Released on February 16, 1999
Saskatchewan's health care system got a much-needed shot in the armtoday, now that the federal government has begun to undo its budget
cuts to the system, Saskatchewan Premier Roy Romanow said today.
"Ottawa's announcement that is it restoring $2.3 billion a year to
health care is very good news and a welcome relief," Romanow said.
Saskatchewan will receive about $75 million a year as its share of the
federal investment.
"Every dime of that federal money will go to our health system and
our province will contribute a substantial provincial share as well,"
Romanow said.
"These new funds will go directly to better health services for
people.
"We are going to target some of the key issues facing health care.
Issues like waiting lists, cancer care, women's health and better
working conditions for health providers."
Since 1995, provinces have been working together to deal with over
$6 billion a year in federal cutbacks to health and other social
programs.
As chair of the provincial premiers, Premier Romanow led this fight
for the past eighteen months.
"Our health care system has faced some tough issues over the past
four years. Today I hope we'll start to see some significant
improvements," Romanow said. "We've got a good start to date.
We need to keep working together to meet the increased pressures
that may arise in the future."
Saskatchewan Finance Minister Eric Cline said that Saskatchewan
income taxes will be lower as a result of today's budget.
The province will flow through the consequences of lower federal
income taxes to Saskatchewan taxpayers.
"Our government has made sustainable, balanced tax reduction a
priority," Cline said. "Provincial income taxes for the average
family will be reduced by about three per cent on average,
dropping in step with federal taxes. Combined with
Saskatchewan's income tax cut in the last provincial budget, this
means that provincial income tax for the average family will have
dropped by approximately six per cent over the last year."
Romanow and Cline both expressed disappointment that there was no
new federal funding for highways.
"Rural roads and our rural infrastructure need some serious
investment, because of decisions about rail lines made at the
federal level," Romanow said. "We are going to continue to press
hard for federal help to offset some of the damage.
"In the meantime, we'll continue to invest in the roads ourselves
as our provincial finances permit. Among other priorities, we're
going to continue to work as fast as we can to twin the
TransCanada and the Yellowhead."
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For more information, contact:
Julianne Jack
Media Services
Regina Phone: (306)787-6349