(updated 11:14 a.m. March 13, 2026)
The Saskatchewan government has announced new fees that impact motorists. As of January 1st, 2027, there will be a $5 surcharge on vehicle registration renewals, a $2 surcharge on driver’s licence payment transactions, a $15 surcharge on new vehicle registrations as well as new and renewed driver’s licenses. Also on January 1st next year, the basic $700 deductible will increase to $950 while most other vehicle deductibles will increase by about 20 per cent.
All of this is in addition to the rate increase requested by SGI of 3.75 per cent in each of 2026 and 2027. The rate increases, if approved by the Rate Review Panel, would be effective in June and would be the first rate increases for the Crown Corporation since 2014.
Electric vehicles
The Road Usage Charge for electric vehicles will increase from $150 to $300 in the 2025-26 Budget which will be delivered next Wednesday. The Saskatchewan government introduced the charge in the 2021-22 provincial budget because while those who drive gas powered vehicles pay a fuel tax that is supposed to be used for preserving and improving the provincial highway system, those who drive electric vehicles obviously do not face any such cost. However, the government notes that the number of electric vehicles registered in the province is growing and these vehicles also cause wear and tear on the provincial roadways.
Beginning January 1, 2027, increases to the Road Use Charge will be indexed annually to the national rate of inflation. The charge will continue to be collected by SGI when the electric vehicle is registered and will continue to be included in reporting under The Fuel Tax Accountability Act.
Rate increases for alcohol infractions
The government announced a suite of rate increases spanning multiple Ministries including for alcohol infractions. The current minimum penalty for selling alcohol to minors or intoxicated individuals is $1,000 and $500 for failing to demand proof of age. Those penalties are being increased to $2,500 and $1,000 respectively.
The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) has the authority to issue penalties to liquor permitted establishments that sell or supply beverage alcohol to minors; individuals who appear intoxicated; and for failing to demand proof of age from a person appearing to be a minor.
SINP fee increases
The Saskatchewan government says it’s because of the federal government’s change to overall immigration levels that the Ministry of Immigration and Career Training will charge a new fee of $500 for applications from skilled workers with job offers. Under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program those candidates previously did not pay a fee.
That will take effect April 1st, 2026, and the province estimates an increase in revenue by $2.9 million dollars which it says will recover most of the program costs. The provincial government says the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) accounts for approximately 70 per cent of immigration in Saskatchewan.
As well skilled workers with job offers who application is deemed ineligible has, in the past, been able to request a second review free of charge. The Ministry of Immigration and Career Training says requesting a second review has become a default selection for SINP refusals so effective April 1, 2026, a new $250 fee will be charged for second review requests received through the skilled workers with job offers stream. If the Ministry determines the complaint is valid and the original decision is overturned, the charge will be fully reimbursed.
Hunters
Wildlife Survey fee
The Ministry of Environment says although Hunter Harvest Surveys are mandatory for each hunting licence sold in the province, but the completion rate is actually around 60 per cent. So those who fail to submit a survey will be charged a $15 fee when purchasing their next hunting license.
The surveys ask for information like dates and locations hunted and animals harvested and that information is used by wildlife biologists to assess game population trends and adjust hunting quotas.
Initially the Hunter Harvest Survey fee is expected to increase revenue by $225,000 in 2026-27.
Angling Habitat Certificate fee
Hunters are familiar with purchasing a Wildlife Habitat Certificate where proceeds from the sale of the certificate is then deposited into the Fish and Wildlife Development Fund.
For the upcoming 2026-27 angling season, those who purchase angling licenses will have to contribute as well. Annual angling licences will require the purchase of a $20 Angling Habitat Certificate, while one- and three-day angling licenses will require a $5 certificate.
But if you hunt and fish and purchase both an annual angling licence and a hunting licence in the same year, those residents only need to buy a single Habitat Certificate. Saskatchewan residents aged 65 and older, who are exempt from purchasing angling licences, will also be exempt from purchasing the Angling Habitat Certificate.
The new charges are expected to generate an additional $2.1 million annually. The government says that revenue, which is deposited into the Fish and Wildlife Development Fund, will be used to support modernizing and expanding the fish hatchery as well as support long-term fisheries stocking.
