By Northcote Voice

P.A. and Area Families Benefit from Saskatchewan’s Plan for Growth

Aug 8, 2014 | 11:38 AM

Saskatchewan has the food, fuel and fertilizer the world needs. As Canada’s largest per capita exporter, we are a safe and stable supplier of these things to emerging economies around the globe. According to the latest figures from Statistics Canada, Saskatchewan set a new record for export sales (over $3.0 billion) in June – an increase of nearly 34% over June 2013. With Saskatchewan exports once again outperforming the majority of provinces, this is a sign that our economy continues to be on the right track. When our economy is strong, we all benefit.

Revenue Sharing provides steady, predictable funding

Saskatchewan’s strong economic activity is also translating into more revenue for municipalities. Our government recently announced that communities will receive more through Municipal Revenue Sharing (MRS), a program that is based on one percentage point of the PST.

This provides steady, predictable funding that helps meet the challenges of growth and provide people with the essential services they rely on. Since its inception, MRS has provided municipalities with the highest amount of unconditional funding in our province’s history.

Due to an increase in Provincial Sales Tax revenue, our government will share an additional $8.3 million with communities across Saskatchewan in the 2015-16 budget year. In 2015-16, the City of Prince Albert will receive $7.5 million, a 150 per cent funding increase since 2007-08.

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CETA milestone important for Northern Saskatchewan
Our government welcomes the federal government’s progress on the path to a free trade deal between Canada and the European Union (EU). Negotiations and the complete text of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) have now been finalized. This is an important step in opening up new markets for our province’s businesses and exporters.

Saskatchewan stands to gain through the easing of Canadian restrictions on EU investment, particularly in uranium mining projects. The easing of investment restrictions could result in as much as $2.5 billion in investment in Saskatchewan’s uranium mining over the next 15 years. More importantly, we could see more than 1,200 jobs created over that period – jobs and economic opportunities that will benefit the people and communities of northern Saskatchewan.

SLGA Grants Help Local Groups
Saskatchewan really is the best place to live, work, and especially play in Canada. That is because hundreds of organizations across the province offer recreational programs and other services to their communities.

In Prince Albert, our government helped to support many of these programs last quarter through Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) charitable gaming grants. Over $30,000 was distributed to 56 different groups in the city.

It is testament to the great community spirit we have in our city.

Building Hope, Building Homes
I recently had the opportunity to work shoulder to shoulder with a fun and inspiring team of women volunteers to help build the first Women’s Build Habitat for Humanity home in Prince Albert.

Our government is proud to partner with Habitat for Humanity in its mission to help Saskatchewan families put down roots knowing that their barriers to home-ownership are gone. In the 2014-15 budget, we committed an additional $750,000 to help build an additional 12 new Habitat for Humanity homes throughout Saskatchewan.
Since March 2009, our government has provided Habitat for Humanity with $7.85 million, helping to build dozens of homes for deserving families across the province.
The Women’s Build project is a wonderful opportunity for us to show just how we can work together to help make this province the best place to live, work and raise a family.

Provincial Parks system gets record level funding
Another advantage of our growing province and strong economy is the ability to invest in our provincial parks. The 2014-15 Budget has increased funding to provincial parks. This includes capital and maintenance spending which will hit record levels with $14.9 million. Total capital investments in provincial parks have increased 244 per cent in the past seven years, compared to the previous seven year period.

Narrow Hills Provincial Park – approximately a one-and-a-half-hour drive northeast of Prince Albert – will receive $1.3 million in capital investments. These investments in Narrow Hills Provincial Park will enhance the experience of our visitors and make this park an even better place to vacation. In 2013, the provincial park system set a record 3.7 million visits. Narrow Hills Provincial Park received 73,666 of those visits.

I invite our readers to visit Northern Saskatchewan – one of the most beautiful places on earth. On your way, be sure to stop and enjoy our historic city of Prince Albert where the agricultural prairie of the south and the rich forest belt of the north meet.

Prince Albert Northcote constituents are always welcome to contact my office by calling 306-922-4220. You may also visit my website at http://mlajurgens.ca or email mlajurgens@sasktel.net. Our office is located at 5A 598 15 St. East across from Superstore.