The Speech from the Throne delivered by Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty began with a moment of silence to remember those killed and injured on the James Smith Cree Nation and the Community of Weldon on September 4th and for Queen Elizabeth, whose last public communication before her death on the 8th was her condolences to Saskatchewan and to all those who lost loved ones in the attacks.
In a government news release about the Speech from the Throne, at the end of a list of projects and initiatives is one line about getting out of the retail liquor market and expanding opportunities for independent retailers. Premier Scott Moe told reporters, “We are exiting the retails sector of the SLGA. It’s not a core business of government in our view.”
The Sask Party government’s intentions listed in the speech include balancing the budget this year, four years ahead of schedule, due to stronger tax revenues, higher resource prices and a strong economy. As had been alluded to earlier in the week by Premier Scott Moe. the government has announced it will introduce the Saskatchewan First Act to clearly define and defend Saskatchewan’s jurisdiction over natural resources. Moe says, “We have always felt the provinces have the ability to develop their natural resources. We see the federal government is using environmental policy to restrict in many cases what we are doing in producing some of the most sustainable potash, oil, you name it.”
The government will also press for greater provincial control over immigration, similar to what has Quebec has, and will introduce legislation enabling Saskatchewan to collect is own corporate income tax.
The Throne Speech also contains increased measures around public safety and reducing crime, including the creation of the Saskatchewan Marshals Service to work with the RCMP and other police services to enhance law enforcement throughout the province, adding eight new Warrant Enforcement and Suppression Team officers in Prince Albert, and adding a new Crime Reduction Team in North Battleford. The government will also continue discussions with the Prince Albert Grand Council and the federal government about the creation of a self-administered First Nations police services.
On Monday, the Premier had hinted there would be a new trade office somewhere in the European Union. The Throne Speech says it will be in Germany, joining eight trade officers in other countries that do significant business in Saskatchewan. As well, the government has promised to pay down up to $1-billion in operating debt, which is expected to save nearly $50-million a year in interest costs.
Many of the projects and initiatives were previously announced, including the $500 Saskatchewan Affordability Tax Credit cheque to everyone 18 and older, extending the reduction of the small business tax rate, and although it never actually came to fruition in the first place, the government says it continues to exempt fitness and gym memberships from the PST. The tax was announced in the budget last spring, and was to begin in the fall but because of higher resource revenue, it remains without PST.
From the Official Opposition: The Fall Sitting of the Legislature opened with the swearing-in of Nathaniel Teed following his by-election win from the Saskatoon Meewasin riding. NDP Leader Carla Beck says Nathaniel Teed makes history today as the first openly gay MLA to be sworn into the Legislature. She notes that Teed won his seat by the largest margin in decades, which she believes shows that people are tired of the Sask Party government.
From the government news release – Projects and initiatives outlined in the Throne Speech include:
– a new in-patient joint replacement facility in Regina, expected to begin operations by the end of 2023;
– signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation for a new Saskatoon Urgent Care Centre;
– creation of 200 new Educational Assistant positions in school classrooms;
– creation of a new centralized online learning model to ensure all students can enrol in any course offered in the province, regardless of where they live;
– funding for the Dene Teacher Education Program at the First Nations University of Canada and for scholarships for up to 25 students to study Indigenous languages;
– continuing work on the Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Saskatoon Campus Renewal Project, expected to be located in the vicinity of the University of Saskatchewan and Innovation Place;
– signing of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, along with the federal government and all provinces and territories;
– increased veterinary training seats;
– opening of a Saskatchewan new trade office in Germany, joining trade offices in eight other countries that do significant business with Saskatchewan;
– continued support for nearly 2,000 Ukrainians displaced by the Russian invasion, who now call Saskatchewan home;
– continued expansion of rural internet service by SaskTel;
– development of 700 more megawatts wind and solar power generation in south-central Saskatchewan by SaskPower;
– partnering on two First Nations solar projects;
– continued planning for small modular nuclear reactors, with Estevan and Elbow identified as potential sites;
– creation of a made-in-Saskatchewan carbon offset credit program;
– partnering with the Saskatoon Tribal Council and Regina Treaty/Status Indian Services on projects to address homelessness;
– introduction of The Accessible Saskatchewan Act to identify and remove accessibility barriers for those living with a disability;
– an increase of $7.5 million in the current year to the $10 million Creative Saskatchewan Feature Film and Television Grant Program, which is already fully subscribed on 13 film and television productions;
– legislation to allow municipalities to designate areas for safe consumption of alcohol in parks; and
– exiting the retail liquor market and expanding opportunities for independent retailers.
