Hon. Kim Gartner: — Mr. Speaker, I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome and introduce two individuals seated up in your gallery. Firstly, Mr. Speaker, Candle Onyskevitch. Candle is the ministerial assistant for the Ministry of Highways. I have come to appreciate Candle’s very efficient office skills and her very infectious laughter. I’d like all members to welcome Candle to this, her Legislative Assembly.

And secondly, Mr. Speaker I’d like to welcome Keenan Boutilier. Keenan has served Saskatchewan with dedication and professionalism through a number of roles over the years — and he’s currently serving as my chief of staff — including within government and within the Saskatchewan Party office. He is thoughtful, thorough, kind, and someone with a very good head on his shoulders.

I have valued his advice, his steady approach, and his commitment to public service. I have especially enjoyed the time we have spent together travelling many miles on Saskatchewan highways. Those drives gave me a chance to get to know Keenan, not just as a colleague but as a person. I have always appreciated hearing his stories about the places he has lived all across Canada, from Ontario to Montreal to British Columbia. Those conversations have made a real impression on me, Mr. Speaker.

Today is Keenan’s last day. Keenan is now moving on to pursue a master’s degree in communication. While we certainly will miss him, I know he has a bright future ahead. I ask all members to join me in thanking Keenan for his service, and wish him every success in the next chapter on his journey. Thank you, Keenan.

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

Joan Pratchler: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like, to you and through you, to welcome some wonderful students from MacNeill elementary school, one of the schools in Rochdale. Thank you very much for coming today to see what we do in government. They are accompanied today by their teacher Jessica Turbuck. And I will be visiting with them afterwards and talking about all those good questions. Thank you so much.

And I’d like to invite everyone to welcome them to this, their legislature, today.

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

Hon. Alana Ross: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 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. Alana Ross: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today we are joined by a number of Olympic, Paralympic athletes, coaches, and officials. Some are seated in the west gallery and others on the floor.

With us today we have Paralympic wheelchair curler and gold medallist, Gilbert Dash. Gilbert and his team had an amazing 11 and 0 record and are the first Paralympic wheelchair team in curling in history to go undefeated. I know that was a nail-biter of a game, I’m sure. Those of us who watched it, we were cheering you on.

Gilbert has also, as part of Team Canada, won world championships before, winning a bronze in 2025 and a silver in 2023 and 2024. Gil is joined by Angela, Rygh, Crystal, and Kai.

Mr. Speaker, also joining us is snowboarding coach Adam Burwell, who has coached on Canada’s snowboarding teams with the likes of Mark McMorris. Coach Adam is joined by Brian Burwell, Jennifer Burwell, and Barbara March-Burwell.

Mr. Speaker, also joining us is Kaspar Wirz of Saskatoon. This was Kaspar’s eighth Paralympic Games, and this time he was the head coach of Australia para Nordic team. Kaspar previously coached five Olympic Games with Team Canada, with China, and with the republic of South Korea, and was recognized in 2019 at the Saskatchewan Sports Awards for Coach Dedication. Kaspar is joined by Derrick, Griffen, and Elisabeth Wirz.

Mr. Speaker, also joining us today is men’s hockey official Tarrington Wyonzek — and my apologies for the pronunciations. Originally from Yorkton, this was Tarrington’s first Olympic Games. He regularly officiates WHL [Western Hockey League] and AHL [American Hockey League] games and International Ice Hockey Federation events.

Mr. Speaker, also joining us is figure skating judge Karen Howard. Originally from Melville, Karen attended her second Olympics as judge for figure skating. Her first games were in the Sochi games. Karen’s also judged the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships in the Czech Republic, and is a member of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame. Karen is joined by Brad Howard.

Mr. Speaker, also joining us is speed skating referee Moyca Stoffel of Saskatoon. This was Moyca’s first Olympics. She was recognized by Speed Skating Canada with an Officials Award of Excellence for the 2024‑25 season.

Also joining us today is physiotherapist Stephanie Peppler of Regina. Stephanie was the physiotherapist for Canada’s para snowboarding team. This was her first Olympics, and she works as a physiotherapist, or has worked with the U of S [University of Saskatchewan] Huskies football team as well as the Regina Thunder. And Stephanie’s special guest today is Stacie Day.

Mr. Speaker, also joining us are members of Sask Sport, the Coaches Association of Saskatchewan, and the Canadian Sports Centre Saskatchewan. Our government is committed to supporting all levels of sport through our valued partnership with Sask Sport. Thank you for all the good work that you do.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all members please join me in welcoming these guests to their Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Regina Wascana Plains.

Brent Blakley: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to join the minister in welcoming all these folks to their legislature — the officials from Sask Sport, all the Paralympians, Olympians, coaches, support staff, officials — and just welcome and thank them and their families for all that they do for the province and for the country. I see some have brought their medals with them, and I’ll go in and take a bite out of that just to see if it’s real later. I don’t know. It doesn’t look official, but I’ll check it out later.

I know everybody sat in their living rooms and even in our offices watching the Olympics, on the edge of their seat, cheering loudly every move that these folks made, and cheering them on to something that they did. Just extraordinary for . . . And they did themselves, their province, and their country very well. So I thank them and welcome them to their legislature.

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

Hon. Warren Kaeding: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you and all members of the Legislative Assembly, I would like to take a moment to introduce a couple of members of our Trade and Export office staff. Seated in the west gallery is our chief of staff, Michelle Lang, and we have Arlie Matisho. He’s the MA [ministerial assistant] of comms. I tell everyone Arlie knows more about what I’m thinking than what I do.

So anyway, today I do want to focus on Michelle. And Michelle truly is a dedicated public servant who provides professionalism, sound judgment, and a strong work ethic to her role each and every day. And she plays a very critical role, really, in supporting our office, ensuring that we are delivering for the people of Saskatchewan, and advancing certainly the priorities of our government. Her leadership, her commitment, and steady guidance are really deeply appreciated not only by me but truly our entire team.

Mr. Speaker, in our office we share a lot of laughs, we discuss a lot of politics, and we share personal stories. And I’ve attempted to add some country to the city girl. However last night, Michelle’s boyfriend, Brent Bashutski, has made it his lifelong commitment to educate Michelle on all things rural as he proposed. And she agreed. So Michelle has agreed to be his lifelong hunting partner, his combine operator, and vodka taster.

Mr. Speaker, really this truly is an exciting milestone and on behalf of myself, certainly of our caucus, and really all members of this Assembly, we truly do wish Michelle and her fiancé, Brent, every happiness as they begin their incredible next chapter together. I’d ask all members in joining me in welcoming Michelle to her Legislative Assembly and wishing her the best and warmest congratulations.

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

Sally Housser: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m delighted to welcome today 46 grade 8 students from W.F. Ready School in the great constituency of Regina University. Delighted to have you all here today, W.F. Ready School, to learn about the legislative process, to see question period, and your legislators in action. And looking forward to having a visit with you after this session. Enjoy.

And I’d ask all members to join me in welcoming this wonderful school group and their teachers, Tammy Richter and Shianne Crichlow, to the legislature here today.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Last Mountain-Touchwood.

Travis Keisig: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you — you broke up the flow of the introductions — I just wanted to say that Mr. Bashutski was a former constituent of mine before Michelle drug him to the big city. And congratulate them on their nuptials. And I know Mr. Bashutski is going to be in the same league as mine and realize that as soon as you marry out of your league, Mr. Speaker, your whole life gets so much better.

So to you and through you, Mr. Speaker, congratulate Michelle and Brent on your upcoming nuptials.

Speaker Goudy: — Congratulations.

