Hon. Alana Ross: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, I rise today to welcome a number of representatives from the Sikh community, seated in your west gallery and also in your gallery, Mr. Speaker.

We value the cultural richness, hard work, and community spirit that the Sikh community brings to Saskatchewan, and your contributions in business, in public service, in philanthropy help to strengthen our province. That is why I am so pleased to announce that today we have proclaimed April as Sikh Heritage Month.

I am looking forward to meeting with members of the community after question period today, and I ask all members to join me in welcoming these important members of Saskatchewan to their Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon University-Sutherland.

Tajinder Grewal: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am seeking leave for an extended introduction.

Speaker Goudy: — The member has requested leave for an extended introduction. Is leave granted?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Tajinder Grewal: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, I’m honoured, great honour and privilege to welcome and introduce the members from the Sikh community on a very special occasion, the beginning of Sikh Heritage Month.

We have the members from the Sikh Society of Saskatchewan: ex-president Harpreet Singh Jassal, board members, and community leaders. We have Shaheed Sikh Society of Saskatoon: ex-president Balpreet Singh, board members, and volunteers. And we have the Sikh Society of Regina: its secretary Manmeet Singh and board members and many volunteers. Thank you very much for your service and leadership to the community and the community as a whole.

And now, Mr. Speaker, I will say a few words in my mother tongue, Punjabi.

[The hon. member spoke for a time in Punjabi.]

Now I request all members to join me to welcome the Sikh community members to their legislature.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Agriculture.

Hon. Daryl Harrison: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I request leave for an extended introduction.

Speaker Goudy: — The minister has requested leave for an extended introduction. Is leave granted?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Hon. Daryl Harrison: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, I would like to introduce Brady and Lindsay Funk, two producers from Wymark. They were the deserving recipients of Saskatchewan’s Outstanding Young Farmers award, announced during Canada’s Farm Show. The member from Lumsden-Morse will have more to say about that in a member’s statement later on, but I would like to congratulate Brady and Lindsay on this well-deserved honour.

While I’m on my feet, Mr. Speaker, I would like to introduce a delegation from Northern Farmers. Mr. Speaker, Northern Farmers is a network of 35,000 farmers across northern India. I had the opportunity to meet with them during my trade mission to New Delhi in February. Mr. Speaker, Northern Farmers has a presence here in Saskatchewan through Farm Grocer Inc.

As we know, Saskatchewan is a top destination for agriculture investment and innovation. Our trading partners recognize that potential as well. We appreciate the interest this group has shown in Saskatchewan’s agricultural sector and look forward to continued engagement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Pasqua.

Bhajan Brar: — I’d like to request extended leave for introduction. For introduction, extended leave.

Speaker Goudy: — The member has requested leave for an extended introduction. Is leave granted?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Bhajan Brar: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to you and through you, I rise here to introduce the Sikh personalities sitting in the east gallery as well as in your gallery. These groups of people came from Saskatoon and the local city of Regina. Some of them are executive members of the Sikh community. They control the overall administration of Sikh Society of Regina. Some are from Regina senior citizens’ group. They come every day to gurdwara and do their volunteer job: prepare food and set up the free food to the people and person in need.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to request you to join me along with other members to welcome them in their Assembly. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Lumsden-Morse.

Blaine McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It really is a pleasure to be on my feet to also join in helping to welcome Brady and Lindsay Funk to this their Legislative Assembly. And, Mr. Speaker, I’m very happy to say that Brady happens to be my nephew. And his mom, Carrie Funk, though she will always tell you that she’s a little younger and better looking than me, that’s true, but only by a little bit.

It’s also true that Bevin and Carrie Funk raised two very fine young men, Brady and Marty, in their household and taught them the ways of farming and agriculture in general. And, Brady, God has joined you together with your wonderful and beautiful wife, Lindsay, daughter of Marv and Talita Hildebrand in the Wymark area just south of Swift Current.

And, Mr. Speaker, the circle of life continues with three beautiful young children: Hudson, Roman, and Avery. Brady and Lindsay, it’s been a pleasure to watch both of you grow and mature and take your place in this world. And it’s been a joy to host you today in this House.

Mr. Speaker, I would invite all members to join me in welcoming Saskatchewan’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2025 to this, their Legislative Chamber.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Mount Royal.

Trent Wotherspoon: — Well thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of the official opposition, it’s my real honour to join with the members opposite and the Minister of Agriculture to welcome Lindsay and Brady Funk to their Assembly here today, and to celebrate their recognition, their award as the Outstanding Young Farmers in Saskatchewan.

We know this is something we can be incredibly proud of as a province, and this province is proud of the Funks here today. We’re world leaders as producers, and these producers epitomize that.

I understand that they have employed a drip irrigation system off of the South Saskatchewan River. That’s been a real impressive innovation, I know a labour of love for these producers here today.

And I understand Lindsay’s also an RN [registered nurse] and works in mental health as well. And we want to thank her for those contributions as well. And if I understand properly as well, I believe they also are coaches and leaders in the community, I think coaching some hockey. And these are all ways in which these producers enrich our province.

So on behalf of the official opposition, I want to celebrate the success and the award of Brady and Lindsay Funk as the outstanding young producers, the award here this past year.

And I want to join with the Minister of Agriculture to welcome the delegation of Northern Farmers from India that have joined us here today. Thank you for being here in Saskatchewan. The trade relationship we have with India as a province and a country is incredibly important, and I want to thank you for your presence here today. I want to wish you well with your meetings. And on behalf of the official opposition, I ask all members to provide a very warm welcome to this delegation.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Advanced Education.

Hon. Ken Cheveldayoff: — Well thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and it is indeed a pleasure to introduce someone who is a friend to members on both sides of the House, the Hon. Gord Wyant, K.C. [King’s Counsel] is here behind the bar on the government side.

Gord has served his city and his province in many ways: a member of the school board in Saskatoon, a member of city council, and a member of the Saskatchewan Party caucus and a cabinet minister here in the various governments. Gord was Deputy Premier. He was a minister of Education amongst other and minister of Advanced Education. They say that we stand on the shoulders of those that come before us, and Gord was an excellent minister of Advanced Education.

Well I know Gord hasn’t put his motorcycle out yet, but I know he’s spent some time in Arizona, so I hope he’s bringing that weather here for us.

Mr. Speaker, through you to all members, please help me welcome Hon. Gord Wyant, K.C. to his Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Chief Mistawasis.

Don McBean: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to join with the hon. member from Willowgrove in welcoming the Hon. Gord Wyant, Q.C. [Queen’s Counsel] Gord and I should have been banging heads, but he stepped aside to take over the municipal government of Saskatoon and, as a result or in part, I get to be a part of the legislature.

We crossed paths lots through the summer. He was so encouraging and very helpful, and I still have some of the artifacts from when we cleaned out the office. We connected just last week about maybe exchanging those. I’m thrilled to see him back in the legislature this afternoon. And on behalf of our caucus and everyone here, thank you very much for all the years of service and sacrifice that you’ve made. Maybe get a chance to talk later.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Highways.

Hon. David Marit: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, it really is a pleasure for me to introduce a young rancher sitting up in the west gallery. Garrett Mitchell is from the Glentworth area in my constituency. The Mitchell family is well known in the Glentworth area for ranching in there for decades and decades. It really is a pleasure. I don’t know, Garrett, if Gord Mitchell was part of that whole family, but I knew Gord well and some of the others as well.

But I just want everybody, Mr. Speaker, to please welcome this young rancher from my constituency to this, his Legislative Assembly. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina University.

Sally Housser: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s one of my greatest honours to have a world-class institution like the University of Regina in my riding, and it is my delight today to welcome some students from the University of Regina.

En particulier les étudiants pour le Baccalauréat en éducation française sont ici aujourd’hui avec leur professeur Stephen Davis.

[Translation: In particular the students for the Baccalaureate in French Education are here today with their professor Stephen Davis.]

They’re here to learn about teaching social studies to future leaders in this province.

Dr. Davis has himself been a French immersion teacher and has taught English as a second language to newcomers in this province and has been a fantastic advocate and proponent of multilingualism. Really delighted to welcome you here to the legislature today, very much look forward to meeting with you after the session today, and enjoy the show.

Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. And I’d ask all of my colleagues to welcome them here today.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Advanced Education.

Hon. Ken Cheveldayoff: — Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to join with the member opposite and welcome the students and teachers from the University of Regina. You’re representing a well-known institution in our province and in our country, one that is very, very well respected.

We thank you for coming to your Legislative Assembly and thank you for the work that you do to make the university a better place and an outstanding institution. I hope that the day is fruitful, and maybe I’ll have an opportunity to chat with you a little bit later on after question period. Thanks very much.

[13:45]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Elphinstone-Centre.

Meara Conway: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m on my feet to introduce a number of front-line health care workers who are seated in the west gallery behind me.

We have Dionne Wagner, a nutrition food service worker. We have Kyla Adolph, a continuing care aide in home care; we have Susy Harris who is also a continuing care aide in long-term care. We have Jamie Knox, an LPN [licensed practical nurse]. We have Amy Scott, a stores person. We have Sheila Tagel and Nancy Howe, both continuing care aides, I believe in acute care. And we have Victor Castor who’s a continuing care aide at the Wascana Rehab Centre. They’re also joined by local CUPE [Canadian Union of Public Employees] leadership, Bashir and Kent, who joined us as well yesterday, as well as the lovely Tria Donaldson, staff.

I’m sorry if I missed anyone, Mr. Speaker, but an array of front-line health care workers who do critical work in our system each and every day. I will have more to say about the work that they do in the time to come, but I would ask all members to join me in welcoming them to this, their Legislative Assembly.

And I feel it’s incumbent upon me, I also want to give a shout-out to . . . We have a full House today, but in particular a friend of mine seated in the east gallery, Dr. Stephen Davis. In addition to his many professional accolades and accomplishments, he is a friend of mine, him and his wife. And he’s just the loveliest, most intelligent guy. And so I wanted to just welcome him as well to this, his Legislative Assembly

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan I’d like to also join with the member opposite and welcome the front-line health care workers from all over the province to their Legislative Assembly today. We had some folks from CUPE 5430 here yesterday and some folks from CUPE again here today.

Look forward to potentially speaking with some of them later, and just want to thank you guys for the important work that you do each and every day to serve the patients and the people of our province. So I’d ask all members to join me in welcoming these front-line health care workers to their legislature.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Meewasin.

Nathaniel Teed: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, I just want to join with my colleague and the minister opposite in welcoming these health care workers to their Legislative Assembly.

Specifically I want to welcome Kent Peterson, president of CUPE Saskatchewan, to his Legislative Assembly. Kent is no stranger to many members on this floor, and as shadow minister of Labour I have the privilege of working alongside him in building a province a safer, better place to live and work and raise a family.

I just want to say a special thank you to Kent for all the work that you do advocating for health care workers, for education workers, library workers, CBO [community-based organization] workers — so many workers across this province. I just want to thank you for the work that you do advocating for them every single day. And it’s an honour to work alongside you in this work.

So with that, Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all members join me in welcoming Kent Peterson, president of CUPE Saskatchewan, to his Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Coronation Park.

Noor Burki: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you, through you, I will be joining my colleague to welcome our very incredible leaders of the Sikh community. They are here in the east gallery and your gallery. And I will say they are incredible, doing an incredible job for our community, especially from education to health care, in business. We always say thank you for your generous support for our community, and we love them. And thank you for coming to your Legislative Assembly. And I will request all members to join me and give them a warm welcome to their Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — And I would just like to welcome everyone here as well. There is one individual in this building today that welcomed me to this Legislative Assembly back in the day, and I’m sure all of us as members can look to those ones who help them find their feet in life. But we have the Hon. Gord Wyant, who is a good friend of mine, welcomed me to this place I think when someone else might have pulled the chair out from under me. Gord was the kind of man for people on both sides that would help us back up. And appreciate seeing you. So, Gord Wyant, welcome to your Legislative Assembly.

