Balanced Budget – Strong Saskatchewan

Despite falling oil prices, The Mid-Year Financial Report shows Saskatchewan is still on track to post a balanced budget in 2014-15.  Since lower oil prices are expected to start the coming fiscal year, our government will need to carefully manage spending while balancing the budget with the priorities of Saskatchewan people.

Saskatchewan continues to post the strongest job growth and lowest unemployment rate in Canada.   Our strong economy is about more than just oil; it features potash, uranium, an amazing agriculture sector, as well as manufacturing and technology.  Surprisingly to some, just eight per cent of the nearly 72,000 new jobs that have been created in Saskatchewan over the past seven years have been in the resource sector.  This shows that our province has a strong and diversified economy.

Despite excess moisture this past growing season, Saskatchewan’s agriculture sector is as strong as it has ever been. 2013 was our third consecutive year of record exports at $11.7 billion and, in 2014, year-to-date exports are 19 per cent higher.  Saskatchewan is well-positioned as an important agricultural trader in the world and expansion of trade relations will help to sustain and build on that. The Premier’s recent trade mission to India is one example of our work to promote growing these relationships.

Working with the federal government, Saskatchewan is now poised to receive more than $436 million from the Government of Canada through the new Building Canada Fund.  Over the next 10 years, regional and local communities will benefit from stable, predictable funding to continue to strengthen economic growth through investments in programs and infrastructure.  Thanks in part to this funding, our government can continue to focus on building stronger communities, growing export and trade, ensuring a clean environment, and meeting the opportunities and challenges of growth.

On the local level, our government is providing municipalities with record revenues through our Municipal Revenue Sharing program.  This is predictable, sustainable and unconditional funding that can be used to address whatever our municipal partners identify as priorities.  This year, Prince Albert received over $7.2 million, a 142 per cent increase from 2007-08.

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To further assist our municipal partners, we recently announced the renewal and expansion of the popular Saskatchewan Infrastructure Growth Initiative (SIGI).  Now open to First Nations communities that are in a position to participate, SIGI will provide rate subsidies for up to five years on municipal borrowing.  This is another way in which we’re partnering to help build stronger, more vibrant communities.

Investments in infrastructure are key to the continued growth of our economy.  We recognize that Prince Albert is a gateway to the north and, in partnership with the City and the Government of Canada, we are prepared to help fund a second river crossing using a P3 model.

The NDP MLA for Athabasca, Buckley Belanger, was recently quoted as saying “…it (Diefenbaker Bridge) is a provincial bridge,” and went on to suggest that the province should be the only level of government to fund construction of a new river crossing.  I want to point out that this position differs greatly from the NDP’s position when they were in government.  It is an example of saying one thing and then doing another.

In 2003, when repairs to the Diefenbaker Bridge were needed, the NDP government refused to pay even 50 per cent of the cost. The Highways Minister at the time said “the bridge isn’t an integral part of Highway 2 but merely an urban connector road exclusively within municipal jurisdiction.”  They also claimed that the Diefenbaker Bridge “…isn’t the government’s responsibility.”  In contrast, under our Urban Highway Connector Program, we currently fund 100 per cent of bridge repairs and maintenance.

Saskatchewan’s strong population and economic growth has helped our province emerge as a national leader.  More importantly, it has given us a greater ability to increase important investments in people, programs and infrastructure.  By working together, we can keep Prince Albert moving forward and Saskatchewan strong. 

Your voice matters – I want to know what is important to you and would like to hear your thoughts and ideas to keep our province moving forward in a way that is a benefit to all Saskatchewan residents.  Please feel free to contact me or drop by my constituency office.

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