PRESENTING PETITIONS

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

April ChiefCalf: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in the Assembly today to present a petition to call on the Saskatchewan government to take immediate action to stand up for Indigenous children and all vulnerable students by advocating for the full restoration of funding previously supported by Jordan’s principle.

Jordan’s principle was established to ensure that First Nations children have equitable access to the services they need, including supports in schools. The recent loss of this federal funding will leave a significant gap in Saskatchewan classrooms, especially for Indigenous students who rely on inclusive education supports to thrive. And funding cuts by the federal government have led to the layoff of 80 educational assistants from Saskatoon Public Schools, with more funding shortfalls expected.

And with that, Mr. Speaker, I will read the prayer.

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan stand up for Saskatchewan and advocate for the restoration of federal Jordan’s principle funding to support Indigenous students in schools; commit to sustainable, predictable, and equitable provincial funding for inclusive education across Saskatchewan; and ensure education support workers have the resources and staffing they need to keep classrooms safe and support every student’s learning journey.

Mr. Speaker, the signatories today reside in Shellbrook, Lloydminster, and The Battlefords. I do so present. Thank you.

[10:15]

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

Noor Burki: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We, the undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan, wish to bring to your attention the following: that the towns of White City, Emerald Park, and surrounding communities have seen a sharp increase in population in recent years; that many high schools in the surrounding rural municipalities are at or over capacity; that White City and Emerald Park are the largest communities in Saskatchewan with no high school and the only ones with a combined population of 5,000 and more; and that the high school is needed to fulfill the education needs of thousands of families that have moved to east of Regina, White City, and surrounding communities who will have children attending high school in the next three years.

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan to call on the Government of Saskatchewan to immediately prioritize the building of a high school in White City.

Mr. Speaker, the signatories of this petition reside in Emerald Park and White City. I do so present.

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

Don McBean: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to rise and present a petition calling for equity in education for students with disabilities.

The undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan wish to bring to our attention the following: that in 2023 the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission conducted a review of policies, programs, funding models to provide targeted supports for students living with dyslexia; that learning can be impaired by many things beyond dyslexia — autism, ADHD [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder], FASD [fetal alcohol spectrum disorder], dysgraphia, dyscalculia, deafness, hard of hearing, blindness, visual impairment, mental health challenges, intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, chronic medical conditions, and others.

The access to education is a right under The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, and an untold number of students across Saskatchewan are being denied their access to that right of education; that parents, teachers, families and, I might say, retired principals across Saskatchewan have been calling for increased classroom supports to meet the growing demand of increasingly large and complex classrooms to ensure the success of all students, regardless of abilities.

We, in the prayer the reads as follows, respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to immediately work with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission to conduct an in-depth review of our public education system, specifically around the policy, program, and funding models designed to support children living with disabilities in our public education system.

The signatories today all reside in Delisle. Thank you.

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

Betty Nippi-Albright: — Miigwech, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to rise and present this following petition about mental health and addictions. The folks who have signed this petition wish to bring to your attention the following. Saskatchewan has the highest rates of suicide among the provinces. Indigenous people die by suicide at the rate of 4.3 times higher than non-Indigenous people.

Saskatchewan continues to break its own records in overdose deaths from drug toxicity. One in four youth in Saskatchewan have reported engaging in self-harm at some point. One in four youth reported having considered suicide in the past year. And the children and youth advocate in her 2022 report noted that long wait times and inadequate mental health and addictions services are leaving many children and youth without access to care when they need it the most.

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 to work with experts and community leaders on evidence-based solutions to the mental health and addictions crisis in Saskatchewan.

The folks who have signed this petition reside in Saskatoon. I do so present.

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

Tajinder Grewal: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to present a petition to fix the funding crisis in the disability service sector and for community-based organizations — in short, CBOs.

The undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan wish to bring to your attention the following: the disability service sector faces a funding crisis that threatens CBO workforce stability and ability to provide essential services due to the underfunding of transportation, meals, technology, and maintenance; that the Ministry of Social Services funds CBOs for benefits at approximately 16 per cent of salary funding, and this rate has remained relatively unchanged for 20 years.

And with that, Mr. Speaker, I’ll read the prayer as follows:

Respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to commit to a three-year funding plan that strengthens CBO capacity and stabilizes the sector, while simultaneously collaborating with CBOs on a job analysis for the disability service sector, as well as a full review of the operational funding standards to ensure adequate funding for areas including, but not limited to, transportation, maintenance, technology, food, insurance, and audit.

This petition has been signed by the residents of Kindersley. I do so present. Thank you.

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Lloydminster.

Honouring Saskatchewan’s Winter Olympians and Paralympians

Colleen Young: — Mr. Speaker, it is a great honour to welcome to their legislature the outstanding athletes, coaches, officials, and support staff, and thank the remarkable individuals who represented Saskatchewan on the world stage. The impact of these games filled us with joy, moments of heartfelt emotion, and deep pride in the accomplishment of our athletes. Saskatchewan competitors did well at the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, capturing six medals in total and achieving many personal best results.

Medals alone never capture the full picture. Every success is built on years of relentless effort, perseverance, and sacrifice with countless hours devoted to training, preparation, and navigating the emotional ups and downs. None of these achievements would be possible without the unwavering support of families, coaches, trainers, officials, volunteers, and the many others whose commitment helped our athletes achieve their best. Many of those supporters are with us today, and to every one of them I offer my sincerest gratitude.

We are also grateful for the ongoing work of Sask Sport, the Coaches Association of Saskatchewan, and the Canadian Sports Centre Saskatchewan for their leadership in supporting our high-performance athletes and coaches. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to say how proud we all are of the athletes and everyone who made this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games a success. Thank you.

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

Remembering Lynnett Boris

Nathaniel Teed: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to honour the life and legacy of Lynnett Boris, a long-time Saskatchewan New Democrat, community advocate, and dear friend who tragically passed away on January 6th at the age of 57 in the presence of her mother and caregiver.

Lynnett was a progressive in the truest sense of the word. She believed deeply in fairness, dignity, and inclusion and lived those values every single day. She was a committed party member and vice-president of the Saskatoon Meewasin constituency executive and an active member of the Saskatchewan NDP [New Democratic Party] disability wing, a volunteer with Barrier Free Saskatchewan, and a tireless advocate for the seniors living at King Edward Place where she resided.

Lynnett was always on the front lines pushing for more accessible and inclusive spaces, ensuring that the voices of people with disabilities and seniors were heard and respected. I first met Lynnett during the 2022 Meewasin by-election where she volunteered countless hours, driven by her belief in building a better, more compassionate Saskatchewan.

Mr. Speaker, Lynnett’s kindness, determination, and unwavering commitment to community will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Her legacy lives on in the many lives she touched and the work she championed. On behalf of this Assembly, I want to extend my deepest condolences to Lynnett’s family, friends, and loved ones.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Yorkton.

Vigil Marks 10th Anniversary of Girl’s Disappearance

David Chan: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week I had the heartbreaking privilege of sitting down with the Bali family to hear their story first-hand. Many know the name Mekayla Bali, the 16‑year-old who disappeared from Yorkton in 2016. Her mother, Paula, describes Mekayla as a gentle, kind-hearted girl who loved music, photography, acting, and caring for animals. She was a sweet child, a sweet kid who deeply loved her younger siblings and had all the potential in the world.

The morning of April 12th, 2016, Mekayla was dropped off at school but she never came home. Ten years later there are still so few answers. She was last seen at a Yorkton bus stop at 1:45 p.m., and then she vanished.

For Paula and Mekayla’s siblings, life has been forever changed. They have sacrificed everything in their search, following leads across provinces and dedicating years to finding her. The pain of not knowing has never eased. Still they hold on to faith in a God who knows where she is. This belief sustains them even as it raises difficult questions. But for them, giving up is not an option. They continue to believe that one day she could come home.

