Fall Legislative Session Productive
Monday marked the final day of Saskatchewan’s fall legislative session, a busy and productive time in which we are able to engage in debate, exchange ideas and work toward meaningful legislative changes to enhance the enviable quality of life we all enjoy. Highlights included:
Development of a 10 year Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan;
Opening and start of construction on a total of 92 new housing unit projects in the province;
Opening and start of construction on long-term care homes in Prince Albert and Kelvington;
Proceeding with the Request for Proposals to build nine new joint-use schools in the province;
Ground-breaking for the new K-12 school in Langenburg;
Confirmation of our province’s AAA credit rating by international rating agencies;
A balanced budget with a projected surplus of over $70 million, despite volatile oil prices.
While the fall legislative session is finished, our work to keep Saskatchewan strong continues. We have a balanced budget, lower provincial taxes and a growing population. Growth has given us the ability to invest over $6 billion in schools, hospitals and highways – with more to do. Since 2007, Saskatchewan has welcomed 400 more doctors, 2600 more nurses and 750 more people working in a growing number of long-term care facilities. Our wait times for surgery, which were the worst in Canada under an NDP government, are now second best.
In the past year, more than 15,000 new jobs were created across the province, a job creation rate that is three times the national average. According to Statistics Canada, our 3.4 per cent unemployment rate is also Canada’s lowest and has been for 24 consecutive months.