PRESENTING PETITIONS

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Silverspring.

Hugh Gordon: — Good day, Mr. Speaker. I bring to the attention of the House a petition with respect to the need to renew the federal-provincial child care agreement.

We, the undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan, wish to bring to your attention the following. The federal government renewed its $10‑a-day child care agreement with 11 provinces and territories until 2031. Saskatchewan is one of two provinces that have not renewed the agreement. Child care operators, parents in agreements have all voiced their concern; they know that affordable and accessible child care is critical for families, our economy, our jobs, and our future.

Licensed child care centres have contributed to the local economy by providing local jobs, opportunities for professional development, and by allowing parents to join or rejoin the workforce. Without access to affordable and accessible child care, families will be forced to leave the workforce, which will have impacts on our economy and on our communities.

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to immediately renew the federal-provincial child care agreement to save jobs, help families, and boost our economy.

Mr. Speaker, the signatories of the petition reside in Saskatoon. I do present.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Kindersley-Biggar.

Kim Gartner: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We, the undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan, wish to bring to your attention the following: that the province of Saskatchewan exported over $4.3 billion in goods to China in 2024; nearly 1 billion of these exports are in canola products; further, that the devasting 100 per cent tariff on Canadian-produced canola, pork, and peas by China have a disproportionate effect on Saskatchewan producers and the province’s economy.

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request that the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan take the following action: that the Government of Canada take immediate action to remove the harmful tariffs on canola, pork, and peas that are disproportionately affecting the producers and farmers of the province of Saskatchewan; that the federal government immediately engage in meaningful dialogue with representatives of the Chinese government to eliminate tariffs that harm Saskatchewan producers.

The below undersigned are residents of the RM [rural municipality] of Prince Albert.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Southeast.

Brittney Senger: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to present a petition calling on the government to reverse the ban on third-party sex ed providers in schools.

We, the undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan, wish to bring to your attention the following: banning third-party sexual health education impacts additional prevention education programs, programs focused on body safety, consent, and healthy relationships; third-party sexual education providers are trained professionals who are best suited to training sexual education in the classroom; third-party providers have always strived to provide the best education and oversight from school boards.

With that, I will read the prayer:

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request that the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to immediately reverse its policy decision to ban third-party sexual health educators in Saskatchewan schools and listen to experts and stakeholders in developing comprehensive sex education curriculum for all publicly funded schools.

The undersigned residents reside in Regina. I do so present.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Athabasca.

Leroy Laliberte: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to present a petition to the Legislative Assembly calling on home supports for older adults in Saskatchewan.

We, the undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan, wish to bring to your attention the following: the evidence shows that older adults in Saskatchewan want to age in their own homes and communities; that providing supports for older adults in their homes comes with significantly lower costs than providing institutionalized care; and also the factors that drive older adults from their homes often go beyond their health needs and provincially subsidized home supports program could help older adults with these practical needs.

I’ll read the prayer:

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan to call on the Government of Saskatchewan to work with older adults, stakeholders, municipalities, and design home supports programs that will allow seniors to age with dignity in their own homes and communities.

The signatories are from Saskatoon. I do so present.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Elphinstone-Centre.

Meara Conway: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to present a petition calling on the Government of Saskatchewan to implement universal access to birth control.

In Saskatchewan we have some of the highest rates of teen pregnancy, of unplanned pregnancy, Mr. Speaker. Cost is one of the biggest barriers to accessing contraceptive birth control in Saskatchewan, especially among adolescents. And having consistent and affordable access to contraceptive options is essential for promoting bodily autonomy, preventing unwanted pregnancy, and saving money on sexual and reproductive health care.

I stand presenting this petition seven months pregnant, Mr. Speaker, which may give people a bit of a chuckle. But I actually think it’s fitting because I had the great privilege in my life to plan a family around my career, to make choices, to never have barriers to access to reproductive information and education and to contraceptives. And this is a privilege that we believe that all people should enjoy across this province, irrespective of financial barrier or otherwise.

So with that, Mr. Speaker, I’ll read the prayer:

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request that the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to adopt a policy of making no‑cost prescriptive contraceptive available to all Saskatchewan people.

This has worked in many other jurisdictions recently. It’s making a great deal of difference, Mr. Speaker. So with that, the signatories reside in Saskatoon. I do so present.

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Batoche.

Removal of Carbon Tax Will Benefit Saskatchewan

Darlene Rowden: — Mr. Speaker, it’s a great day in Saskatchewan. As of today we are the first carbon tax-free province in Canada.

Last week our Premier announced that this government is reducing the industrial carbon tax rate to zero. This move will benefit everyone: make our industries more competitive, our province even more affordable, and give consumers a break. The cancellation of the carbon tax is supported by the chamber of commerce, SARM [Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities], and most of the people of this province.

Mr. Speaker, ratepayers will no longer see the carbon tax on their SaskPower bills, and this change will generate more opportunities for investments that will create and retain Canadian jobs in the province. And we hope that all federal parties running in this election agree with these objectives.

But there’s one party that we know does not support this goal, and that’s the NDP [New Democratic Party]. The NDP kept the Liberal government that imposed this tax on Canadians in power. And the NDP called our efforts to stop the carbon tax a “pointless crusade.” Unlike the opposition, we’re focused on delivering for Saskatchewan people. Thank you, and happy carbon tax freedom day.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon University-Sutherland.

Sikh Heritage Month Celebrates History and Culture

Tajinder Grewal: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today marks the beginning of Sikh Heritage Month, a month-long celebration highlighting the many contributions that Sikh communities have made to Saskatchewan and Canada.

Later today my colleague, the member for Regina Pasqua, will be presenting a bill, The Sikh Heritage Month Act. It is my honour to support him.

Sikhism is the fourth-largest religious group in Canada, with a population of close to 800,000, or slightly more than 2 per cent of Canada’s population. In Saskatchewan, the Sikhs arrived in 1957. During the early 1960s, many math and Sikh teachers came to Saskatchewan. They taught in small towns and villages and finally settled in Saskatoon or Regina after their retirement.

The Sikh population in Saskatchewan is growing. Sikh Heritage Month is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the history, culture, and tradition of Sikh communities in Saskatchewan and Canada. Our first guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, is known for sharing values of equality, community, and unity throughout his life. And he said, we are all one; we are all equal.

During this Sikh Heritage Month, let’s remember that our diversity is our strength, and our strength lies in our unity. Happy Sikh Heritage Month.

[14:00]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Moosomin-Montmartre.

Autism Awareness Day

Kevin Weedmark: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to recognize tomorrow as Autism Awareness Day, also known as Autism Acceptance Day.

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder which presents in many ways, including repetitive patterns of behaviour and sensory issues. ASD [autism spectrum disorder] is a spectrum, and it presents differently in everyone. People living with autism can face challenges, including educational and employment problems and higher rates of depression and self-harm.

Our government recognizes these challenges, which is why the Ministry of Health is investing $9.7 million to support people living with autism, including support workers, rehabilitation therapists, diagnostic services, and community-based supports. This includes $686,000 in annual funding for Autism Services of Saskatoon and $235,000 for the Autism Resource Centre in Regina.

Sensory issues that people with autism might face include sensitivity to light, sound, or touch, which can lead to overstimulation. This is why multiple SaskTel stores have been offering sensory shopping hours with dimmed lights, music turned off, and scanners silenced to provide a more comfortable shopping experience.

It’s important for us to recognize people living with autism, the challenges they face, and the disinformation and stereotypes that surround autism and its causes. I invite all members to join me in recognizing Autism Awareness Day and committing to helping build a world where everyone is accepted and supported to succeed. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Walsh Acres.

An Evening in Greece Fundraiser Supports Hospitals Foundation

Jared Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my honour to rise today to recognize St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Community of Regina and the AHEPA [American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association] family for hosting yet another incredible fundraiser and gala, the 31st annual An Evening in Greece. On March 8th, 2025 nearly 800 guests packed the Delta Hotel to celebrate Greek culture, legendary hospitality, and an unwavering commitment to philanthropy, all in support of the Hospitals of Regina Foundation.

From the smashing of plates to the mesmerizing performances by the Kronos Hellenic Dancers, from the soul-stirring melodies of Arkadia to the feasts of authentic Greek cuisine, the evening was a true spectacle of Hellenic spirit. And, Mr. Speaker, I must give special mention to the diples, a traditional Peloponnesian pastry, delicately fried, dipped in honey, and incredibly irresistible. I may have indulged in one too many, Mr. Speaker.

I want to say a tremendous thank you to Spiro Bonis, Thomas Siarkos, and Tom Liagridonis for their outstanding leadership in making this night possible. Their dedication to community and charity is truly commendable. And, Mr. Speaker, this year’s event raised $300,000, bringing the total since 1993 to an astonishing $3.1 million for the Hospitals of Regina Foundation.

I’d invite all members of this Legislative Assembly to join me in congratulating the organizers and volunteers of An Evening in Greece on yet another remarkable success. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Carrot River Valley.

Expanded Coverage for Glucose Monitoring Equipment

Terri Bromm: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Starting today our government is investing $23 million to fully cover continuous and flash glucose monitors for seniors 65 and older and young adults age 18 to 25, as announced in the provincial budget.

Also known as advanced glucose monitors, these devices have been covered since 2021 for children and youth under 18 who meet specific medical criteria. Mr. Speaker, an advanced glucose monitor is a high-tech device that helps people with diabetes monitor their blood sugar levels. This monitor can be life-changing for people, helping them minimize the risk and frequency of potentially life-threatening low blood sugar episodes.

It uses a sensor on the skin to send a glucose-level reading to a smart phone or other electronic device to help diabetics track their glucose levels. The monitor also records trends and patterns. With consent, physicians can remotely access the information, assisting them in making informed clinical decisions.

Mr. Speaker, delivering high-quality health services is important to our government. We will continue to invest in initiatives like this one that improve the quality of life for individuals with diabetes. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Churchill-Wildwood.

Measures Needed to Combat the Addictions Crisis

Keith Jorgenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to discuss something of critical importance to me, the residents of Churchill-Wildwood, and truly all the people of Saskatchewan. My community, like all communities, are being destroyed by the addiction crisis.

You know, I spoke with one woman from Churchill-Wildwood who found her son dead in their backyard. Personally, I have passed the unspeakable milestone of having 40 former students that have died. These were young people that I knew well, I broke bread with.

A conversation with a former colleague in Punnichy led me to look at the obituaries at the Conley Funeral Home. Shockingly or, Mr. Speaker, perhaps not unsurprisingly, there were more people that had been buried at that funeral home in their teens and their twenties than had died in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s.

Saskatoon as whole has been rocked by a cataclysmic wave of overdoses. Our life expectancy for the first time in our history is actually decreasing.

You know, this is a complex math equation that tells the story of a government that first ignored a crisis when everyone saw it coming, then did not come up with a sufficient plan, poorly designed that plan, and is now spending taxpayers’ money on a problem without a reasonable hope of stemming these losses.

We don’t need virtual beds, Mr. Speaker, or home detox. We need an actual, real plan. We need a government that treats a crisis like a crisis.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Lumsden-Morse.

Couple Wins Outstanding Young Farmers Award

Blaine McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recently on the last day of Canada’s Farm Show, the winners of this year’s Outstanding Young Farmers award for Saskatchewan were announced. Each year this national program recognizes agriculture producers who excel at what they do. Brady and Lindsay Funk, who farm near Wymark, are very deserving recipients.

Mr. Speaker, at Braylin Acres their commitment to excellence is at the heart of Saskatchewan agriculture. Brady and Lindsay are in fact more than farmers. They meet or exceed the criteria for this prestigious honour, which includes contributing in positive ways to their community, the province, and the nation with dedication and a solid work ethic. This and a passion for continual learning and development drives the growth and excellence this program seeks to recognize. Innovative and dedicated young producers like Brady and Lindsay are helping our province achieve our 2030 growth plan goals such as increasing crop production to 45 million metric tons.