On April 12th there will be a vigil in Yorkton to mark the 10‑year anniversary of Mekayla’s disappearance. Paula asks that we keep Mekayla’s story visible. So please visit her Facebook page at Let’s Bring Mekayla Bali Home and share the posts. Let’s hope and pray with this dear family that Mekayla is safe and that she will come home soon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Celebration of Easter

Joan Pratchler: — Mr. Speaker, for the past six weeks, like many of the Christian religions and those of my faith, the Roman Catholic rite, all over the world have been observing Lent. This Sunday, Palm Sunday, we entered our Holy Week. And tonight we gather for our most solemn liturgy, the Triduum, made up of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil.

In my parish of Holy Rosary Cathedral here in Regina we begin Holy Thursday tonight, commemorating the Last Supper of our Lord. This evening begins in a stark, austere atmosphere punctuated not by the sound of the majestic McGuigan organ, which will be silent, but rather only by the limited haunting melodies of Gregorian chant.

Holy Thursday is marked by the washing of the feet, and the Last Supper Eucharist is there to remind us of our call to serve others. We pray and we exit in sombre silence. And tomorrow is Good Friday, recognizing the Passion of Christ with the veneration of the cross, followed by prayer vigils going well on into the night.

But then comes Easter Vigil night, an explosion of symbolism for the senses — of incense, baptismal waters, flames, and music — all in majesty to mark the highest feast day in our Christian faith.

All of this richness reminds us again that we are not stuck as Good Friday people, not resting in hopelessness, but rather we are an Easter people, a rejoicing and joy-filled people. Alleluia to life everlasting. Alleluia.

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

Green Shirt Day Encourages Organ Donation

Terri Bromm: — Today I rise to speak about Green Shirt Day, a day that holds meaning for many people. On April 7th each year Canadians are encouraged to wear green, talk about organ donation, and register. Green Shirt Day commemorates Logan Boulet, a Humboldt Broncos player who passed away in the 2018 bus crash.

Logan had shared his organ donation wishes with his family. That donation, that act, saved six lives. It inspired a country. Nearly 150,000 Canadians registered as organ donors in the weeks following the tragedy, this unprecedented response now known as the Logan Boulet Effect. In the years since Logan’s organ donation, thousands of Canadians have registered as organ and tissue donors, now eight years later, continuing to inspire hope and awareness and action.

This year’s theme, One Decision Can Create a Lasting Ripple Effect, highlighting the extraordinary reach of a single choice, Canadians are encouraged to honour the Logan Boulet Effect. The campaign emphasizes how choosing to register as an organ donor and sharing that decision with loved ones can extend far beyond one life, touching many families and communities. We are encouraged to engage in conversations about organ donation, sharing stories that inspire others to give the gift of life.

Green Shirt Day is information that can save lives, a commitment to make a difference, a reminder that the act of donating is a gift of life, a celebration of power of giving, a day to be together strong. Thank you.

[10:30]

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

World Autism Acceptance Day

Brittney Senger: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For 50 years, April 2nd has been recognized globally as World Autism Awareness Day. Today it is observed as World Autism Acceptance Day. This is a meaningful shift that calls on us to understand autism and to embrace and support autistic people.

Acceptance is when families can access therapies and one-on-one services without facing overwhelming wait-lists and financial strain. In 2017 the Wall government made a commitment to children and families living with autism. They promised individualized annual funding for every child under 18 with an autism diagnosis. They committed between $15,000 to $18,000 annually for children under six, and nearly $5,000 for those aged 6 to 18.

When the government committed to individualized funding, accessible services, and early diagnosis, they sent a powerful message: autistic individuals are valued, supported, and included. Yet they broke this promise and showed their priorities lie elsewhere. If this government is serious about accepting neurodivergent people, it’s time for their actions to match their words.

I ask all members to join me in recognizing World Autism Acceptance Day.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Dakota-Arm River.

Easter Blessings

Barret Kropf: — Mr. Speaker, this weekend billions of people around the world will be celebrating Easter, a season filled with reflection, togetherness, and hope. Across our province, churches will be filled for Good Friday and Easter Sunday services, filled with hope by the work of Jesus on the cross and his Resurrection. Many will travel long distances to spend a few meaningful days with family, and that speaks to the heart of this weekend.

Easter encourages us to pause and appreciate the good around us — the warmth of family, the strength of community, and the peace that comes from our faith. It reminds us to slow down, reconnect, and be grateful for the blessings we often overlook in the rush of daily life. Here in Saskatchewan those values are woven into who we are. We see them in our communities, our churches, and in the way neighbours support one another. May this weekend renew our hearts with kindness, connection, and the simple message of hope that Easter brings us.

I want to extend my warmest wishes this Easter to everyone across Saskatchewan and to all my fellow MLAs [Member of the Legislative Assembly] and their families. I hope your Easter is filled with love and laughter. And to you, Mr. Speaker, Happy Easter to you and your family. God bless you and God bless Saskatchewan.

QUESTION PERIOD

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

Support for Saskatchewan Polytechnic Training Program

Carla Beck: — Mr. Speaker, when a government has been in power too long, there are signs. They start acting like the rules don’t apply to them, like they don’t have to listen to the people that they’re supposed to serve. I wonder if this sounds familiar.

Let’s talk about a recent letter from a research scientist in the Sask Health Authority about the Premier’s decision to close the health information management program at Sask Poly. I’m going to quote: “The workforce risk is especially serious because Saskatchewan is already facing human health resources strain.”

Why would the Premier choose to cause even more strain in health care?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As the members opposite would know, and many people across the province, this is a government that has embarked on a patients-first initiative about a month ago, Mr. Speaker, introducing 50 action items that are going to improve the outcomes in our health care system by supporting those that are offering services in community after community, facility after facility across this province.

Part of that patients-first health care plan is to continue to expand the health care training that we have in all of our post-secondary institutes across the province, including Sask Polytechnic, Mr. Speaker, as well as our regional colleges and, of course, our universities.

This started a number of years ago with the health human resource action plan, the most ambitious plan in Canada, Mr. Speaker. Nine hundred health care training positions in those post-secondary institutes delivered by this Advanced Education minister, Mr. Speaker. Added to in this plan and in this budget with 20 additional College of Medicine training positions, Mr. Speaker, focusing on Saskatchewan students that are going to stay in a Saskatchewan community and offer those services, and increasing our nurse practitioner training seats by over 45 per cent, Mr. Speaker.

This is truly going to go a long way in supporting our health care workers, having a patients-focused, patients-centred system, Mr. Speaker, and offering the right care in the right time at the right place.

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

Carla Beck: — We’re talking about cuts to health care training at a time when we already have a health care crisis, a health care staffing crisis in particular, in this province, Mr. Speaker. It simply doesn’t make any sense.

I’m going to quote again from that letter:

At a time when our province is actively trying to recruit and sustain a health care workforce, closing the HIM program weakens the local workforce pipeline that supports health system operations, privacy, data quality, planning, and digital transformation.

I end the quote, Mr. Speaker. Why would this Premier choose to pile on more cuts at a time that we are already facing a staffing crisis in health care?

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

Hon. Ken Cheveldayoff: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As members opposite will know or should know, Sask Poly is an autonomous institution. It’s a world-class autonomous institution that is amongst the most well funded in Canada. They’ve won research awards. They’ve won all kinds of accolades. And as recently as day before yesterday, Dr. Rosia was on The Evan Bray Show talking about all of the things that they are done.

