(file photo/CKOM News Staff)

By CKOM News Staff

Throne speech focuses on COVID-19, election promises

Nov 30, 2020 | 4:47 PM

As it has been in everyone’s lives for the past nine months, COVID-19 was a running theme through the new provincial government’s speech from the throne Monday afternoon.

The speech laid out the government’s plan and priorities for the coming months.

It started by thanking the people of the province for what they’ve already done to help mitigate the effects of the virus, and asked them to continue doing it.

The speech talked about new public health orders and more that could be on the way. It also talked about “historic investments” for things like protective equipment in health care, extra money for schools and a promise of more coming in December, and programs to support businesses and workers.

“In the weeks ahead, my government will continue taking action to address both the health and economic impact of COVID-19 while continuing to prepare for the distribution of a safe and effective vaccine, which the federal government has committed to deliver early in the new year,” Premier Scott Moe said in the speech.

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Lt. Gov. Russ Mirasty read out the speech to the Assembly, addressing the MLAs who were all masked for the first day of the fall sitting.

In the speech, there was a promise to start fulfilling promises right away that were made during the election campaign. One of the first two bills that will be brought forward will be the new Saskatchewan Home Renovation Tax Credit, which will allow homeowners to get a credit of up to $2,100 on qualifying home renovations in the next two years.

A 10 per cent reduction on electricity charges is supposed to start Tuesday, and the small business tax rate will be cut down to zero for the next 2 1/2 years, costing about $189 million.

“By providing a tax reduction during this challenging time, my government is reinforcing Saskatchewan’s reputation as the best place in Canada to start and grow a business,” Moe said in the speech.

There are several new announcements expected to be made this fall or put into the spring budget. One is to expand the eligibility of the insulin pump program to everyone — currently it’s only available to those with Type 1 diabetes who are under 25.

The province will also cover the cost of continuous glucose monitoring for youths.

In the speech, the government also promised to cover $6,000 worth of supports for kids under the age of 12 with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Currently only kids under the age of six qualify for the money.

The government is also committing to hire more people to help those in the deafblind community, and to hire 300 continuing care aids to be spread between long-term care homes, existing home-care services, and expanding home care in rural and remote areas.

In the speech, the government also announced that the rural and remote minister will also now be responsible for mental health and addictions, which is the first time in Saskatchewan that has been a separate, specific charge for a minister.

“This appointment is a demonstration of my government’s commitment to support those struggling with mental health and addictions challenges,” Moe said.

The government also said it will introduce initiatives from its Pillars for Life Suicide Prevention Plan, like training a mental-health first responder for every one of the province’s schools.

In the speech, there was also a commitment to introduce two new pieces of legislation: One which would allow people who’ve been sexually assaulted in their rental unit to break a long-term lease, and another which would allow human trafficking victims to obtain protection orders quicker, allow for tougher enforcement, and allow for civil remedies.

NDP response to speech

In a media release, NDP Leader Ryan Meili said the speech was a “missed opportunity” to address the second wave of COVID-19.

“This was a ‘business as usual’ Throne Speech, but we all know that business is anything but usual in Saskatchewan,” Meili said. “Premier Moe spent the election campaign telling people we were out of the woods even though expert advice and pandemic modelling showed otherwise. Now the second wave is hitting us in a big way and the government is not prepared to invest in the immediate actions needed to flatten the curve.”

The NDP noted the speech didn’t feature any new supports for businesses that were struggling before the second wave hit, nor did it offer any immediate investments to fight COVID.

“Businesses are being told to stay open while their customers are being urged to stay home: It’s a recipe for economic disaster,” Meili said. “Now the government’s slow and contradictory approach has left our health-care system in chaos — and things will only get worse if we do not act immediately to flatten the curve of COVID-19.”

More to come.