Mr. Speaker, this couple are showing us what the future of agriculture looks like in Saskatchewan and, Mr. Speaker, it’s clearly in excellent hands. And with family genes running deep in farming — great-grandparents on both sides — agriculture will never be far from their hearts.

I invite all members to join me in congratulating Brady and Lindsay and wishing them the best of luck at the national Outstanding Young Farmers event in November. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

QUESTION PERIOD

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Leader of the Opposition.

Provincial Budget and Response to Tariffs

Carla Beck: — Mr. Speaker, like a slow-moving freight train, Donald Trump’s tariffs have been headed towards this province for months. But this Sask Party government has left Saskatchewan unprepared. There’s no contingency, no action, and their response has been weak and meek at every turn.

Tariffs come tomorrow, Mr. Speaker. What’s this government’s plan to protect Saskatchewan?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Jim Reiter: — Mr. Speaker, I’m happy to outline the plan. The Legislative Assembly voted on the plan just a week ago. To start with, as part of that plan, we’re very proud today to say that we’re going to help both citizens of this province and businesses prepare for those tariffs by giving them a competitive advantage, Mr. Speaker, by being the only province in this country to be carbon tax free.

Mr. Speaker, there’s a number of other actions that are being taken as well. For example, SLGA [Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority] is no longer purchasing US [United States] alcohol. We’re reviewing all government procurement to prioritize Canadian suppliers. We’re making efforts to increase procurement from Saskatchewan-based employers, like for example the Minister of Crown Investments Corporation made about a week ago with Evraz steel to protect jobs there and to help that business continue success. Mr. Speaker, we’re supporting the use of targeted counter-tariffs.

Mr. Speaker, the list goes on. But again I think a very important component of all this is giving businesses a competitive advantage by not paying carbon tax anymore. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Leader of the Opposition.

Carla Beck: — Mr. Speaker, despite the minister’s arrogant and dismissive tone, Saskatchewan people are worried about what’s coming tomorrow.

Speaker Goudy: — I would ask that the member apologize and withdraw.

Carla Beck: — Apologize and withdraw. Mr. Speaker, Saskatchewan people, let’s be clear, they’re already struggling, and tariffs from China and from Trump are not going to help. New numbers released today, Mr. Speaker, from Angus Reid show that economic anxiety in this province is the worst in the country, with one in three people in this province saying that they’re struggling already. Higher than every other province. How can the Deputy Premier justify having nothing at all in a contingency plan in that budget?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Jim Reiter: — Mr. Speaker, we absolutely recognize that the people of this province are concerned. We’re all concerned. This tariff war is ridiculous. It’s been erratic from day to day, from hour to hour, and nobody knows what’s going to happen. So the best way that we can deal with it is to make sure that we have affordability measures in place for the great citizens of this great province, Mr. Speaker.

We did that. With the budget we announced personal income tax reductions, Mr. Speaker. A family of four will now save $3,400 over the next four years. A senior couple will save $3,100 over the next four years. The grad retention program. We’ve doubled the active families benefit and increased the income threshold, Mr. Speaker.

And above all, with those, although I think the income tax one is enormous, Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, this is carbon tax freedom day in Saskatchewan. People are seeing today . . . My colleagues were talking about the different pump prices on gasoline — 15, 16, 17, 18 cents down, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to the next question.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Riversdale.

Kim Breckner: — The minister points to affordability measures that Saskatchewan people won’t see until 2026, while liberation day is tomorrow and there’s no hiding now. If Donald Trump slaps 20 or 25 per cent tariffs on Saskatchewan products tomorrow, what exactly is the minister going to do? He should be specific because it sounds like he doesn’t have a clue.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Jim Reiter: — Mr. Speaker, I’m not sure why the member opposite said that they won’t see it for months. Today. I was just mentioning gas taxes dropped significantly today. Carbon tax. When people’s power bills go out this month, will not have the carbon tax on it. The list goes on and on. It’s immediate. It’s right now, Mr. Speaker.

And here’s what this government won’t do, Mr. Speaker. This government is not going to let Donald Trump dictate our budget and dictate how we deliver on our election platform promises. NDP British Columbia decided to backtrack on some of their election promises. Not this government, Mr. Speaker. We’re going to go ahead with this, and we’re going to protect citizens of Saskatchewan with affordability measures.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Riversdale.

Kim Breckner: — I guess the plan is just to duck and cover. For months this government should have been consulting with industry and experts, planning contingencies and more. They didn’t do any of that, and their phony budget is proof.

If tariffs come tomorrow, will the Finance minister go back to the drawing board and commit to bringing back a new budget and actually being transparent with the people of Saskatchewan for a change before the end of this spring sitting?

Speaker Goudy: — I’m going to mention to the member, “phony budget” and “doesn’t have a clue” are not parliamentary.

I recognize the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Jim Reiter: — Mr. Speaker, our government is very proud of this budget. And you know why? Because in the midst of all the uncertainty because of the trade war, Mr. Speaker, we are delivering affordability measures for the people of this province.

[14:15]

Mr. Speaker, the first-time homebuyers tax credit increasing from 10,000 to $15,000. The permanent home renovation tax credit for claims up to 4,000 a year. For seniors that qualify, the personal home care benefit increased by $1,000 a month. That list goes on. Again I would point to the income tax measures and especially today, Mr. Speaker, the only province in the country, carbon tax is being removed, carbon tax free. People are seeing it today.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Riversdale.

Kim Breckner: — Mr. Speaker, I’m at a loss. No plan. No new budget. Nothing but empty rhetoric from the weakest government in all of Canada when it comes to the Trump trade war. I have to ask why.

Why won’t they do the right thing? Why won’t they lift a finger to help the people during this existential crisis? Is it because there are members on that side of the House who would rather side with Donald Trump than with the people of Saskatchewan?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Jim Reiter: — Mr. Speaker, I don’t even know where to go with that. That’s ridiculous. I just said this government, this government is not going to let Donald Trump dictate our budget. We followed through on all our election platform promises. This budget delivers that. This budget delivers affordability measures, income tax, personal care home benefits. Mr. Speaker, this budget delivers.

In the eight-point plan — that the members opposite voted on and now saying there is no plan — it delivers carbon tax freedom, the only province in the country. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Nutana.

Government Procurement and US Contracts

Erika Ritchie: — Mr. Speaker, we see no plan on tariffs from this Sask Party government. And we see no real plan to support local businesses and companies. The Sask Party keeps handing contract after contract to US firms. They’ve announced a plan to review US involvement in capital projects, but there’s no plan to look at the contracts they have with American suppliers.

When will we see real action to support Saskatchewan businesses and Saskatchewan workers in the face of Donald Trump’s tariffs?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of CIC [Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan].

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. We have made it a significant priority to procure from Canadian companies. A good example of that has been increasing our Crown procurement to . . . Only 3 per cent of actually our Crown procurements are from US companies. Latest example of that was making sure that we, through Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan, are not procuring machines from the United States. We’ll be looking at suppliers probably in Europe for that particular equipment.

But what we are doing for our businesses here in this province as well is increasing their affordability and competitiveness to a great degree. An example is Evraz, which we spoke about a bit earlier here. We are cutting millions of dollars from their annual carbon tax. That is going to improve the bottom line, make them more competitive, and keep literally hundreds of people right here at work in Regina, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Nutana.

Erika Ritchie: — Mr. Speaker, when you buy local you support local jobs, and those dollars stay in our local communities. That’s true for moms and dads at the grocery store and it’s true for government procurement as well. For years we’ve called on the Sask Party to finally start supporting local jobs and businesses in government contracts, and you’d think that staring down the threat of tariffs they’d finally get the message. But you’d be wrong.

Will the Minister for SaskBuilds commit to reviewing all government procurement to support local companies? Yes or no?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of SaskBuilds and Procurement.

Hon. David Marit: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Obviously SaskBuilds has been very successful in awarding contracts to Saskatchewan companies and to Canadian companies. Just in the last year alone, Mr. Speaker, over 95 per cent of the contracts that were awarded through SaskBuilds were Sask bidders, were awarded to Saskatchewan suppliers. So we are doing an excellent job.

When you look at the total transfer of procurement, roughly $1.8 billion was awarded to Saskatchewan-based companies just last year alone, Mr. Speaker. We will continue to do that. We will continue to evaluate Saskatchewan companies and procurement and make it a priority to look at Saskatchewan companies and Canadian companies first.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Stonebridge.

Darcy Warrington: — Mr. Speaker, if the Sask Party wants an example of a US company providing services we should have here at home, I’ve got one: the provincial parks booking system. The Sask Party contracted out our provincial parks bookings to a company based in Texas. Every time someone books a campsite on this American system, the hard-earned dollars of Saskatchewan people will be flowing down to this US company. And back on March 20th the Government of Saskatchewan agreed to support efforts to increase procurement from Saskatchewan-based employers.

To the Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport: how on earth is this contract acceptable to this Sask Party government?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of CIC.

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Well thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I can tell you the government is always looking for options and opportunities to make sure that we are doing all we can to procure locally from within this province. If not from in this province, from within this country, Mr. Speaker.

In fact we have an exemption actually in place that we took through the Canadian Free Trade Agreement to ensure that we can continue to make sure Saskatchewan companies are prioritized, an exemption, Mr. Speaker, in fact that the members opposite have demanded be removed. That’s not something we’re going to do, Mr. Speaker. We’re going to continue to make sure under our trade agreements we can prioritize Saskatchewan procurement, even if it’s opposed by the opposition.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Stonebridge.

Darcy Warrington: — Well it might not be procurement, Mr. Speaker, but Shercom might disagree.

Earlier this week, the Sask Party sent out a news release announcing that parks bookings are open for the year. And that’s great news. We have the most beautiful provincial parks in the country. But what a crying shame it is that an American company employing American workers stands to profit off our Saskatchewan parks. It does not make sense.

Does the Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport believe that there is no one in Saskatchewan that is qualified to run our provincial parks reservation system?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of CIC.

[Applause]

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Well, appreciate the applause from both sides of the House, Mr. Speaker. What I can reiterate to the House is the commitment that this government has to make sure that we are procuring from Saskatchewan companies wherever we can first. And we are doing that through the Crown sector, through SaskBuilds. And I would say, Mr. Speaker, we’ve had a very high degree of success on that.

There are instances — like was pointed out by the Minister of Health the other day — where we have no option but to procure medical equipment and things of that nature from companies outside of the province, Mr. Speaker. But we’re going to continue to make sure and we’re going to continue to have that exemption in place, I can tell you, through the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, even if it’s opposed by the members opposite.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Walsh Acres.

Jared Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, it’s not just our parks system that the Sask Party government gave away to an American company, but it’s our hunting and fishing licences too. When I buy my hunting licence in the fall or my fishing licence in the spring, I don’t want those dollars going into the pockets of an American company. I want those dollars staying in our province, creating good jobs here, staying in my community.

Why won’t the Sask Party scrap this US contract and find someone in Saskatchewan to sell hunting and fishing licences instead?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of the Environment.

Hon. Travis Keisig: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I want to thank the member opposite for the question. Aspira is the name of the electronic booking system that all hunters have access to. It’s a very user-friendly system, very popular with all hunters across Saskatchewan, and it’s working out very effectively for each and every outdoorsman across the province. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Walsh Acres.

Jared Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If this Sask Party government thinks that giving a contract for a fishing licence to a US company makes sense in the face of Donald Trump’s tariffs, then they’ve been taken in hook, line, and sinker. When you call to buy a fishing licence in Saskatchewan today, the person answering the phone is in New York. We checked this morning, Mr. Speaker.

Does the minister think it’s okay for New Yorkers to be selling Saskatchewan people hunting and fishing licences while Donald Trump is threatening our sovereignty?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of the Environment.