This topic has come up; and again, they’re an autonomous institution. I’ve asked them to take another look at it. I’ve asked for the details on the number of applications in this program, and so I’ll work to get more information on this. But again, we stand behind Dr. Rosia and the world-class institution that Sask Poly is. I hope the members opposite do the same.

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

Tajinder Grewal: — Mr. Speaker, when the Sask Party’s own scientists start speaking out about the problems these cuts will cost, the minister should listen. I’ll read again from that letter: “Closing the program also created avoidable dependency on out-of-province recruitment.” “In practical terms, the province will likely face high replacement costs, increased recruitment difficulty, and a less stable workforce pipeline over time.”

Why is the Minister of Advanced Education trying to make our province more reliant on out-of-province health care workers?

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

Hon. Ken Cheveldayoff: — Mr. Speaker, I’ll remind the member opposite that this member always listens, this minister always listens, and this government always listens. When Sask Poly and other institutions wanted to have stable, long-term funding, we came up with a multi-year funding agreement many years ago. When that agreement proved to be historic and leading edge across the country, very innovative, we came up with a second agreement.

And Sask Poly and others will have the assurances of an agreement like that, that is the envy of every province, every minister, and you know, every institution across the country. So we will continue to work closely with this world-class institution and ask questions when necessary and provide those answers. Thank you.

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

Tajinder Grewal: — Mr. Speaker, this letter is scathing, and it should tell the Sask Party government everything they need to know to stop this cut at Sask Poly. But they won’t do it, Mr. Speaker. And that tells you everything you need to know about the Sask Party government. You cannot provide health care to Saskatchewan people without Saskatchewan health care workers.

How many other health care training programs will be cut by this minister before the Sask Party government finally invests in the future of health care?

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

Hon. Ken Cheveldayoff: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. If the member opposite, or any of the members opposite, listened to Dr. Rosia on The Evan Bray Show the other day they will have known that he provided statistics about the 20,000 layoffs that have happened across Canada because of this federal government decision.

Yes, one is too many. And we’ve had some in Saskatchewan, and we’re working hard to make sure that we have as few as possible. And again, we will work with this world-class institution. We will work with Dr. Rosia as a world-class educator as well.

But members opposite should put this in to context again. And you know, in Manitoba the NDP government is closing the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology, closing the entire institution. That is what their philosophical friends are doing . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Order, please. Order, please.

Minister.

Hon. Ken Cheveldayoff: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’ve other examples, but just the one to finish. In BC [British Columbia] the NDP government there cut 177 programs and laid off more than 1,000 individuals, Mr. Speaker. Again we’re doing the best we can. We’re very proud of our record. We’re providing historic funding. And we will stand by that institution, unlike members opposite.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Cumberland.

Affordability

Jordan McPhail: — Well thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s a little rich that the minister claims that he’s listened. I suggest he reads a few of the news reports.

Mr. Speaker, Saskatchewan people are struggling to pay the bills. For the first time in 20 years the population is on the decline. People and investment are leaving our province. Families and young people struggle to find a place that they can afford to live. All the while the cost of food goes up, the cost of rent goes up, the cost of gas goes up. Still this government refuses to cut the gas tax, the food tax, or bring in rent control.

What does this Premier expect people to do in places like Saskatoon — sublet from the Minister of Advanced Education?

Speaker Goudy: — Okay, that’ll be a wash there. Who’s going to answer that one? But I will — I mentioned it yesterday — I will expect that there will be no questions that are offside today based on the ruling of the last number.

Recognize the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Jim Reiter: — Mr. Speaker, that was just a broad, across-the-spectrum rant, Mr. Speaker. Factually incorrect in very many cases, Mr. Speaker. On the rent comments, Mr. Speaker, according to March’s Rentals.ca national rent, Saskatchewan still maintains the lowest average rent in the country, Mr. Speaker. On affordability, two and a half billion dollars on affordability measures in each and every budget, Mr. Speaker.

And as far as the economy, while the members opposite consistently run down the economy, Mr. Speaker, don’t take my word for it. Let’s see what Deloitte has to say in their spring economic forecast just released today, Mr. Speaker: “Saskatchewan is projected to have the fastest GDP growth in 2026 and second-fastest in 2027.” Mr. Speaker, just factually incorrect.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Cumberland.

Minister of Advanced Education

Jordan McPhail: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier this week the Premier made it clear that he has full confidence in the Minister of Advanced Education. There’s been a request for an independent investigation by the Conflict of Interest Commissioner and troubling comments made . . .

Speaker Goudy: — Member from Cumberland, I’m going to take some time to read a rule . . . [inaudible interjection] . . . No, I will take some time to read the rule for all of the members . . . [inaudible interjection] . . . No, we won’t be stopping the clock.

QUESTION PERIOD

. . . 20(2) Questions relating to any matter within the administrative competence of the government or on matters related to individual ministerial responsibility may be asked of a Minister of the Crown. Questions on issues not officially connected with the government, of a private nature, [or specifically] related to Board of Internal Economy, caucus, party or political responsibilities are prohibited.

I have ruled it out of order, the questions concerning the lease of constituency offices. So I will expect that there will be no more questions or allusions to that in our questions. Do you have a question other than that, Member from Cumberland?

I recognize the member from Saskatoon Meewasin.

[10:45]

Reporting Mechanism for Health Care Workers

Nathaniel Teed: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Health care workers are worried. They’re worried that they can’t pay their bills. They’re worried that their patients can’t get the care they need in crowded care homes and hospitals. And now they’re worried about the Sask Party’s plan to set up a snitch line in their workplaces. Instead of fixing a health care system that is literally collapsing around them, this Premier and his ministers are going after the very workers holding our health care together.

Will this Minister of Health scrap his plan for a snitch line today?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Mr. Speaker, the members’ opposite position on this is quite puzzling, Mr. Speaker. Any large employer of any size in the private sector, Mr. Speaker, or in the public sector as well, has a whistle-blower process if an employee of that organization sees something that is concerning and needs to raise it in an anonymous manner, Mr. Speaker. That’s what the Saskatchewan Health Authority has put out an RFP [request for proposal] to obtain this system, Mr. Speaker.

I think it’s reasonable that SHA [Saskatchewan Health Authority] employees have that opportunity, the same opportunity that’s afforded to employees of large corporations right across the world and here in Canada, Mr. Speaker. I’m not quite sure who the members opposite are trying to defend here. Thank you.

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

Nathaniel Teed: — Mr. Speaker, it’s shocking that this Sask Party government just isn’t listening to health care workers. Health care workers have been very clear. They want respect, they want a contract, and they want an end to short-staffing so that they can care for their patients.

That’s a simple request. Simple request, Mr. Speaker. What does this government give them? A snitch line to rat on each other and keep workers looking over their shoulders instead of delivering care for their patients. How much more disrespect does this minister think health care workers are going to take from this Saskatchewan Party government?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Well right here on display, Mr. Speaker, we see why it’s hard to take the opposition seriously, Mr. Speaker. Just a few minutes ago — hold on here — just a few minutes ago the member from Saskatoon University-Sutherland stands up and says that we need to respect and listen to people. Now we have the member from Saskatoon Meewasin standing up saying that we shouldn’t have a way to listen to folks who work in the health care system, Mr. Speaker. Which one is it?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Athabasca.

Measures to Curb Spread of Tuberculosis

Leroy Laliberte: — Mr. Speaker, health care in the province is a mess. We learned this week at committee that there were 22 cases of tuberculosis in Prince Albert, but there was no public warning or announcement from the government to let people know or to warn them to stay safe.

Why did the Sask Party government keep these cases of tuberculosis under wraps? And why didn’t they warn the people of Saskatchewan?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Remote and Rural Health.

