Released on May 15, 2014
Another balanced budget and continued investments in infrastructure and people were highlights of the spring session of the Legislative Assembly which wrapped up today, Premier Brad Wall said.“Our population and our economy continue to grow,” Wall said. “There are more jobs and opportunities in Saskatchewan than ever before.
“Our growing economy means we can deliver a balanced budget while still making the important investments we need to make in order to keep Saskatchewan moving forward.”
Some of those investments and new initiatives announced during the spring session include:
- the new Regina bypass project;
- a commitment to a new Saskatoon commuter bridge;
- a new Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford;
- renewal of the Prince Albert Victoria Hospital;
- nine new joint-use schools in Regina, Saskatoon, Warman and Martensville;
- the first Social Impact Bond in Canada which was used to open a new supported living home in Saskatoon for at-risk single mothers;
- $4.5 million for a new Trades and Technology Centre at Parkland Regional College in Yorkton;
- $1 million for continued construction of Weyburn’s Southeast Regional College;
- opening of the University of Saskatchewan Health Sciences Centre in Saskatoon;
- passing lanes and twinning projects on a number of Saskatchewan highways;
- 1,000 new training seats, consisting of 300 new apprenticeship seats and 700 new Adult Basic Education seats;
- upgrades to bandwidth to increase internet speed in Saskatchewan schools;
- doubling the funding for initiatives to improve education and employment outcomes for First Nations and Métis people;
- expansion of long-term care in La Ronge; and
- a new “hotspotting” pilot project to identify, assist and provide more appropriate services to frequent users of the health care system.
Another priority of the spring session was pressing the federal government to take action on the grain transportation backlog.
“Our ministers and I had numerous meetings with farm groups, the railways, the grain companies and with federal ministers seeking solutions to the grain backlog,” Wall said. “While the federal legislation did not go as far as we had hoped, it was a step in the right direction. Grain is beginning to move to port more quickly, but still not quickly enough.”
Wall said within the next few weeks, many MLAs will see changes in their responsibilities.
“I will be asking a number of government MLAs to take on new roles while still continuing to perform their most important duty – listening to and representing their constituents,” Wall said.
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For more information, contact:
Kathy Young
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0425
Email: kathy.young@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-526-8927