Hon. Travis Keisig: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. IT [information technology] purchases can be extremely expensive. The Aspira format has worked out to be very affordable for each and every Saskatchewan outdoorsman. It’s been very widely received and very well run.

During the big game management extended hunt, Mr. Speaker, we had thousands and thousands of people purchasing hunting licences. It sold out in under three minutes. It worked out quite well and there was no challenges with the IT system, Mr. Speaker. We’re very happy with the Aspira network and it’s very happy with all of our outdoor enthusiasts all across Saskatchewan. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Elphinstone-Centre.

Contract Negotiations with Health Care Workers

Meara Conway: — Well, Mr. Speaker, Donald Trump thanks you for his business. He couldn’t have written the commercial better himself.

Mr. Speaker, today marks April Fool’s Day. Today also marks three years since these front-line health care workers have seen a wage increase. They have been working without a contract for over two years. So while many people are enjoying pranks across this great province, they are wondering if this is some kind of cruel joke.

Health care workers are seated in the gallery today, calling on the government to return to the bargaining table to negotiate a fair deal. That minister and that Sask Party government are dragging their feet at the table.

Will that minister commit to returning to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair deal that includes a real wage increase today?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’ve had the opportunity as minister to meet with all of our union partners, both on the provider side and the nursing side.

Mr. Speaker, I can let the House know that back in February, SAHO [Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations], on behalf of the employer, went to all the provider unions, offered a retroactive 3 per cent economic increase so we could ease the financial pressure on members across the province while we continue bargaining at a common table, Mr. Speaker. Unfortunately that offer was rejected.

However, Mr. Speaker, we’ll continue engaging with our provider unions at the bargaining table to try and find a path forward for the health care system and for front-line health care workers everywhere.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Elphinstone-Centre.

Meara Conway: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Health care worker burnout and exhaustion are at an all-time high. Health care workers in Saskatchewan have faced increased workloads, staffing shortages, and a rising cost of living, all without a fair wage adjustment.

They have been pushed to and often — as we saw yesterday — beyond their limit. One in three people in our province today say they are struggling to pay their bills, and many of those struggling to pay their bills are health care workers. They do important work and deserve to be paid accordingly, Mr. Speaker.

My question to that minister: does he think that these health care workers deserve fair pay for the vital work that they do ensuring quality of care for Saskatchewan people each and every day?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Health care workers across the province do incredible work serving our families.

As we visit health care facilities all across the province, we’ve heard directly from front-line health care workers, Mr. Speaker. There’s operational challenges, and some of those health care workers are feeling financial pressure. And to respond, we’ve done two things.

We’ve struck a patient-focused task force to discuss some of these operational issues with our provider and nursing union partners, Mr. Speaker. We look forward to moving forward with that task force. We’re just waiting on a couple of union partners to respond to that invitation, Mr. Speaker.

On the financial side, as I mentioned in my previous answer, Mr. Speaker, we’d like to continue bargaining with provider unions at a common table. We offered a retroactive 3 per cent economic increase. Unfortunately, as I said, that offer was rejected. However we will continue engaging with our union partners to try and find an agreement and a path forward for everyone. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Southeast.

Child Care Agreement with Federal Government

Brittney Senger: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this Sask Party government failed to get a deal on child care before the federal election. From health care to child care, this Sask Party government’s treatment of women and parents is embarrassing.

What does the Education minister have to say to the child care workers who are worried about their jobs? Why is this government so insistent on making the lives of women and families in this province so difficult?

[14:30]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Education.

Hon. Everett Hindley: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we have discussed in this House several times, this government remains committed to negotiating with the federal government post-April 28th, whoever that happens to be, with respect to the future of this program, Mr. Speaker. And that is something that I had expressed to the previous ministers of Jobs and Families federally, both the minister at the time and then the minister who was appointed just prior to the drop of the writ.

And I’d indicated twice in letters, and verbally as well, and at the officials level that we are interested in making sure that we negotiate a deal for Saskatchewan. And we want to be able to remain at that table to make sure that we come up with an agreement that improves upon the existing child care agreement to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to support women and families and child care operators right across this province. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Southeast.

Brittney Senger: — Mr. Speaker, I am hearing excuse after excuse from the minister and no tangible efforts or plans to do something. They could have secured a long-term plan for child care in this province by signing on to the federal child care deal. This deal is good enough for 11 other provinces and territories in Canada, but apparently it’s not good enough for the Sask Party.

To the minister: will he finally commit to getting a child care deal done?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Education.

Hon. Everett Hindley: — Mr. Speaker, I have said multiple times that this government is committed to getting a child care deal done. The Premier has said it.

The member opposite — and I guess it depends on which member will ask the question — it’s the same answer as I’ve said multiple times before. We are committed to getting a deal done, Mr. Speaker. They don’t want to hear any answers apparently now. As I’ve said before, this government is committed to negotiating a new child care deal with the federal government. We have signed multiple deals before with the federal government on this file, in health care. Not that long ago we signed an agreement with the federal government on a national school food program, Mr. Speaker.

We’re going to continue to work with our federal partners on this to make sure that we make changes that need to be made to make the program better for families, for child care operators in this province, Mr. Speaker. As I have said multiple times, this government is committing to getting that deal on behalf of Saskatchewan families, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Pasqua.

Legislation regarding Sikh Heritage Month

Bhajan Brar: — Mr. Speaker, April is Sikh Heritage Month in Saskatchewan. Today we are joined by many proud Sikhs from all over Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan’s motto is this: “from many peoples, strength.” Our proud Sikh community helps make our province strong.

The federal government, Ontario and Manitoba provinces have already passed the Act by the legislature to make April Sikh Heritage Month. What is the position of the government on making Sikh Heritage Month permanent in the laws of Saskatchewan?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport.

Hon. Alana Ross: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our government values the cultural richness and the diversity of the Sikh community. Their contributions to Saskatchewan in business, public service, and philanthropy strengthen our province. As requested by the Sikh community, I am proud to say that we have once again proclaimed the month of April as Sikh Heritage Month. I have not seen the legislation, but I will be happy to look at it once it has been brought forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

Bill No. 601 — The Sikh Heritage Month Act

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Pasqua.

Bhajan Brar: — Mr. Speaker, thank you. I move that Bill No. 601, The Sikh Heritage Month Act be now introduced and read the first time.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the member from Regina Pasqua that Bill No. 601, The Sikh Heritage Month Act be now introduced and read for a first time. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Deputy Clerk: — First reading of this bill.

Speaker Goudy: — When shall the bill be read the second time? I recognize the member from Regina Pasqua.

Bhajan Brar: — Mr. Speaker, at the next sitting of the Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — Next sitting.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

SECOND READINGS

Bill No. 18 — The Regulated Health Professions Act

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I stand today to move the second reading of Bill 18, The Regulated Health Professions Act. Saskatchewan is introducing this legislation to create a consistent legislative framework for health regulators and to modernize health professional regulation in our province.

Mr. Speaker, there is currently a great deal of variation between the 21 individual Acts regulating 28 health professions governed by 26 regulatory bodies in our province. Consolidating their statutes under a single umbrella Act will establish consistent and improved regulatory standards for all health professions regarding registration, governance, complaints, discipline, public accountabilities and representation, and bylaw-making authority.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation will bring Saskatchewan’s regulatory framework of health professions in alignment with what is considered best practice, similar to legislation already in place in other provinces in Canada.

Now in Canada and really around the world, there have been substantive changes in how self-regulating professions, particularly health professions, are governed, based on the public’s growing demand for more accountability and transparency from regulatory bodies. The primary purpose of regulating health professions is to enhance public safety and protections, as well as improve public confidence and trust in regulatory bodies and the health care system at large.

The new framework will enable health regulators to fulfill their public protection mandate more effectively. Now this legislation will also capture work under way to expand scopes of practice by removing professional exclusivity over restricted activities and allowing other health professionals who have the necessary training and qualifications to perform such activities. These changes will foster interdisciplinarity, collaborative models of care, and more importantly will give patients more choice and access to health care providers. This change is very beneficial for patients as it will give them that choice and access.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all the health regulators in our province for the important work they do and their commitment to serve patients in Saskatchewan. The Ministry of Health will continue to consult with regulatory bodies regarding the development of this legislation to ensure that it provides them with the tools they need to effectively govern in the public interest.

Mr. Speaker, I want to mention that under the new umbrella legislation, each health regulatory body will continue to exist as before and be responsible for governing its members. General regulations as well as profession-specific regulations will be developed to address unique features of each profession. I look forward to this work continuing in the months and years ahead.

And, Mr. Speaker, I am now pleased to move the second reading of Bill 18, The Regulated Health Professions Act. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved that Bill No. 18, The Regulated Health Professions Act be now read a second time. Is the Assembly ready for the question? I recognize the member from Regina Northeast . . . Oh, I’m sorry. I recognize the member from Regina South Albert.

Aleana Young: — Right you are. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to briefly enter debate on Bill No. 18 here. Having heard the minister’s comments, I know the critic will be doing excellent work in poring over this legislation and getting into the details on some of the rules around creating and running health colleges, the disciplinary and regulatory and administrative bylaw changes that are contemplated by this legislation.

I’m not going to put too many comments on the record. I did just want to take one moment on this in particular, when it comes to that important piece around professional conduct and discipline and transparency in governance for all professions, Mr. Speaker, in this province. It is so important. I think about a former constituent of mine who’s no stranger to this Assembly, Gwen Gilbert, who I know had done good work with the former minister on the file and just the importance that exists for all regulatory bodies in the province, regardless of the professions that they govern, to have that engagement piece, to have that transparency, to have that accountability with the communities that they serve.

I look forward to the good work that the critic is going to be doing in looking into this legislation, engaging with stakeholders. And I’m sure the oversight that the minister is bringing to it for all of these really critical institutions in the province, maintaining that public trust, maintaining that accountability, both with the members that they serve as well as the public more broadly, is so critical to the existence of these institutions that we create here in this beautiful Assembly as well as those that have been created by folks who came before us.

So with that, Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the comments from my much wiser colleagues on the matter of Bill 18. And with that, I’ll look to adjourn debate on Bill 18, the regulated health professionals Act.

Speaker Goudy: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Bill No. 19 — The Regulated Health Professions Consequential Amendments Act, 2025/ Loi de 2025 corrélative de la loi intitulée The Regulated Health Professions Act

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I stand today to move the second reading of Bill 19, The Regulated Health Professions Consequential Amendments Act, 2025.

Mr. Speaker, very briefly this is a companion bill to Bill No. 18, The Regulated Health Professions Act. This bill is the bilingual and the consequential amendments to the prior bill. Chiefly the amendments include changes to the definition of “qualified medical practitioner” and “physician.”

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to now move the second reading of Bill 19, The Regulated Health Professions Consequential Amendments Act, 2025. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved that Bill No. 19, The Regulated Health Professions Consequential Amendments Act, 2025 be now read a second time. Is the Assembly ready for the question? I recognize the member from Regina South Albert.

Aleana Young: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to rise on Bill No. 19, The Regulated Health Professions Consequential Amendments Act. As has been outlined by the minister, this bill kind of goes hand in hand with Bill 18, looking at updating some of the definitions and the language there.

And as with the previous piece of legislation introduced before the House, I look forward to the oversight that will be brought to this bill by the critic, my colleagues, as well as stakeholders outside of this Assembly.

And with that, I move to adjourn debate on Bill No. 19, The Regulated Health Professions Consequential Amendment Act.

Speaker Goudy: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Bill No. 20 — The Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Investment Tax Credit Act

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Trade and Export.

Hon. Warren Kaeding: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to move second reading of the Saskatchewan small and medium enterprise investment tax credit Act.

