide
needed services," the premier said.
The premier noted that with the changes coming, there will still be
some people who will attempt to hold on to practices of the past, but
given the response of Saskatchewan residents, he expects this group to
be a minority.
"I am asking everyone who calls Saskatchewan home to work with us to
keep this province the best place in the world to live. Together we
will prepare for a new century of growth and opportunity." Romanow
said.
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For more information, contact:
Dave Burdeniuk
Media Relations
Regina Phone: (306) 787-6349