Hon. Lori Carr: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we take the health and welfare of every Saskatchewan resident seriously. The risk to the general public with regards to tuberculosis is very low. It is not easily spread. To be infected you generally must have a close friend . . . frequent or prolonged contact over a long period of several hours with someone to become infectious. When public health becomes aware of a TB [tuberculosis] case, work is done to identify and directly contact people who have been potentially exposed, Mr. Speaker.

Our government actually provided $3 million this year to the tuberculosis prevention and control centre, and we will continue to do that work, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Athabasca.

Leroy Laliberte: — Mr. Speaker, the Sask Party government is failing to deliver for the people of Prince Albert and the North. People from my constituency travel into Prince Albert on the daily, and they should know the nearly two dozen cases of tuberculosis when they go. People in the North are limited to access to health care already, Mr. Speaker. They want to protect their Elders and not bring tuberculosis into their communities. They can’t do this when the Sask Party keeps vital information under wraps.

Will the Sask Party apologize to the people in the North about not warning of the tuberculosis outbreak in Prince Albert, Mr. Speaker?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Remote and Rural Health.

Hon. Lori Carr: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just want to repeat that you need to have close, frequent, and prolonged contact over a period of several hours with someone to become infectious, Mr. Speaker. Public health works with these cases and identifies who that individual has been in contact with and contacts them directly by tracing that, Mr. Speaker.

Tuberculosis is treatable and curable. The Ministry of Health and the Saskatchewan Health Authority work to ensure appropriate TB supports and care are available to anyone who needs it. That’s that $3 million that I talked about in the previous answer. Mr. Speaker, we will continue to fund initiatives to keep people safe.

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

Construction and Maintenance of Schools

Matt Love: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, every day since the Sask Party brought forward their bad-news budget, the Minister of Education has denied that there are any delays to fix or build schools in Saskatchewan. Now parents know that’s not true. School boards know that’s not true. And the principal at Campbell Collegiate here in Regina knows that’s not true either.

In a letter sent to parents this week, the principal says that some projects, including the needed renovation at their school, will be delayed next year.

Will the minister finally admit that this bad-news budget is delaying school projects in Saskatchewan?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Education.

Hon. Everett Hindley: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to clarify, this is a good-news budget, a good budget for the people of Saskatchewan, including the education sector, Mr. Speaker. And there’s a number of schools that have been announced by this government that the member opposite has referenced — including the Campbell Collegiate project, along with a number of other projects in Saskatoon, in Regina, and other parts of the province — that have been announced that are in various stages of design, construction, you name it, Mr. Speaker.

And these are all projects that are going to be completed and they’re going to be opened in due course, Mr. Speaker. We’re going to have a number of new schools, just like we’ve had announced and opened in previous months and years, Mr. Speaker. We’re proud of the investment that we’re making into school projects right across this province.

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

Matt Love: — Mr. Speaker, the minister refuses to use the word “delay” in describing the impact of his budget, but the principal at Campbell Collegiate doesn’t hold back. I’ll quote from the letter: “I understand that this delay may be frustrating.” It’s there in black and white, even though the minister refuses to say it out loud — delay.

Will the minister join those of us who live in reality and admit that his bad-news budget is causing delays for school projects?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Education.

Hon. Everett Hindley: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are other words that can be used as well, words like “closed.” 176 schools closed by the members opposite during their time in government, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, the . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Order. Order, please.

Minister.

Hon. Everett Hindley: — And there’s also the word “open,” Mr. Speaker. This past fall we opened a new school, a K to 12 [kindergarten to grade 12] in Lanigan. We opened a new joint-use elementary school in Moose Jaw, replacing three schools there. We opened a new joint-use elementary school in Regina, replacing four schools here in this city, Mr. Speaker. We opened a new elementary school in Saskatoon, replacing St. Frances Cree.

We opened a new school in La Loche, Mr. Speaker, and just a couple weeks ago we announced the opening of a new École du Parc school for the CÉF [Conseil des écoles fransaskoises] school division, Mr. Speaker. That’s the record of this government, Mr. Speaker. We’re going to continue to announce new schools and open new schools, Mr. Speaker.

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

Matt Love: — Mr. Speaker, teachers and students at Campbell Collegiate deserve the repairs to their school this year. And the teachers and students in Carlyle and The Towns project in Regina, they deserve the schools promised to them this year by that government. But they’re all delayed. They’re all delayed even if the minister won’t admit the facts because of his bad-news budget for education. And they’re worried that these projects will never come because of the cuts to school capital funding. It’s right in their budget, a 35 per cent cut to school capital.

So to the minister: why? Why should these students and teachers believe what the minister says about the future if he can’t even say the word “delayed” about this year’s budget?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Education.

Hon. Everett Hindley: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. These are all schools that are going to be built, and some are under construction right now as we’ve talked about, as I’ve indicated multiple times. They’re being built as we speak today and have been opened this past fall and in the years previous as part of the 109 schools that this government has been proud to open, brand new schools or either that or major renovations around this province, Mr. Speaker.

And we are proud of the $123 million capital budget we have for schools in this province in this budget, Mr. Speaker, far and ahead of the $23 million that was in the NDP’s budget back in 2007 for new schools.

I look forward to the day when we open all these schools, including Campbell Collegiate here in Regina when that project is completed and that member there is looking for the photo op.

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

SaskPower Rates

Aleana Young: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. You know, people in my constituency deserve to see those repairs at Campbell completed, and they deserve to have access to reliable, affordable power. Now we know that bills are already going to double because of that government’s plan.

But yesterday at committee we learned that costs are going to go even higher. Now I asked the Environment minister if she believes the provincial government should be responsible for the carbon tax, and the minister said, and I quote, yes. I asked if that included the electricity sector, and again she said, yes.

So how much more will people’s rates go up when the Sask Party government brings back their carbon tax?

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

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Oh my. Well I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, there are a few topics I’m more happy to talk about than getting rid of the carbon tax, Mr. Speaker.

This is the only carbon tax-free province in the entire country, Mr. Speaker. And we are very proud of being the first province to remove both the consumer carbon tax and the industrial carbon tax, Mr. Speaker, from people’s power bills and from people’s gas bills here in Saskatchewan; I would add, Mr. Speaker, with the opposition from the NDP to doing so and their rock-solid commitment to bringing the carbon tax back, Mr. Speaker.

That is something we are not going to do, Mr. Speaker. We took that carbon tax off their SaskPower bills. It’s not going back on unless people vote for the NDP, in which case it will.

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

Health Care for Women and Victims of Violence

Jacqueline Roy: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now the Prince Albert police reported that in 2025 there were 150 sexual violations, an increase of 6 per cent since 2024. Now this is P.A. [Prince Albert] alone.

So last night the Minister of Health revealed that sexual assault nurse examiners provide exhaustive forensic exams in Prince Albert — wait for it — only during the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The only other workers of course are in Regina and Saskatoon.

Now P.A. serves half the province. The Health Authority requested at least 1.8 million, maybe more — I’m looking into that — for supports. That Finance minister vetoed it.

Why is the Minister of Finance making it impossible for victims of sexual violence to get 24‑7 help in half of the province?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I did indicate in committee last night, we do have sexual assault nurse examiners available 24‑7 in both Regina and Saskatoon. In Prince Albert we’re continuing to train and staff-up there. Currently that service is, as the member indicates and as I shared at committee last night, available from 7:30 a.m. till 4 p.m.