The SME [small and medium enterprise], which was announced in the most recent provincial budget, establishes a three-year pilot project. This pilot project, Mr. Speaker, will function similar to the province’s very successful Saskatchewan technology start-up incentive, or STSI. But, Mr. Speaker, where the STSI focuses on technology start-ups, the new SME tax credit will focus on small- to medium-size manufacturers located in our province.

Under this pilot, “small and medium” is defined as a Saskatchewan-based business with between 5 and 49 employees, with a minimum of 50 per cent of those employees residing in Saskatchewan. Mr. Speaker, the SME tax credit will be aimed at food and beverage manufacturers in our province as well as businesses in the machinery and transportation equipment sectors.

Mr. Speaker, Saskatchewan people are known for their ingenuity, creativity, and business acumen, and our province is founded on those core principles. Through hard work and determination, generations of people from all walks of life, from different backgrounds and experiences, have helped build the strong and resilient economy that we have today, an economy that delivers for the people of our great province.

I am proud, Mr. Speaker, to be a part of the government that is fiercely committed to creating jobs and opportunities for its residents, for being part of a government that is dedicated to attracting investment from all around the world and to building strong and vibrant communities with a standard of living that is unmatched, for being part of a government that is creating a business environment where ideas become reality and where entrepreneurs can thrive.

[14:45]

Mr. Speaker, I am confident that the SME tax credit will help us do just that. This new SME tax credit is the next step on the path to further strengthening not only today’s economy but Saskatchewan’s future economy. It will ensure that eligible businesses are able to invest their dollars here at home while also attracting outside investment.

Mr. Speaker, I’ll also note that this pilot project includes a 45 per cent non-refundable tax credit for individuals or corporations who invest in the equity of an eligible Saskatchewan business. Mr. Speaker, the tax credit will also have an annual cap of $7 million on the total non-refundable tax credits awarded, processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mr. Speaker, I’ll also note that with the creation of this new incentive, we are fulfilling one of our key campaign promises from last year’s provincial election. This new tax credit also supports our commitment to delivering a strong, competitive Saskatchewan economy for the people of our province.

Since 2014, Mr. Speaker, the number of small businesses in our province has risen by 4.9 per cent, and it’s because of incentives like the SME tax credit that our jurisdiction is seeing these numbers increase on a regular basis, a trend where investment capital is flowing into our province. Our jurisdictions have seen an outflow of investment, but not here in Saskatchewan. In fact, Mr. Speaker, Saskatchewan is ranked first among the provinces for private capital investment in 2024 with an increase of nearly 17.3 per cent, with an expected additional increase of 10.1 per cent in 2025.

Saskatchewan’s real GDP [gross domestic product] reached an all-time high of 77.9 billion in ’23, increasing by 2.3 per cent. An amazing accomplishment, Mr. Speaker. But this tied Saskatchewan for second in the nation, second in the nation for real GDP growth and above the national average of 1.6 per cent. And it’s a reflection, Mr. Speaker, in the confidence that entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and investors have in our province.

There is a need to encourage this growth as it leads to more jobs and opportunities for the people of Saskatchewan. With this new incentive, Mr. Speaker, more small- and medium-sized businesses are going to be able to build equity. It allows them to grow and in turn offer more jobs and high-quality services and products for their customers.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, small- and medium-sized businesses are foundational for the strength of our provincial economy during a time when increasing local investments is more important than ever. With this new incentive, more small- and medium-sized businesses can be able to build the equity, allowing them to grow while keeping investments here. This is just one of the many ways that this government is delivering to the people of this province.

Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to now move second reading of the Saskatchewan small and medium enterprise, the SME, investment tax credit Act. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved that Bill No. 20, The Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Investment Tax Credit Act be now read for a second time. Is the Assembly ready for the question? I recognize the member from Regina South Albert.

Aleana Young: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Happy to be able to lead off debate here on Bill No. 20, the SME investment tax credit Act.

You know, often the members opposite will say, all you do is criticize. This is a good piece of legislation, Mr. Speaker. This is something that has been proudly championed, I know, by leaders in the business community. I think in particular of the good work done by Jason Aebig, Shawn Moen, an excellent business owner in his own right, as well as the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce.

As the minister spoke to the needs of SMEs to be able to capitalize, access cash flow, grow their businesses during what’s been some stormy times over the past five years — between the pandemic and now the situation that so many are finding themselves in with the uncertainty and kind of the paralysis of growth for a lot of industries in the face of tariffs right now, Mr. Speaker — opportunities like this, incentives like this to support SMEs in growing their business in terms of attracting investment and capitalizing, as I said, as well as continuing to diversify the economy here in Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker . . . SMEs and their creators, their owners, their operators, those wonderful innovators, producers — they’re the backbone of the economy here in Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker.

I was reminded of this today during a stakeholder call. Some manufacturers and major exporters here in the province, Mr. Speaker, who were reminiscing on the fact that all of their businesses — huge businesses here in Saskatchewan — they started off small. They started off selling to their neighbours, their local communities, selling within the province, selling to neighbouring provinces. And now those products find their homes all over the world, Mr. Speaker.

So when we see opportunities to help grow and support our entrepreneurial ecosystem, those SMEs, and help them achieve that growth to scale as well as allowing Saskatchewan investors to keep their dollars here in Saskatchewan, I think that’s something we can celebrate on both sides of the aisle.

Of course, Mr. Speaker, we wouldn’t be doing our job here in opposition if we didn’t promise to provide scrutiny and oversight and make sure that that accountability and transparency is there, as it should be with all programs and incentives offered by government.

But with that, Mr. Speaker, I think it’s pretty safe to say that we support a made-in-Saskatchewan SME program, a good piece of legislation. We look forward to hearing some of the comments made by members on this bill. And with that, happy to move to adjourn debate on Bill No. 20, the SME investment tax credit.

Speaker Goudy: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

ADJOURNED DEBATES

SECOND READINGS

Bill No. 3

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Tim McLeod that Bill No. 3 — The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Amendment Act, 2024 be now read a second time.]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Mount Royal.

Trent Wotherspoon: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to enter in this afternoon into debate with respect to Bill No. 3, The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Amendment Act, 2024. Mr. Speaker, now I’ve read the minister’s comments with respect to this bill and what its aims are, Mr. Speaker. I know our Justice critic will be our lead on this front to make sure that we’ve led a thorough consultation. We’d invite all affected stakeholders, those with expertise to reach out at this point in time.

It’s always our goal to make sure that we have legislation that’s as effective as possible. Certainly the challenge of dilapidated and abandoned and vacant buildings and then the graffiti and the challenges that come along with them within a neighbourhood are something that needs to be addressed, Mr. Speaker. So certainly those are important aims.

Far too often, under this current government, we’ve seen real negligence to address some of the root causes and to address some of the challenges on this front across communities in our province. Frankly we see more abandoned buildings, more homes that are vacant, more graffiti, and the sort of challenges that come with properties like this, Mr. Speaker, under this current government.

So I know our Justice critic will lead the way in bringing forward our consultations on this front and to make sure that we’re being as effective as we can with the rest of these challenges.

Certainly we know that under this current government, people are really feeling economic pressure. They’re feeling the costs of living in a significant way — by any measure, greater hardship than anywhere else in Canada, Mr. Speaker.

What they can’t afford is the tax hikes that we’ve seen from this government, Mr. Speaker, time and time and time again as people have faced a once-in-a-generation cost-of-living challenge. What they can’t afford is precarious work that doesn’t pay the bills, or being unemployed, Mr. Speaker. They need good quality job opportunities, which is why we put a focus on building those jobs here in this province and building out those opportunities here, Mr. Speaker.

That might relate to the calls around building out the transport infrastructure that we need to get our products to market as we have in a strong and a bold way, Mr. Speaker. Or it might be some of the smaller but important contracts as well that we’ve put focus on here again today and that we stood up from the start.

Mr. Speaker, when we see this Sask Party government sending contracts to the US — if you can imagine — to send our dollars and that contract and those jobs for things like our park system or our hunting and fishing licences, Mr. Speaker. And you know, we’ve pushed against that and called out those actions for years, Mr. Speaker, right from the get-go. But certainly Saskatchewan people are the ones that are paying the price when those jobs, those opportunities aren’t here, and when their costs are being driven up directly by their government, Mr. Speaker.

And of course as well we certainly need action around these vacant properties, these derelict properties, and the crime and whatnot that can be associated with them, something that’s grown in a significant way under this government. We also need urgent action around mental health and addictions and wellness within our communities across this province, Mr. Speaker.

But with all that being said, I’ll leave it to our able Justice critic to lead the consultation. I’d invite people to connect with us. And I would move to adjourn debate of Bill No. 3, The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Amendment Act, 2024.

Speaker Goudy: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Bill No. 4

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Jim Reiter that Bill No. 4 — The Workers’ Compensation Amendment Act, 2024 be now read a second time.]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Centre.

Betty Nippi-Albright: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to be adding my comments to Bill No. 4, The Workers’ Compensation Amendment Act. And this bill is just amending the Act to extend coverage to the wildland firefighters of course, and also non-residents of Saskatchewan doing work outside of Saskatchewan for Saskatchewan employers.

And also this Act, I understand, is that compensation can be withheld for a worker in prison outside of Saskatchewan. Board members whose terms have expired can finish taking part in any hearings ongoing since before their terms expire. And also I understand this Act is also to appeal decisions . . . Appealed decisions must be published in a format in keeping with regulations.

Now, Mr. Speaker, the work that firefighters do when they’re out there trying to keep us safe, trying to ensure that our province forestry doesn’t burn down, that they put their lives at risk each and every time they go out there. And as someone that has asthma, I can’t imagine being out there, what that would look like, especially for the firefighters. And it’s good that we’re amending this to ensure that the firefighters do receive that coverage that is so needed.

And when you think of Workers’ Compensation, only a short while ago, everyone here knew when I slipped outside how important to be covered as an employee. So the work that Workers’ Compensation . . . This work, this amending this to include the firefighters that are out there risking their lives, risking their health, you know, because there could be long-term effects, and to be able to include this to amend this Act, that’s good. That needs to happen.

And all of us, we all need to be able to work in a safe environment. And to ensure that the firefighters are protected is a really good step, because how long have they been excluded in health benefits that they are entitled to? So you know, this is good that this is happening, this amendment is taking place. It’s unfortunate it’s taken so long to have this, but as the opposition here I’m so grateful that it is being presented.

And also I’m sure my colleagues will have more to say on this. Then I move to adjourn debate on this Bill No. 4, The Workers’ Compensation Amendment Act, 2024.

Speaker Goudy: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Bill No. 5

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Jim Reiter that Bill No. 5 — The Saskatchewan Employment Amendment Act, 2024 be now read a second time.]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina South Albert.

Aleana Young: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Back on my feet to just add a couple comments onto the record in regards to The Saskatchewan Employment Amendment Act. There’s a significant number of changes that are being made in this legislation, so I anticipate the House will be hearing from members on this side about a variety of issues raised through some of these amendments.

[15:00]

Mr. Speaker, there are some positive changes in this bill. In reviewing it, the ones that certainly jumped out to me was the extension of bereavement leave to include the death of any person that’s prescribed in the regulations, but also to include pregnancy loss, Mr. Speaker, which is a welcome change that aligns us with many other jurisdictions here in Canada.

As well we’ve seen some movement on sick notes, which is something that obviously we’ve called for on this side of the House for quite some time, Mr. Speaker. Certainly coming out of the COVID‑19 pandemic and requirement for sick notes as well as leave, I think there’s some good changes that have been made here.

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t touch on some of the changes impacting the service industry, especially as they relate to the regulation of tips and tip pooling — important changes that will protect some of the most marginalized workers that we see in Saskatchewan, in particular those in the service industry.

There are some changes that I know my colleagues, and the critic in particular, are going to be raising some issues with, particularly those surrounding notice for mass firings and layoffs and the expansion of that — not from 10 people but up to 25 — as well as some of the changes around work scheduling notices and work break and the lack of sign-off from the union as opposed to this legislation, which just needs the written consent of the employee. I’m sure the minister as well as members opposite have heard some of these concerns in the important consultation work that I have no doubt that they’ve undertaken.

