Legislative Report
Our government’s goal is to make Saskatchewan the best place to live, work and raise a family. This requires a long-term vision for the province and its people. Saskatchewan’s Plan for Growth sets out our government’s vision for a province of 1.2 million people by 2020.
Our plan identifies principles, goals and actions to ensure we are capturing opportunities and meeting the challenges of a growing province. In the past seven years, our population has grown by 120,000 people and we remain on track to reach our Growth Plan target.
Our plan includes a goal to add 60,000 workers by 2020. This week’s proclamation of The Saskatchewan Polytechnic Act will help to achieve this by providing increased applied training and education opportunities for post-secondary students in Saskatchewan. It gives the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology the authority to operate as a polytechnic institution and officially change its name to Saskatchewan Polytechnic.
The Act clarifies SIAST's authority to undertake and support applied research, grant degrees in accordance with The Degree Authorization Act, and fundraise for property. In addition, SIAST will now become a member of Polytechnics Canada along with ten other members that offer a broad range of educational experiences, including four-year bachelor degrees.