However, Mr. Speaker, the member left out of her question what I also added, is that outside of those hours, Mr. Speaker, we have highly qualified emergency room physicians and nursing staff at Prince Albert Victoria Hospital. We have a great deal of trust in the work that they do, not only for the people of Prince Albert but also for folks right across northern Saskatchewan as they come and receive services at the Prince Albert Victoria Hospital.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

Bill No. 618 — The Provincial Health Authority (Prohibiting Anonymous Reporting Mechanisms) Amendment Act

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

Nathaniel Teed: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I move that Bill 618, The Provincial Health Authority (Prohibiting Anonymous Reporting Mechanisms) Amendment Act be now introduced and read a first time.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the member from Saskatoon Meewasin that Bill No. 618, The Provincial Health Authority (Prohibiting Anonymous Reporting Mechanisms) Amendment Act be now introduced and read 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 this bill be read a second time?

Nathaniel Teed: — At the next sitting of the Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — Next sitting.

[11:00]

PRESENTING REPORTS BY STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Chair of the Standing Committee on the Economy.

Standing Committee on the Economy

Daryl Harrison: — Mr. Speaker, I’m instructed by the Standing Committee on the Economy to report Bill No. 35, The Mineral Resources Amendment Act, 2025 without amendment.

Speaker Goudy: — When shall this bill be considered in Committee of the Whole on Bills? I recognize the Minister of Energy and Resources.

Hon. Chris Beaudry: — I request leave to waive consideration in Committee of the Whole on this bill and that the bill be now read for the third time.

Speaker Goudy: — The minister has requested leave to waive consideration in the Committee of the Whole on Bill No. 35, The Mineral Resources Amendment Act, 2025 and that the bill be now read a third time. Is leave granted?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — The minister may proceed and move third reading.

THIRD READINGS

Bill No. 35 — The Mineral Resources Amendment Act, 2025

Hon. Chris Beaudry: — I move that the bill be now read the third time and passed under its title.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the minister that the bill be now read the third time and passed under its title. Is the Assembly ready for the question?

Some Hon. Members: — Question.

Speaker Goudy: — Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Deputy Clerk: — Third reading of this bill.

PRESENTING REPORTS BY STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Chair of the Standing Committee on Human Services.

Standing Committee on Human Services

Travis Keisig: — Mr. Speaker, I am instructed by the Standing Committee on Human Services to report Bill No. 36, The Change of Name Amendment Act, 2025, a bilingual bill, without amendment.

Speaker Goudy: — When shall this bill be considered in the Committee of the Whole on Bills? I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I request leave to waive consideration in Committee of the Whole on this bill and that the bill now be read a third time.

Speaker Goudy: — The minister has requested leave to waive consideration in the Committee of the Whole on Bill No. 36, The Change of Name Amendment Act, 2025 and that the bill be now read the third time. Is leave granted?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — The minister may proceed to move third reading.

THIRD READINGS

Bill No. 36 — The Change of Name Amendment Act, 2025/Loi modificative de 2025 sur le changement de nom

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move that the bill now be read the third time and passed under its title.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the minister that the bill be now read the third time and passed under its title. Is the Assembly ready for the question?

Some Hon. Members: — Question.

Speaker Goudy: — Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Deputy Clerk: — Third reading of this bill.

PRESENTING REPORTS BY STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Chair of the Standing Committee on Human Services.

Standing Committee on Human Services

Travis Keisig: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am instructed by the Standing Committee on Human Services to report Bill No. 37, The Vital Statistics Amendment Act, 2025, a bilingual bill, without amendment.

Speaker Goudy: — When shall this bill be considered in the Committee of the Whole on Bills? I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Mr. Speaker, I request leave to waive consideration in Committee of the Whole on this bill and that the bill be now read the third time.

Speaker Goudy: — The minister has requested leave to waive consideration in Committee of the Whole on Bill No. 37, The Vital Statistics Amendment Act, 2025 and that the bill be now read the third time. Is leave granted?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — The minister may proceed to move third reading.

THIRD READINGS

Bill No. 37 — The Vital Statistics Amendment Act, 2025/Loi modificative de 2025 sur les services de l’état civil

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move that the bill now be read the third time and passed under its title.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the minister that the bill be now read the third time and passed under its title. Is the Assembly ready for the question?

Some Hon. Members: — Question.

Speaker Goudy: — Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Deputy Clerk: — Third reading of this bill.

Speaker Goudy: — Why is the member on her feet?

MOTIONS

Second Reading of Bill No. 612

Aleana Young: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Notwithstanding the government’s agenda and what’s published in Orders of the Day, I seek leave to move the following motion:

That the Assembly immediately consider second reading of Bill 612, The Lower Power Bills and Car Insurance Act.

Speaker Goudy: — Is leave granted?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Some Hon. Members: — No.

Speaker Goudy: — Leave is not granted.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

SEVENTY-FIVE MINUTE DEBATE

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Cumberland.

Management of Public Resources

Jordan McPhail: — Well thank you so much, Mr. Speaker. I’ve got to say, it’s a great day in the legislature when we get to look at the record of the scandal, mismanagement, and waste that this Sask Party government has had in the recent reports that we’ve seen and in the news. We can see that there has been clear violations of the rules that govern us all here in the provincial legislature. We’ve had former Speakers come out and say that members opposite have been warned not to get into a subletting agreement and, despite having been told that multiple times, continued to violate the rules.

Now to say that this was a one-off would not be an accurate statement, Mr. Speaker. I’ve got a very long list of Saskatchewan Party scandal, mismanagement, and waste that has come to light . . .

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — Why is the member on his feet?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — What’s your point of order?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Mr. Speaker, the member from Cumberland is proceeding to question prior rulings of the Chair. That’s obviously unparliamentary language. And I would ask that you make him withdraw and apologize, and insist that he discontinue from questioning prior rulings of the Chair.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I find the order is well taken.

Oh, I’m sorry. Why is the member on her feet?

Nicole Sarauer: — Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I would hope you’d listen to my arguments against the member opposite’s point of order. I would say that if you listen to his speech, it has nothing to do with the rulings of the past Speaker. The past Speaker’s rulings were in relation to questions asked during question period. This is not question period. These are not questions that are being asked. These are well within the bounds of parliamentary discussion and appropriate for 75‑minute debate.

I ask that you find that the member’s point is not well taken.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I do find that the attempt to impugn the character of the hon. member is very, very close to the line. And so I’m going to ask the member from Cumberland to stay away from that conversation completely. And consider this your warning.

The member from Cumberland, please.

Jordan McPhail: — Well thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. You know, when I spoke about the scandal, mismanagement, and waste by the members opposite, it is quite clear that there is tons of evidence that we can go on. I haven’t been in this House very long, Mr. Deputy Speaker, but you know, again the news that we hear — clear violations of the rules.

When we look at past actions from this government, I think of the Sask Party that let 2,000 social housing units sit empty, resulting in $10 million in lost revenue. 60 per cent above asking rate to let the Social Services clients stay at the Coachman Inn even though the ministry officials advised them not to use it.

So here is a pure example, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I live in northern Saskatchewan. During the course of the campaign, we went to places like Cumberland House, where I sat with the former mayor Kelvin McKay. We went through that community and looked at how many social housing units were boarded up.

We went into Sandy Bay. We heard stories of 14 and 16 people, up to three generations of families, living in a single household. We had a Minister of Rural and Remote Health today talk about tuberculosis and close contact. Well if one person comes back to northern Saskatchewan in an overcrowded house, guess where that spreads to. The entire community, Mr. Speaker.

Totally out of touch with the issues facing northern Saskatchewan. Absolutely shameful, when we look at the mismanagement and waste and what that has caused for the people of Saskatchewan.