In addition to that, Mr. Speaker, I think there’ll be some questions raised, if the minister hasn’t heard them already, around the definition of a day, recognizing this is a bit of a disparity between other jurisdictions in Canada. But the changes to the definition of a day may potentially lead to the skirting or the changing of overtime for some workers, Mr. Speaker.

I imagine there’ll be some concern raised about burnout, in addition worker safety as that changes, as well as the important work that needs to go on with labour market retention here, Mr. Speaker. For workers in Saskatchewan not to have overtime recognized when they could have it recognized in other jurisdictions may increase some of the labour market retention challenges that I know employers in Saskatchewan are already facing.

With that, Mr. Speaker, as I said, there are some significant changes in here. I know my colleagues as well as the critic will be speaking to a number of these. So with that, Mr. Speaker, I think I’ll leave my comments at that and move to adjourn debate on Bill No. 5, The Saskatchewan Employment Amendment Act.

Speaker Goudy: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Bill No. 6

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Tim McLeod that Bill No. 6 — The Safe Public Spaces (Street Weapons) Act be now read a second time.]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Mount Royal.

Trent Wotherspoon: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll enter into debate with respect to Bill No. 6, The Safe Public Spaces (Street Weapons) Act, Mr. Speaker.

I understand this bill aims to address some of the challenges that are real on the streets with respect to street weapons and the danger they present with respect to knives, swords, machetes, explosive devices, and things like bear spray, Mr. Speaker. All of these tools have purpose to be used in other environments, but certainly on our streets is not where they should be utilized and definitely represent a safety concern, Mr. Speaker.

The government’s brought forward some new penalties on this front, Mr. Speaker, and some other measures. I know our Justice critic will be directly engaged on this front and will lead this bill through its processes. And certainly we’d invite anyone that interacts with this bill or that has expertise or that’s a stakeholder or has perspective to touch in with our Justice critic. Certainly it’s always our aim to make every piece of legislation as effective as possible and to make sure there’s not a set of unintended consequences as well, Mr. Speaker.

Certainly, as the official opposition, we’ve been pushing hard for us to be tough on crime and the causes of crime. We’ve seen crime become a real challenge in many communities and for many people under this current Sask Party government, Mr. Speaker, and we need to be more effective in our response.

We’ve seen a government that’s spent millions and millions and millions of dollars to create a new bureaucracy, Mr. Speaker, with no boots on the ground instead of deploying those dollars to police across Saskatchewan and stepping up and addressing the challenges of crime or the root causes of crime as well, Mr. Speaker.

With that being said though, at this point in time I will simply move to adjourn Bill No. 6, The Safe Public Spaces (Street Weapons) Act.

Speaker Goudy: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Agreed. Carried.

Bill No. 7

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Tim McLeod that Bill No. 7 — The Court of Appeal (Residency) Amendment Act, 2024/Loi modificative de 2024 sur la Cour d’appel (résidence) be now read a second time.]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Centre.

Betty Nippi-Albright: — Thank you. I am pleased to rise again to speak on the Bill No. 7, the amendment Act for the Court of Appeal regarding residency. So the changes in the Act are, of course, is including the . . . Humboldt is off the list of northern centres, and that the judges alongside the Chief Justice will be bumped from six to seven, and that the Chief Justice may permit any given judge to reside in Saskatoon instead of Regina.

So I guess one of the things I would like to say is I’m curious as to why a judge would be permitted to reside in Saskatoon, and if there’s any informal maximum to how many can take up that offer.

And you know, it’s always good to be relevant when we look at the bills that are being amended. And we have to update them and we should update them to ensure that we are relevant and that we are current with the times. So to make this change, it’s always good to see that there are people behind making sure that, hey, we have to update some of these bills that we have.

And I just want to say just a great big thank you to those that are behind the scenes that make this happen, to ensure that they’re keeping an eye on things that need to be updated and changed, and ensuring that we are in a place where we get to see that the machine is still moving forward and we’re still being relevant, we’re still changing with the times.

And just when I read this I thought, oh, Humboldt, that’s not north though. And sometimes the way we use words sometimes doesn’t . . . Sometimes we use words in a way that can be perceived as, like just as this example, Humboldt being a northern centre. For those in the North will be like, what? What are they talking about? You know, and those of us that are in the central area will be like, yes, Humboldt is not a northern community, you know.

So it’s good that there are people always looking at these bills and what we do here in the legislature to ensure that we are current and that we are changing and updating our bills and amending them to be more inclusive, to get with the times or with the changes, I guess.

So with that, Mr. Speaker, I’m sure the shadow minister for this area and also my other colleagues will have more to say on this. But with that, I move to adjourn debate on Bill No. 7, the court of appeal amendment Act, 2024 on residency. Miigwech.

Speaker Goudy: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Bill No. 8

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Everett Hindley that Bill No. 8 — The Child Care (New Facilities) Amendment Act, 2024/Loi modificative de 2024 sur les garderies d’enfants (nouveaux établissements) be now read a second time.]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Meewasin.

Nathaniel Teed: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s an honour to be on my feet today as we enter into adjourned debates on the variety of bills that we have before the House. Today I’m speaking to Bill 8, The Child Care (New Facilities) Amendment Act, 2024.

Mr. Speaker, I’d be remiss to say that adjourned debates are probably one of my favourite parts about this job, probably one of the more surprising aspects of the job coming into it. But having to stand up and speak to something different every day, different legislation that’s put before the House, is always a little nerve-racking but always a little exciting. So happy to enter into adjourned debate today on this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, Bill 8 focuses on ensuring Saskatchewan plays its part within the Canada-Saskatchewan early learning and child care agreement. And that’s the agreement, Mr. Speaker, that provides funding for the early learning and child care programs that we see in Saskatchewan, kind of better known as the $10‑a-day day care, Mr. Speaker.

Now I should note, I’d be remiss not to mention, that although this Act seeks to bring regulations closer with Canada, with the Canada-wide agreement — and we’ve talked about it today in this Chamber — Saskatchewan is one of only two jurisdictions that has not signed on to that renewal of the early learning and child care agreement, Mr. Speaker. Eleven other jurisdictions in Canada have found it prudent to sign that deal. I think it’s time for Saskatchewan to do the same.

And I just want to say a quick thank you to the member from Regina Rochdale, the member from Regina Elphinstone-Centre before her, for the tremendous amount of work that she has put in for families in the province who want and need reliable child care, Mr. Speaker. Both from an affordability perspective — you know, saving thousands of dollars from child care costs every month — but also as a means to re-entering the workforce, ensuring that we have the strongest workforce possible.

Mr. Speaker, the amendment does the following. It updates the definitions in the Act by adding definitions for alternative child care services and preschool, increases the spaces in a group family care home from 12 to 16, determines what types of services require licences, ensures that those alternative spaces are on that list of licensable providers. New sections incorporate operation and licensing of preschools to be consistent with other child care services. And, Mr. Speaker, lastly the Act amends to allow information sharing with the federal government as required in the bilateral agreement.

Mr. Speaker, I do want to say thank you to the minister for the comments that he did on this bill, in which he mentioned that the changes were as a result of an internal review and through consultation with the child care sector. That’s so important, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, child care has been a prominent conversation in this legislature. Families have come to rely on that affordability that the child care deal signed with the federal government provides. Women who find themselves often the ones who have to choose between staying home or going back to work have found that affordable, reliable day care programs mean that they can make the choice of ensuring their child gets the best quality care and allows them to fully re-engage in the workforce after a maternity leave.

We’ve consistently been engaging with stakeholders in the child care space, Mr. Speaker, since day one, bringing them to this legislature very often to advocate for changes to regulations to make this system work better for families in Saskatchewan. I think of one that the minister mentioned when we were talking about this in question period is that a child who turns six ages out of the system. And very often a child who might be born early in the year will turn six and not have a school to go to right away.

And so families are seeing the costing for this program changing for those months that they have between having access to $10‑a-day day care and getting their kid into a good kindergarten, Mr. Speaker. And often sometimes those kindergartens aren’t full days. So those are pressures right there, challenges to the current system that we have.

Mr. Speaker, I know that our shadow minister for early learning will continue to do that work and continue to advocate for women and families who rely on the child care agreement. But I again will reiterate, it’s time to re-sign that deal. The provincial government is one of two jurisdictions that has not signed. This deal is good for 11 other jurisdictions in Canada. This not signing this agreement is alarming for so many, and we continue to hear about it from parents and families, shocked that the government has failed to sign the deal.

[15:15]

We’ve been clear on this side of the House, Mr. Speaker. It’s time to sign the deal, secure child care for families in Saskatchewan. That is our ask of this government so that no family in Saskatchewan is asking . . . Mr. Speaker, no family is asking for for-profit child care. They want affordable, quality child care so that they know when they make the choice to go back to work, they can trust that their child is cared for and it won’t break the bank. And, Mr. Speaker, yes, we can sign and continue to make this work better for families.

On these amendments to Bill 8, we have a few concerns. Firstly we have concerns about the changes for extending capacity of child care group homes. We know that one of the main difficulties in the current system is finding workers to work in those facilities. We worry that expanding the amount of children in those group homes will stretch people thinner. On recruitment, the government must commit to increasing incentives for recruitment, and they must commit to providing a more livable wage for those folks working in these child care facilities.

Secondly I mentioned that our shadow minister and the critic before her has done tremendous work engaging with stakeholders. We know that the minister says that they brought these changes after listening to concerns, so we want to know what consultation was done. What were the outcomes of that consultation? Who is the government listening to when they are consulting about child care? Is it parents, families, providers? Or is it folks who are looking and advocating for profits in our child care system?

Now, Mr. Speaker, I didn’t really get a chance to respond to the budget this cycle as we did run out of time. Lots of really fantastic things were put on the record as far as the budget. But I think that this is as good a time as any to leave some comments on the record.

Mr. Speaker, one of the items missing from that budget was a commitment of new dollars for child care in Saskatchewan. There were no new dollars for families and women who rely on affordable child care. And there was nothing in this budget for the workers who work in our child care facilities, no recruitment strategies, and no salary increases for those folks.

Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of talk in this Chamber about the federal election happening right now in Canada. Mr. Speaker, the Sask Party government and the members opposite have made it tremendously clear who they will be supporting and who their members will be voting for, and I think that they have to be tremendously clear with the folks that live in their ridings, Mr. Speaker. When they are saying that they are all in on Pierre Poilievre, they have to look those folks in the face and tell them that they are supporting someone who will tear up this child care agreement, Mr. Speaker, tear up the pharmacare, tear up dental visits for seniors, Mr. Speaker.

So yes, for families in Canada, families in Saskatchewan, this federal election is tremendously important. And, Mr. Speaker, we’ve been tremendously clear on this side of the House that we are prepared to work with anyone in Ottawa to advance the needs of this province and to advance the needs of families in Saskatchewan. Our leader clearly laid out those priorities to all the candidates running for Prime Minister on the day the election was called.

Mr. Speaker, affordable child care for families will continue to be one of those priorities. And so, Mr. Speaker, on that note I will move to adjourn debate on Bill No. 8.

Speaker Goudy: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Bill No. 9

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Jeremy Harrison that Bill No. 9 — The Traffic Safety Amendment Act, 2024 be now read a second time.]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Mount Royal.

Trent Wotherspoon: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll enter in briefly to Bill No. 9, The Traffic Safety Amendment Act, 2024. This bill aims to add regulation-making authority to allow other forms of document delivery other than in person or by mail. Mr. Speaker, our critic will engage in this process and make sure to fully understand its aim. Seems pretty straightforward.

