(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By paNOW Staff

BUDGET 2023

What’s in it for P.A. in this year’s provincial budget

Mar 22, 2023 | 2:27 PM

The provincial budget includes many highlights for Prince Albert and surrounding areas.

The province unveiled its financial outlook for the year on Wednesday which features record investment for capital projects, health care funding and municipal revenue sharing.

Education

As part of the province’s $147.3 million for school capital projects, money will be given for a new K-12 francophone school to replace École Valois. Funding is also being provided for renovations to St. John Community School.

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The budget includes nearly $7 billion in healthcare funding, an increase of $431 million from last year.

The province will continue to fund the redevelopments at Victoria Hospital as part of $98.6 million for health-care capital projects.

Over $2 million in new funding will be earmarked to initiate work on other key infrastructure priorities, including developing plans for the Rosthern Hospital

Justice, Corrections, and Policing

Last year, the province announced it was launching the Saskatchewan Marshals Service which will be based in Prince Albert. As part of the 2023-24 Budget, $7 million will go to helping establish that service.

The government is also giving $3.2 million to expand the Warrant Enforcement and Suppression Team (WEST) and the Crime Reduction Team and $147,000 will help enhance the Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE), also based in Prince Albert.

The funding for First Nations on-reserve policing and enhancing police services will increase to $20 million.

The government will continue to support the Īkwēskīcik iskwēwak program at Pine Grove Correctional Centre to the tune of $1 million.

Capital projects

Money for the Victoria Hospital redevelopment will also be coming from the province’s Capital Projects fund this year, which will see roughly $204 million set aside for major capital projects in the province.

About $4 million will be put towards the renovations at the University of Saskatchewan’s Dental Clinic.

Social Services

Social Services is also getting a big boost from the province, with Prince Albert receiving money for different programs like the Supportive Family Living Program. The program will get $1.3 million to expand to 17 families in Moose Jaw, Fort Qu’Appelle, Prince Albert and Saskatoon.

The ministries of Social Services and Health will each commit $1.2 million to develop mental health group homes for youth in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert and an additional $325,000 to increase the capacity of two Sanctum Care Group programs that support at-risk expectant women in Saskatoon and Prince Albert.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @princealbertnow