Again we had the former minister of Social Services, now the chief of staff, talk to his office mate and ensure that he was well taken care of. There was multiple taxpayer dollars that went to jacked-up hotel rates in the Sunrise Motel scandal here in the city of Regina. When people can’t find access to housing, when they can’t find access to affordable social housing through the Saskatchewan housing authority and then the government profits off of their own negligence to maintain their properties, that is a clear violation of the rules.

Now when I look at the wildfire season last year, we had folks that were asking for more resources on the line every single day on the EOC [emergency operations centre] calls that I was sitting in on.

Then it was an absolute shock to me that the government broke its own procurement policies when they overspent $100 million on the procurement of water bomber planes in northern Saskatchewan . . .

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I would ask the member to withdraw that statement because at present it is an allegation only in regards to the spending of $100 million. That is to be proved in court. And so that is only an allegation, not a statement of fact.

Why is the member on their feet?

Nicole Sarauer: — Just for clarity, Mr. Speaker, can you explain exactly which rule the member opposite just violated in the ruling you just made?

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — What I would say is that matters that are before the court are only allegations, and so that is not to be seen as a statement of fact, which is what the member did. And so I will ask that to be withdrawn.

Jordan McPhail: — I withdraw that comment, Mr. Speaker. And so the alleged overspend of $100 million, yet to be proven in court.

But I will say that $100 million, Mr. Speaker, is almost the entire SPSA’s [Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency] budget from last year. Almost the entire thing. So when you think that what you could have done if you weren’t alleged to overspend $100 million — if it is proved that $100 million was overspent by this government — they could have quite literally doubled, almost doubled the SPSA rate.

Think of the amount of sprinklers, of wildland fire protection that you could offer municipalities, of FireSmarting, of putting more front-line resources. Thinking of the First Nations, the Métis, and northern people who have been fighting fires for decades, time immemorial. The Firekeepers of northern Saskatchewan have kept communities safe for time immemorial. They could have put them to work.

They could have given the people on the front line raises. We heard stories that there were people that were cooking the firefighters’ meals that were making more money than the firefighters themselves. That is shameful.

When we see this scandal, this mismanagement and waste of the members opposite for time and time and time again, it is absolutely 100 per cent clear to see that it is time for change here in the province of Saskatchewan.

Now, Mr. Speaker, for some of the members in here, they might not know the story, but I used to work as a cook up in one of the exploration mines. And I made about $250 a day when I was working in that exploration mine. Trying to find the world-class uranium all over northern Saskatchewan. I saw the hard work of individuals. They deserved limo rides all across this beautiful area, the amount of work that they had to do.

But I’m talking about limos, Mr. Deputy Speaker. The only time that I ever had the opportunity to sit in a luxury limo and enjoy a nice glass of champagne was on the way to my wedding day with my now wife. It’s the only time that I was in a limo, Mr. Speaker.

But that is not the case for the former minister of Environment, who decided to go into a $700‑a-day Mercedes-Benz chauffeured limo in Paris. He visited the Napoleon’s tomb during the working hours of a conference that he was meant to be attending. There was three people registered to stay in his hotel room when it should have been just him alone. Mr. Speaker, this again is an egregious breach of public trust that they put in us to spend their money responsibly.

When I am told to go to a conference, you can expect me to be there. I know there’s 27 members of this Assembly that sit on this side of the House that, when they are given the honour and the opportunity to attend conferences to learn about what makes this province great and what can make it better, that we will have our butts in the chairs at those conferences, listening to what can be better. We will not be driving around in fancy limousines on the public dime. It is just plain wrong, Mr. Speaker.

We see this time and time and time and time and time again from those members opposite. I am so glad that we’ve got the opportunity here today to talk about public trust with public dollars.

When we look at the Crown corporations, Mr. Speaker, I had the absolute honour and privilege to be a Local Unifor 2‑S member and work with SaskTel. We travelled over so many different parts of northern Saskatchewan in that time. I can think of sitting with some of our brothers in the Crown corps, in SaskPower, in some beautiful areas in the province. If no one’s ever been to Uranium City, absolutely amazing to see. Even if you go to a community close by in Fond-du-Lac, it looks totally different in Uranium City. Absolutely beautiful.

But when I’m talking about SaskPower, Mr. Speaker, the good people that are working there — the linesmen, the construction workers that are climbing those poles — they pay taxes, they pay their power bills no matter how high this government decides to jack them. And when they add $37 million to SaskPower’s bills because of the smart meter scandals that these folks had, that is a bill that eventually makes its way down to the consumer.

[11:15]

This government talks about taking things seriously. How can anyone in the province of Saskatchewan take any member of that government cabinet seriously when they talk about the affordability rates in the province, when they have squandered and lost so much money through scandals and lawsuits and you name it? Alleged overspending, Mr. Deputy Speaker, of $100 million on procurement of planes, and now breaking their own rules, breaking the New West Partnership Agreement, Mr. Speaker.

As a municipal councillor, when I was going through and looking at all of the different things that we needed to procure for our municipality, you would see things on different valuation limits for municipalities, for goods, for services, for all of these areas.

So again, Mr. Speaker, when we look at the amount of money that was lost, when we look at $731,000 to Gary Grewal’s motels — a former member of the government caucus — for the Social Services clients after he was elected, compared to $2,000 in 2018 and 2020, that is not a coincidence, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

What is clear, what is crystal clear and should be crystal clear for every single person living in Saskatchewan is that every one of the members opposite do not care about where the money is squandered. All they care about is making sure that their friends are taken care of, Mr. Speaker.

When I look into . . .

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — Why is the member on his feet?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — What’s your point of order?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Mr. Speaker, Rule 51(d) clearly says, a member shall not “reflect on the conduct of the Speaker or [any] other presiding officer.” Rule 51(f) says that the member shall not “make a personal charge or accusation against a Member . . .”

Mr. Speaker, the member from Cumberland has clearly done that on two occasions now. I would ask you to make him withdraw and apologize for his remarks.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I ask that the member would withdraw and apologize for that statement and do not impugn the character of members in anything further that you say.

Jordan McPhail: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I withdraw and apologize.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Cumberland.

Jordan McPhail: — Well thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess in closing I want to say how thankful I am that, when I took office nearly a year ago, that I worked with the great people who work in our building to ensure that our office was set up for success.

In doing so it has allowed me to stay focused on what matters to people, and having a constituency office that is able to handle casework from all over the province, from the beautiful people who call this province home — whether they tell me about the very real challenges they face in finding housing, or wanting justice for their family members who have been wronged by this government, or helping people navigate the services they deserve in our province.

I thank my CA [constituency assistant] for ensuring our office remains stable and able to handle all business in a manner that is with confidence and in confidence. It’s truly a relief to know that we keep our office simple. We keep our values centred on delivering for people in a responsible way without having to worry about how or who we have watching. The softest pillow in Saskatchewan is one of a clean conscience, Mr. Speaker, something that I know at least 27 of the members of this House have going to bed tonight.

With that, I will move the motion:

That the Assembly calls upon all members to ensure public dollars and resources are used in a responsible manner consistent with all rules, laws, and regulations while delivering good value for taxpayers.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — It has been moved by the member from Cumberland:

Is the Assembly ready for the question? I recognize the member from Cut Knife-Turtleford.

James Thorsteinson: — Well thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. All members of this Assembly are elected by their constituents with the understanding they will be mindful in the use of tax dollars that are spent. Though we may disagree on policy, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and have some spirited debates around those policies, at the end of the day we are all hon. members and working in the best interests of the people of Saskatchewan, despite the members opposite attempting to disparage both current and former members. That is why I am happy to enter into the 75‑minute debate today and talk about all the ways in which our government is doing exactly what is mentioned in the motion.