I understand there could be a fair amount of savings in not mailing certain pieces of information. That being said, if there’s information that’s really important with respect to, say, your driver’s licence or other aspects, we’d need to make sure of course that people receive that notification. But our critic, our shadow minister, will be engaged in this process along with the minister as we move forward.

So at this time, I would move adjournment of Bill No. 9, The Traffic Safety Amendment Act, 2024.

Speaker Goudy: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Bill No. 10

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Tim McLeod that Bill No. 10 — The Miscellaneous Statutes (Public Registries Enhancement) Amendment Act, 2024 be now read a second time.]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Meewasin.

Nathaniel Teed: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. A pleasure to be on my feet again to leave some comments on the record for Bill No. 10, The Miscellaneous Statutes (Public Registries Enhancement) Amendment Act, 2024. And just soon after, it’s Bill 11, the subsequent amendment Act.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to say thank you to the minister for the comments that he made during second reading, Mr. Speaker. And I know that our Justice critic will be watching this bill very closely and engaging with stakeholders.

Mr. Speaker, the miscellaneous statutes amendment Act looks to make some amendments to the ways our registration . . . A number of registration Acts — The Business Corporations Act, The Business Names Registration Act, The Credit Union Act, The Land Titles Act — quite a few here, Mr. Speaker. What they’re looking to do is allowing the registrar the ability to verify folks who are making searches in the databases that hold this information. Now that information, knowing who’s making those searches, won’t be available to the public but could or would be made available to law enforcement in appropriate cases.

Mr. Speaker, the Act does also allow registrars to accept documents signed using electronic signatures. Mr. Speaker, this increases security and increases convenience. And I don’t know how many members possibly moved their office as of the 2024 provincial election or signed a new lease for an office, but a lot of that work was done through Docusign probably. I know the member from Saskatoon Centre and I had a great time signing multiple Docusigns. You know, things would change and they would send you a new one, Mr. Speaker, and then something would change and they’d send you a new one. And it was really a very easy process, you know, digital signature.

The acceptance of a digital signature in this kind of situation has become commonplace. My partner, as a real estate agent, is doing it all the time. And so, Mr. Speaker, it’s good to see some changes here allowing folks to use digital signatures, increasing convenience for folks. We hope that this will make life easier, increase convenience for businesses and individuals in Saskatchewan who are doing business in the province, Mr. Speaker.

We also see some general updates to improve operation of our public registries, amendments to The Libel and Slander Act. But, Mr. Speaker, I know that this legislation is in very capable hands with our shadow minister of Justice. And so too, I hope to hear some more feedback on this bill from my colleagues.

And so at this time I will move to adjourn debate on Bill 10, the miscellaneous statutes (public registries) amendment Act.

Speaker Goudy: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Bill No. 11

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Tim McLeod that Bill No. 11 — The Miscellaneous Statutes (Public Registries Enhancement) Amendment Act, 2024 (No. 2)/Loi modificative diverse (amélioration des registres publics) de 2024 (n° 2) be now read a second time.]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Meewasin.

Nathaniel Teed: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Back on my feet to speak to the second bill of this pairing, Mr. Speaker. While Bill 10 amends English-only Acts, Bill 11 amends the bilingual Acts that we have on our books. And so much of the comments that I made regarding Bill 10 will apply to Bill 11, just in a bilingual capacity, Mr. Speaker.

Unfortunately I am tragically unilingual, so much of the bilingual portion of those bills will be lost on me. But we have some amazing colleagues that we recently elected. I can’t even count how many of them speak French at this point, Mr. Speaker, which is just . . . I guess blessings abound. So I’m sure that if there’s any need for any analysis of Bill 11 from our second official language in Canada, they will do a great job.

So at this time, Mr. Speaker, I will move to adjourn debate on Bill 11.

Speaker Goudy: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Bill No. 13

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Jim Reiter that Bill No. 13 — The Income Tax Amendment Act, 2025 be now read a second time.]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina South Albert.

Aleana Young: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Rising today on Bill No. 13, The Income Tax Amendment Act. I wanted to put a couple comments on the record in particular related to the fertility credit contemplated by this Act.

As members of the House will be aware, this was a real point of advocacy for myself and for this side of the House over the last term, Mr. Speaker. And it was encouraging to see this reflected in the platforms and the campaigns of both major parties here in Saskatchewan in the last election, Mr. Speaker.

And while it’s great that Saskatchewan is no longer one of the only jurisdictions in Canada that provides absolutely nothing for the one in six people impacted by struggles with fertility, here in Canada it is still a significant challenge — even with this tax credit — for people who cannot afford it in the first place. In order to be able to access that credit, Mr. Speaker, as I understand it through the legislation as well as through some correspondence with both the Minister of Finance as well as the Minister of Health, you still have to be able to afford the upfront cost, which, as members will no doubt be familiar with, can be tens of thousands of dollars.

These aren’t my numbers, Mr. Speaker. Fertility Canada, national advocacy body, estimates that one cycle of fertility care — and by that I mean IVF [in vitro fertilization] — can cost upwards of $15,000, with the drugs required costing thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars themselves. Mr. Speaker, and for the people who may not have $15,000 cash, this ensures . . . While it’s a welcome change, it still ensures that the only people who can access fertility care are those with the financial security to pay for potentially those, as I said, five-figure treatments.

And the ability to have a family here in Saskatchewan should not be predicated on your ability to afford one, Mr. Speaker. Infertility isn’t something that just impacts women. It impacts men as well. For single people, for those in the queer and gender-diverse community, this may be their only option to have a family, as well as heteronormative couples — men and women — across Saskatchewan who find this out as they try and start a family, that it’s going to be hard for them, harder than it should be, and that they may not be able to afford to have a baby.

And that is such a sin; that is such a shame, Mr. Speaker. I’ve said it a number of times in this House. Science should move us forward, and the ability to pay for health care — and fertility care is health care — the ability to pay for it should not hold good, loving people back from realizing that dream of having a family.

Other jurisdictions, Mr. Speaker, do just provide a grant. British Columbia just introduced a grant of up to $19,000 for individuals, for families seeking to conceive, seeking that opportunity. And it’s a grant, Mr. Speaker. You don’t have to pay for it upfront. You don’t have to have, again, that 10, 15, $20,000 for that one cycle of IVF.

I think that’s something that we should be working towards in this province, Mr. Speaker. It is a welcome first step. I look forward to continuing to advocate loudly for this.

For some of the new members in the Assembly, this is an issue that does not, as I said, doesn’t just impact women. It doesn’t just impact people in the cities. This impacts individuals and families regardless of where they live in this province, Mr. Speaker. It’s one in six Canadians, and I think, I hope this is something we can find agreement on across both sides of the aisle, Mr. Speaker.

There’s a couple other changes, a couple other parts of this, maybe just one more that I want to draw some attention to while I have the opportunity to be on my feet speaking to this bill.

[15:30]

It’s also my understanding that the tax credit introduced by this government for fertility care is also only for services provided in Saskatchewan. And you might think, oh, oh that’s great. You know, the opposition just spent a lot of today talking about the importance of keeping public dollars here in Saskatchewan, keeping money here in Saskatchewan.

And that’s true, Mr. Speaker, but for any member in this Assembly who doesn’t know, there’s only certain levels of testing and fertility care that you can access in Saskatchewan. Many families have to travel out of province, in particular to Calgary, because we don’t have the type of specialized services offered here in Saskatchewan.

So for those families who are not just facing the struggle of fertility, but their story, their situation might be even more complicated, those folks aren’t just paying right now. They’re not just paying out of pocket. They’re also paying out of pocket to go to Calgary, to travel to Calgary. And this tax credit introduced by the government, while a welcome first step — and I do say that as a challenge — a first step, Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that this legislation will not help those individuals with the more complex situations who do have to travel out of province.

And we know for health care needs, Mr. Speaker, that people in Saskatchewan can’t get addressed here at home, there are opportunities for compensation for them if they have to seek that treatment outside of our provincial boundaries. So I’d also like to just draw some attention to that, Mr. Speaker.

I know there is a number of other changes in Bill 13. Some of the exemptions: basic personal, the spousal, the dependant children, the seniors, I’m sure we’ll hear from a number of my colleagues as well as the shadow minister of Finance on a lot of changes contemplated in this legislation. But as I said, with the privilege of being able to put those comments on the record, I hope that they’ve been heard by government members who have the privilege to serve the people of this province and to try and leave it better than they found it.

I hope those comments have been heard. I look forward to making them again and again and continuing to push and advocate on behalf of the people of this province who feel very strongly about this, Mr. Speaker, because it’s not just those families as individuals struggling with fertility. It’s their best friends. It’s their moms. It’s their dads. It’s their co-workers. It’s their siblings. There’s whole communities of people out there, Mr. Speaker, supporting those already struggling with that.

So with that, Mr. Speaker, I will move to adjourn debate on Bill No. 13, The Income Tax Amendment Act.

Speaker Goudy: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Bill No. 14

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Jeremy Harrison that Bill No. 14 — The Power Corporation Amendment Act, 2025 be now read a second time.]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Centre.

Betty Nippi-Albright: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess it’s good to be on my feet again to speak to the Bill No. 14, The Power Corporation Amendment Act, 2025.

My understanding of this amendment is to increase the borrowing limit from 10 to $14 billion for SaskPower’s borrowing ability. These are things we already knew that are made explicit is the Sask Party and its subsidiaries are agents of the Crown, and their profits are property of the Crown. We do know that, and that SaskPower can lend advanced money to its subsidiaries and demand repayment. So we know that.

Mr. Speaker, with the looming tariff war, electricity is going to be a major issue. It really is. And that is why the Sask Party needs to listen to our calls to tariff-proof infrastructure, including those power lines. It’s important that this government listen to the voices out there. And we have to ensure that we protect the citizens of this province.

You know, everything about their relation to the Crown we already knew. Not sure why, like with the Sask Party government, we’re not sure why sometimes things need to be restated, you know. And we already know these things, but anyway I guess that’s fine, you know. We’ll accept that.

It’s important that as legislators in the province that we’re ensuring that we’re protecting our citizens in this province, especially with the tariffs. And also we have to ensure that we’re protecting our sovereignty. And as a First Nations person whose ancestors were the First Peoples on this land, on Turtle Island, it’s really scary what is being proposed and what is happening.

And it’s important as governments that our sitting governments ensure that we protect all our citizens, and we ensure that we protect them from bullies, people that want to take over our . . . We’re a sovereign nation, and we need to ensure that it is protected.

So anyway, with that, Mr. Speaker, I move to adjourn debate on Bill No. 14, The Power Corporation Amendment Act, 2025.

Speaker Goudy: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Bill No. 15

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Alana Ross that Bill No. 15 — The Alcohol and Gaming Regulation Amendment Act, 2025/Loi modificative de 2025 sur la réglementation des boissons alcoolisées et des jeux de hasard be now read a second time.]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Meewasin.

Nathaniel Teed: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Again it’s an honour to be on my feet to enter into adjourned debate on Bill No. 15, The Alcohol and Gaming Regulation Act, 2025.

Mr. Speaker, during the first two years of my service in this Chamber, I served as the official opposition critic for Sask Liquor and Gaming Authority. The member from Estevan, we had a great time as minister and critic, I have to say. We’ve both moved on to other greater, bigger and better things, but I know that . . . Not better. I love that ministry. It’s a great one. Even keel with the ones we’re in now, Mr. Speaker. I take all that back.

But, Mr. Speaker, I know that we have a fantastic new shadow minister for Liquor and Gaming now with our member from Saskatoon Chief Mistawasis, who will do a great job reviewing through this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, the legislation in whole just looks at updating a number of administrative penalties for folks who are liquor, cannabis, or gaming permittees or certificate holders, Mr. Speaker. It should be noted that it’s been 20 years since we last updated these. These penalties will now go from 10,000 to 25,000. Certainly inflation and the changes in business certainly need to be reflected there.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the minister’s comments mentioning that, you know, these just aren’t penalties that they throw out; these are penalties for permittees or certificate holders in gaming that are just absolutely not following the rules. And you know, Mr. Speaker, it’s important when you’re dealing with things like alcohol, cannabis, and gambling that there are rules in place to govern how those are sold or facilitated in the province, Mr. Speaker. And so appreciate that the minister is updating this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I’d be remiss to say that the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, you know, this is a very valuable Crown to the people of Saskatchewan. It’s a very profitable Crown, Mr. Speaker, you know, that continues to put money into the revenue side of our provincial budget. You know, that’s always important. Revenue right now is something that this provincial budget desperately needs, Mr. Speaker, you know.

And I will note that before the privatization of those remaining 34 liquor stores, SLGA was putting $500 million into the revenue lines of our provincial budget. That was 34 stores across Saskatchewan at the time, Mr. Speaker. You know, SLGA at its prime was putting billions into our provincial budget, you know, Mr. Speaker. So you know, one has to ask, how did the provincial government end up covering for that half a million dollars? Well, Mr. Speaker, we know that we had to cover that up with PST [provincial sales tax] increases.

You know, Mr. Speaker, I’m speaking of the half a million dollars. I would be remiss to not just talk about the also half a million dollars that we just saw lost from the provincial budget just days ago, you know, Mr. Speaker. And you know, we on this side of the House are supportive. We are. This is carbon tax freedom day, Mr. Speaker, but we’re seeing a huge hole blown in the revenue side of our provincial budget. How will we make that up? Mr. Speaker, the people of Saskatchewan are owed an explanation on that. They’re owed an explanation as to how we’re going to be dealing with the threat of Donald Trump’s tariffs coming in tomorrow. And now we’re faced with a deficit budget, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, on this note I will also say that SLGA, you know, this is important legislation to update because it provides meaningful funding for our First Nations, Métis, and Inuit folks here in Saskatchewan, the FNMI affairs. And then you know, again we go back to the provincial budget where we did not see an increase, no new dollars for communities in our FNMI. And you know what, Mr. Speaker? Those communities are heavily relying on the payments that they make from the gaming sector.

And so, Mr. Speaker, whenever we’re making changes, it’s important that we’re engaging with those stakeholders. Any changes to that framework need to be made in consultation with the First Nations who rely on those dollars to fund their communities, Mr. Speaker.

And so you know, at this time I think I have left enough on the record here for this amendment. I will then move to adjourn debate on Bill No. 15, The Alcohol and Gaming Regulation Amendment Act, 2025.

Speaker Goudy: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Bill No. 16

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Jim Reiter that Bill No. 16 — The Provincial Sales Tax Amendment Act, 2025 be now read a second time.]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Meewasin.

Nathaniel Teed: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s me again, jumping up here to enter into adjourned debate on Bill 16, The Provincial Sales Tax Amendment Act, 2025. Mr. Speaker, this is a bill that makes good on the budget’s promise to remove PST exemption on vaping products. Going forward, Mr. Speaker, once this legislation is passed, vaping products in Saskatchewan will see the PST charged on their purchase, Mr. Speaker.

And I have to say this is very welcome news. We know that increasing the price of vaping and nicotine products is just another way to deter young people from taking up use of these products, and that has to be our goal every single day.

And you know what? Members on both sides of this House stood aligned. We stood aligned with the Saskatchewan Party government when it came to, you know, raising the age for tobacco products and vaping products from 18 to 19, Mr. Speaker. So we’ve stood alongside all members in this Chamber when it comes to vaping and nicotine product-restricting initiatives, you know. And this is specifically aimed at promoting better health for folks in Saskatchewan and looking to ensure that young people are not partaking in these products.

Mr. Speaker, as I was writing this I felt, oh man, I sound so old saying that. Young people, don’t do the vape; don’t smoke cigarettes. You know, shaking the finger, a bit of the teacher in me came out. I was like, oh God, here we go. Here we go, Mr. Speaker. They’re going to say that old guy doesn’t even . . . He’s just telling me what to do.

But, Mr. Speaker, you know, as I mentioned . . . Oh yeah, I do have to say a special happy birthday. The member from Regina South Albert just reminded me that it is the member from Saskatoon Willowgrove’s birthday today and I hear it’s a big one. Together him and I will get rid of smoking and vaping for the kids. On this day you heard it from us, Mr. Speaker. But yeah, just from this official opposition, just want to extend a very happy birthday and hope it’s a good one. Hope you get some good cake today, something good. Take this guy out for some food tonight, okay . . . [inaudible interjection] . . . Hey, there we go, there we go.

But I digress, Mr. Speaker. You know, we know that vaping is harmful for kids. We know that, you know, having access to these products is a gateway. You know, they seem really superfluous, but you know, they come in packages that are called bubble gum and unicorn and strawberry, and they seem really easy and fun to use, Mr. Speaker. But we know that these products are really addictive. They often, often, often include or have nicotine as part of the solution, Mr. Speaker.

[15:45]

And so you know, that day when we had those Youth4Change in here I was so proud to join them, you know, travelling down to their legislature. They had lobby meetings booked with both sides of the House about raising the age from 18 to 19. Many of us got our photos with our fun socks that day, Mr. Speaker. And we were able to be part of . . . They call it Youth4Change. We saw youth being able to use their voices for change in our province, something that was so great to see.

And so, Mr. Speaker, I feel like this Act is a continuation of that. We know that stakeholders in this area have been advocating for these changes. We know that that increase of costs will hopefully deter folks who are looking to take it up.

Mr. Speaker, you know, again I mentioned I did miss my budget response due to time. So I’ve kind of shoehorned a couple of budget responses into my adjourned debates here really quick. But you know, I’m on my feet, and we’re talking about PST, Mr. Speaker. This is a great opportunity for the government to open up our provincial sales tax amendment and start offering some relief for families here in Saskatchewan.

You know, during the provincial election we had some duelling efforts as to how we should be providing affordability relief for Saskatchewan people. And you know what, Mr. Speaker, I’m darn proud of this official opposition. We doubled our seats. We really gave people in Saskatchewan an alternative.

And some of those proposals we made were cutting the PST on kids’ clothes and groceries. You know, it’s funny that when you go to a door, Mr. Speaker, you knock and say, hey, I’m running to be your MLA [Member of the Legislative Assembly], and I want to cut the PST on your kids’ clothes and your groceries. And they say, what? They charge PST on my kids’ clothes and my groceries? And you’re like, absolutely, Mr. Speaker.

It’s a long list. They’ve got PST on your rotisserie chicken. That shrinkflation that is making everything smaller and making everything packaged differently is slapping PST on your granola bars, all those things that make, you know, your school lunch kit more affordable, Mr. Speaker. And so I would be remiss to say . . . While I’m on my feet I have to say, you know, this is open; let’s provide some cost-of-living relief right now to families who are struggling.

Mr. Speaker, we saw today Angus Reid put out a poll that showed that folks in Saskatchewan have the highest rates of financial instability and insecurity, Mr. Speaker. This is compared on the opposite end of Quebec where they have the least financial insecurity. You know, they must be doing something over there. I know that the members opposite have had a little . . . They’ve been watching Quebec. You know, maybe that’s something that they could take from them instead of the notwithstanding clause, Mr. Speaker. Let’s look at affordability. Let’s look at how Quebec is making life more affordable for their residents, Mr. Speaker.

And so, Mr. Speaker, you know, we’re opening up this bill. We’re putting PST on vaping products.

You know, I know that our critic will continue to do the work, you know, but I’ll make a shameless plug for the arts and culture industry here in this province. While we’re at it, let’s scrap those 32 tax and fee hikes that we threw on Rider games and museum memberships a couple of years back, Mr. Speaker.

Let’s scrap some of the PST on the used cars that we’re buying for our friends, our kids. Let’s scrap that PST on construction labour, Mr. Speaker, that’s just making our houses more expensive. We met with the home builders, and they said 26 per cent of a new home build is taxes and fees, Mr. Speaker.

So you know, we’ve been fairly vocal. We’ve been critical of the expansion of the PST at the sake of lost revenue in different areas, Mr. Speaker. So you know, Mr. Speaker, while we’ve got it open, let’s provide some cost-of-living relief. Mr. Speaker, in general we’re very supportive of throwing the PST — you know, you don’t hear that very often — but we are very supportive of throwing the PST in this case on vaping products to ensure that we’re not seeing kids take up vaping. And we can really nip, you know, smoking and vaping in the bud here, Mr. Speaker.

So, Mr. Speaker, with that I will adjourn my remarks, and I will move to adjourn debate on Bill 16, The Provincial Sales Tax Amendment Act. Thank you very much.

Speaker Goudy: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Bill No. 17

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Warren Kaeding that Bill No. 17 — The Saskatchewan Commercial Innovation Incentive (Patent Box) Amendment Act, 2025 be now read a second time.]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Centre.

Betty Nippi-Albright: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I’m pleased to speak on Bill No. 17 — I’ll see if I can get this right — The Saskatchewan Commercial Innovation Incentive (Patent Box) Amendment Act, 2025. Wow, that’s a long, long Act.

But before I go into that I just want to say happy birthday to the member opposite. And it’s always nice to see another Aries baby here in the House, so happy birthday.

So this bill is an amendment Act and the incentive is extending another two years. The economic eligibility test is removed from the program requirements. I guess what I’m interested in is to know why the economic eligibility test has been disbanded. I’m curious about that; would like to know more about that.

And we’re at a time economically in our province here to try and keep people here in this province, to try investing in our province, and to ensure that people that are working and providing us services in this province are from Saskatchewan. So it’s a time to offer incentives to Saskatchewan-based companies to help reduce our dependence on US companies.

You know, like I’ve had to look, as many other people have had to take a look at our buying, where we buy our stuff, and looking at purchasing Canadian-made, Saskatchewan-made. And it’s been a huge learning curve for many of us that can afford to do that. Let me rephrase that. That can afford to do that.

And when I hear about Saskatchewan companies, I remember a few years ago my husband used to work in construction, and there were many out-of-province construction vehicles here doing work. And my question used to be, and still is today, do we not have the people in our province? Do we not have the companies in our province that can do this work?

And it’s disappointing, you know, at a point in our time where we need to invest in our province to promote the businesses to stay here; keep the business here so that we can thrive; so that we can provide relief for those that don’t have many choices in terms of ensuring that they put food on the table, paying their bills; that we provide incentives to Saskatchewan-based companies. We need to do that.

You know, we see people, we see physicians moving out. You know, I was at a period in my time when I worked where we were trying to recruit physicians, and the challenge was retention. And we have to always be thinking about that when we’re providing incentives, especially when it comes to our Saskatchewan-based companies.

What is really sad and disheartening is, all across Canada we heard, with the threat of the tariffs, how people were united in Saskatchewan. How we have to come together; we have to work together. And we came out, opposition came out and said, this is not right. And what was so disappointing and disheartening is how slow this government, the Premier was slow on standing up for us. He waited too long. He waited quite a long time while people were worried.

So we need to be supporting Saskatchewan. We need to. Canada, but in particular Saskatchewan. We have to fight for our province. We have to ensure that we’re protecting the people in this province, and we have to stop appeasing the president of the United States.

So with that, Mr. Speaker, I won’t say anything more because my colleagues will have more to say on this. So with that, I’ll move to adjourn debate on bill — let me see if I can say it again — Bill No. 17, The Saskatchewan Commercial Innovation Incentive (Patent Box) Amendment Act, 2025. Miigwech.

Speaker Goudy: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried. I recognize the Government House Leader.

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To facilitate the work of committees, I move that this House do now adjourn.

Speaker Goudy: — It’s been moved that this Assembly do now adjourn. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried. This Assembly stands adjourned until tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.

[The Assembly adjourned at 15:57.]

Published under the authority of the Hon. Todd Goudy, Speaker

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