Released on February 29, 1996
The Speech from the Throne opening the first session of theTwenty-Third Legislature was delivered in the Saskatchewan Legislature
today. The Speech was read by Lt.-Gov. Jack Wiebe.
"My government accepts a renewed mandate from the people of
Saskatchewan with enthusiasm," the Speech said. "Our province has
restored its financial health. Our economy is strong and growing.
Saskatchewan today is the best place in the world in which to live and
raise a family.
"The 21st century holds the promise of even greater things to come.
Now is the time to prepare for that new century; to seize the moment
with the plans, policies and reforms required to build a better and
more prosperous future for all."
The Speech said a number of important challenges will be tackled in the
coming months, including:
focusing on jobs and growth, with the same determination used to
balance the budget;
proposing wide-ranging reforms to education and training programs;
putting forward a fundamental redesign of social assistance;
moving to the next stage of health renewal, with proposals to
improve the way health services are provided to people; and
restructuring government at every level to reduce the cost of
administration, thus freeing up money for the vital public
services citizens want.
The Speech noted that the government's first priority is jobs and
growth. It said the goal of a diversified, export-oriented, full
employment economy can be achieved by working together to craft a
long-term plan and advance it one step at a time.
The recently-released new economic development strategy, Partnership
for Growth, commits the government to continue to improve the climate
for job creation and economic development, the Speech said.
"My ministers will present this Assembly with a four-year financial
plan that will ensure balanced budgets, and further reduction in public
debt over the life of this legislature. Prudent management of public
finances will help maintain consumer and business confidence."
Other initiatives which will advance job creation and economic growth
include the establishment of the Saskatchewan Trade and Export
Partnership (STEP), which will provide assistance to local business to
increase exports. Also, Saskatchewan's network of more than a dozen
Regional Economic Development Authorities will double over the next
four years.
The government is also determined to encourage the rapid expansion of
Saskatchewan's small business sector - the number one source of new
jobs. Proposals will be presented which will continue to target
incentives for local business that create new jobs and opportunities.
In the area of agriculture, the government, in partnership with the
federal government, will make more than $200 million available over the
next four years through the Agri-Food Innovation, Agriculture
Development and Agri-Food Equity funds, which encourage research and
diversification in agriculture.
The Crop Insurance Amendment Act will be introduced to provide more
flexibility in this important program.
In the area of social programs, the government will work over the next
two years to redesign social assistance, replacing traditional welfare
as it currently exists. A key element of social assistance reform will
be a new Saskatchewan Child Benefit and a Working Income Supplement.
"My government's social assistance redesign will help more families to
become independent of social assistance; will help youth to avoid
becoming trapped in poverty; will allow people involved in training
programs to more easily move off social assistance; and will ensure
that only those who truly need assistance receive it," the Speech says.
The Speech says that health reforms of recent years have gone a great
distance toward making the province's health system sustainable for
today and into the new century. The province must now move into the
next stage, which is improving the way the health system delivers
services to people.
"That means making better use of nurses, therapists and counsellors in
delivering health services; considering alternative ways to reimburse
family physicians; and ensuring all health practitioners work together
as part of a co-ordinated team."
Noting that changes to the federal transfer payment system for health
services threatens to lead to a two-tier health care system, the Speech
says the government will not permit federal policy to lead to such a
system in Saskatchewan. To prevent the development of a two-tier
system and to permit the province to better manage the development of
private sector health facilities, the government will introduce The
Health Facilities Licensing Act.
The Speech noted that Saskatchewan has a higher proportion of local
government than any other province in Canada. The new challenges these
local governments face make locally-driven, effective restructuring
essential, the Speech says.
At the request of urban, rural and northern municipalities, the
legislature will be asked to consider a number of bills allowing
communities to modernize local taxation and assessments. The Speech
says these proposals - developed in close consultation with municipal
governments and others - will give communities the tools they need to
prepare for the future.
"The agenda my government presents today sets a course for the new
century, and outlines the first steps we can take to get there," the
Speech concludes. "It is an agenda of jobs and growth, reform for our
education and training programs, fundamental redesign of social
assistance, improved health services and reduced government costs.
This agenda is consistent with the values and priorities of our
citizens."
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For more information, contact:
Dave Burdeniuk
Media Services
Regina Phone: (306) 787-6349