Vicki Mowat stands near the corner of Central Ave. and River Street. (Image Credit: Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Provincial politics

NDP calls on government to include Prince Albert in budget discussions

Mar 2, 2026 | 1:58 PM

With the spring sitting of the provincial legislative assembly now underway and budget day just over two weeks away, the opposition NDP wants to make sure people in Prince Albert are included in the discussions.

Deputy Leader Vicki Mowat met with reporters in the city on Monday and discussed the critical issues they hear are keeping local residents up at night. 

First and foremost is the provincial government fully funding the Victoria Hospital expansion. Mowat said the government has gone back on its word, and now are ‘holding the municipality hostage for $30 million.’

The local healthcare foundation and users of the hospital – in this case, the city and regional municipalities – are responsible for funding all the equipment and furniture needed to fill the hospital during the expansion phase of the project. The current estimate to do that is about $56 million. After the Boreal Healthcare Foundation makes its contribution, approximately $30 million of that price tag will fall to the city. The Sask. Party said that funding arrangement was clearly outlined when the hospital renewal and expansion project was announced on March 6, 2020.

“We know this area services the North, we know it’s not just the residents of Prince Albert that rely on this hospital and we need to see the government going back to their initial commitment, honouring their word rather than taking people of Prince Albert for granted,” Mowat said.

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Another item on the NDP’s priority list is investment in policing and mental health services, stating the need to address crime, homelessness and addictions.

The issue was also brought up during Mayor Bill Powalinsky’s recent state of the city address.

“We need to see the government investment in crime and the root causes of crime to make sure the people of Prince Albert are looked after,” Mowat said.

A third item on the NDP’s wish list is making sure cancer patients who are going to the hospitals for treatment are not forced to pay for parking while they undergo treatments. The issue was brought to light by former Prince Albert City Councilor Dennis Ogrodnick who publicly expressed his own frustrations and has been leading the charge for change.

“It’s absolutely unfair and we need to make sure we are doing so much better for some of our most vulnerable sick people in this province,” Mowat said.

Going forward Mowat said the NDP will hold the government accountable and put Prince Albert residents first and foremost.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell