Released on June 10, 1998
Saskatchewan's government had one of its most productive sessions inits term this year, Premier Roy Romanow said today.
The third session of the 23rd Legislature is expected to end this
week.
"I'm pleased and proud that our government kept its eye on the ball,"
Romanow said. "A balanced budget. Income tax cuts. Jobs. Welfare
reform. Safer communities. Education. Health care. These are the
things people care about. These are the things people expect their
legislators to work on. And these are the things our Government
focused on this session."
Some details:
"The Government of Saskatchewan introduced its fifth straight
balanced budget," Romanow said.
"Income tax was cut, from 50 per cent to 48 per cent of the
federal rate.
"More people are working today than ever before. Balanced-budget
good government and three years of affordable and sustainable tax
cuts had something to do with it.
"We introduced a fundamental reform of the welfare system. Our
Building Independence program will help families get off and stay
off welfare.
"We implemented some tough new law and order measures: the new
Serious Crimes Task Force; The Serious and Habitual Young
Offender Comprehensive Action Program; and a major investment in
our Prosecutions Branch."
"Our prosecutors and police are taking aim at criminal gangs, child
pornographers, people involved in the drug and sex trade and violent
and chronic young offenders," Romanow said. "Our streets and homes
will be safer as a result.
"We responded to mega-bank mergers by introducing the Credit
Union Act. If the mega-banks won't provide our communities and
farmers with services, stronger Saskatchewan credit unions will.
"We made major new investments in elementary schools, high
schools, and our universities. We provided over 20,000 students
with help, through improved bursaries and financial aid."
Health care was a hot issue this session, despite a new $88 million
investment in health services and a total health budget of
$1.72 billion the largest ever.
"People in southern Saskatchewan are concerned about what they've been
hearing about the Plains Hospital," Romanow said. "We need to keep
working to make sure citizens know that new, better services will be
available at the renovated, expanded Pasqua and General Hospitals
with no net bed loss.
"People are concerned about claims we face a hospital bed shortage.
We're always going to have to work to provide better services. But I
hope there will be broad discussion of this week's Maclean's Magazine
Health Report, which demonstrates that Saskatchewan has more hospital
beds per capita than any other province in Canada.
"And people want to know their health providers are being supported.
We've made a good start, building important new partnerships with
doctors and nurses.
"Here are just two examples: we're implementing innovative new
programs that we and the Saskatchewan Medical Association believe will
help and encourage doctors in rural Saskatchewan. And we're hiring
200 new nurses, a first step to relieve pressures on the front line."
The Channel Lake controversy was debated frequently in the Legislature
this session.
"We ordered a full investigation when we realized what was going on,
and made the results public. The Crown Corporations Committee is
reviewing our reports. And we're acting to make sure this doesn't
happen again."
One of the key steps the government took this session: new legislation
to strengthen and professionalize the Boards of Directors of Crown
Corporations.
On the national scene, Premier Romanow said he was "increasingly
cautiously optimistic" about the future of our country.
"The Calgary Framework for discussion was well received and endorsed
by our legislature in Saskatchewan and by all eight other provincial
governments. I think it has had its intended effect sending a clear
message of openness and good will to the majority of people in Quebec,
who want to remain Canadians.
"The election of Mr. Jean Charest as leader of the main federalist
party in Quebec is also good news. He is the right person at the
right time, a leader that Quebec federalists can unite behind.
"Our job as provincial governments now is to focus on showing that
Canada works. That means a more co-operative federalism. That means
progress on stronger national Medicare, progress on a national
transportation strategy and progress on other pressing national
priorities all Canadians can come together to work on."
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For more information, contact:
Julianne Jack
Media Services
Regina Phone: (306)787-6349