By Andrew de Souza

Sask. Party plans for upcoming year

Aug 10, 2011 | 12:23 PM

Ministers and MLAs from the Saskatchewan Party were near the Prince Albert National Park for their annual planning session.

It took place at Elk Ridge Resort. Members of the legislative assembly were there to discuss how they’d run the province into the coming year and through to the election.

Premier Brad Wall held a press conference to explain some of the bigger issues the group tried to tackle. He said the biggest areas were health care and the economy.

Wall said the province would look at improving health care services by increasing the number of residency seats available for medical students, increasing the numbers of seats in nursing courses and by finding ways to allow more foreign –trained doctors to practice in the province.

“There’s work to be done. There’s more doctors practicing in the province than when we took office, but there’s still too few—there’s a shortage,” he said. “In Prince Albert and area we know very well that’s the case and that’s the case around the province. We’re making some progress, but there’s more to be done.”

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When it comes to the economy, Wall said it is about weathering the storm that was brewing in the United States with its lowered credit rating and high commodities prices.

He said the way to do that is to create a stable business environment by maintaining the status quo, especially when it comes to the current royalty regime.

“We have to be vigilant and cautious,” he said. “That means not jacking around with a royalty system that is currently creating jobs in the province.”

“In a time like this, of worldwide instability, we need to keep doing the things that have been working well for our province.”

adesouza@panow.com