Responsible use of public funds isn’t just good government, Mr. Deputy Speaker. It is key to maintaining the trust and confidence of those we have the opportunity to represent. Ensuring that we are delivering good value for every penny spent is something this government takes very seriously. A perfect example of that is our ’26‑27 budget. In these uncertain times globally, it is imperative that every dollar spent is spent wisely and delivers value to the people of Saskatchewan. And that is precisely what this budget does.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, think of the value we see in health care, for example. Surely even the members opposite can see the value in continuing the Victoria Hospital expansion project in Prince Albert. This hospital serves a large portion of Saskatchewan, and this expansion will make it easier for the residents of northern Saskatchewan to receive the care they need in a location closer to home.

Think about the completion of the urgent care centre in Saskatoon and the expansion of the new urgent care centres to North Battleford, Prince Albert, and Moose Jaw. I know the residents of those communities and the surrounding areas can see the value in that.

Mr. Speaker, think about the largest long-term care facility project in the province, currently under construction right here in Regina. That is a good value for the future residents of that facility.

Think about the investment we’re making in the continued planning for the new hospital in Yorkton that will benefit not only the residents of Yorkton but a large portion of east central Saskatchewan. These are just a few of the projects that are a responsible use of public dollars and deliver good value for the taxpayers of Saskatchewan.

And, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that is just on the capital side of health care. We are also investing in the human side as well in a responsible manner that will provide outstanding value to the residents of our province. Let’s consider for a moment some of the investments we are making in increasing training seats for our medical professionals here in Saskatchewan.

We’re increasing the number of seats at the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan with an increased focus on Saskatchewan students as well as increasing the number of residency seats. We’re increasing the number of training seats for nurse practitioners and providing RNs [registered nurse] in the province a grant to enable them to more easily pursue their nurse practitioner training.

On top of that, we are adding training seats for the physician assistant program, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists — maybe I could use one — and respiratory therapists, Mr. Deputy Speaker. That is both responsible and valuable.

As well, Mr. Deputy Speaker, as was mentioned earlier today, how about the $3 million spent on the TB centre to prevent and treat tuberculosis across the province? Surely the members opposite can see that as responsible and valuable.

There is much more I could talk about on how we are investing in health care, but there are so many other ways in which we are investing in this province across government that is both responsible and valuable.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, few things deliver more value than investing in research. Conservative estimates place a return of over 30 to 1 for every dollar spent in research. Our government recognizes the immense value in the research done here in the province, and that is why we continue to invest in many different research projects all across Saskatchewan.

Facilities such as the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence; the Crop Development Centre; the Global Institute for Food Security, or GIFS; and the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, or VIDO, and many more organizations all continue to benefit from the investments our government is making in research. That is definitely a responsible use of taxpayer dollars and is of huge value to the residents of Saskatchewan.

Mr. Speaker, there is no better advocate for the province of Saskatchewan than our Premier, and recent trade missions to India and China have delivered immense value to the producers, agricultural producers, mining producers of our province, even though members opposite have come out and decried them on multiple occasions.

This Premier’s recent trips to China have reduced the tariffs on canola, which is great news for our canola producers across the province. His trip to India resulted in the pulse protein centre, which is a great opportunity for pulse producers in this province to get their peas and lentils into India and help serve those most vulnerable in India — children, pregnant women — to provide them with a reliable, safe source of protein as they go through their challenges.

Also the Cameco deal in India, which is $2.6 billion coming back to this province that is definitely more good value for the people of Saskatchewan. You take that, and with all the trade offices we’ve got around the world, it is huge value for all of Saskatchewan and our trade export and being able to get our product overseas into other markets. That is huge value for the residents of Saskatchewan and a very responsible use of money.

Mr. Speaker, this last budget invested heavily in policing. We are investing fully in the RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Police]. We are increasing the number of marshals across the province to go after those most dangerous and violent criminals, gangs, people who are trafficking in illegal guns and illicit drugs.

We are investing in more municipal police officers across the province in attempt to try and reduce crime. We are also investing in small towns and RMs [rural municipality] for their local policing with giving them a grant for their policing. If even one person is saved because of the increased policing in this province, that isn’t just value for your money, Mr. Speaker; that is invaluable.

Mr. Speaker, there are also ways in which we are very responsible and we have the mechanisms in place. We have the Provincial Auditor who looks at every ministry across government to ensure that every dollar is spent in a responsible manner. And we support the auditor, we support the auditor’s findings, and we implement the auditor’s findings.

We have the Public Accounts Committee, which I am happy to be the Deputy Chair of, Mr. Speaker, which is chaired by the member from Regina Mount Royal. And they look at that auditor’s findings and they go through it and they question the auditor. They question officials and they go through that. That is responsible, Mr. Speaker.

We have the Conflict of Interest Commissioner. We all file our Conflict of Interest Commissioner reports. They were due here the other day. And he goes through them and ensures that we are very on top and following the rules.

All of these items are just a few examples of how our government is ensuring public dollars are used responsibly and provide value to the province of Saskatchewan and its residents. And they’re all included in this year’s budget, a budget the members opposite voted against.

[11:30]

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Regina University.

Sally Housser: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m delighted today to rise on this motion from my wonderful colleague, the MLA for Cumberland:

Mr. Speaker, I’m going to talk a lot today about the importance of trust in our democratic institutions. I started my kind of, I guess, nascent career in politics as a parliamentary Page in the House of Commons way back in 1998. Now I’d visited the federal legislature, the House of Commons, before that. But working on the floor and serving all members of the legislature equally was honestly such a thrill and a really important beginning, set me very much on the path that I’ve been on since for better or for worse.

But one of the things that became so clear during that period of time, both for the Pages and what was expected of us, i.e. no partisanship; you had to serve every member of the legislature equally, regardless of where they were elected; had to be bilingual, of course, so you could serve all members in their official language. But also in terms of the ethics that were expected of us even at the ages of 17, 18, and 19. The importance of confidentiality. You heard all sorts of things behind the curtains and in the government and opposition lobbies.

And so that was very . . . The seriousness with which we were expected to take our jobs at that young age was really, really imparted onto us almost each and every day. But with that, obviously observing the House of Commons and the proceedings and the various different parties, it became clear how important that that public trust in their elected officials to do the right thing was at the cornerstone of everything that we were doing there in the House of Commons, Mr. Speaker.

And I was there during a time there was kind of . . . it was toward the end days of the Mulroney Airbus scandals and at the beginning days of the sponsorship scandal or Adscam. And you know, in addition to watching the proceedings in the House on those scandals and those issues, I was obviously more than casually aware of people talking about them and how it was perceived in the media, and the importance of elected officials and politicians being held to a higher standard, frankly.

And not just, you know, upholding the letter of the law, but you know, there’s . . . I honestly can’t remember where this quote comes from, but it’s often said that ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and doing what is right. And so the public has not just, you know, a real interest in how people behave, but it’s also you have to hold that higher standard of perception as well.

And going back to that kind of period of scandals — and this happens any time you have news of corruption or scandal or impropriety — is that the public at large has a view of “a pox on all of their houses; they are simply not here for us; they are all the same.”

And when we look at, you know, ever-increasing voter turnout numbers — not just in Saskatchewan but across Canada and really across the world — it is those type of issues that really erode people’s public trust and their desire to see themselves in their elected officials, and their ability to believe that things can and will get better and that politicians are there for them and not for themselves.

And this is . . . You know, for the history, as long as there’s been politics, there have been scandals and corruption. It’s not new but obviously it takes on a different tone in the era of the internet and social media. And you know, again this goes to kind of perhaps the ethics as opposed to actually corruption, is people also want to know that when an elected official is telling them something, that that thing is true.

And now there’s a very real and wide difference between spin, trying to put the best take on your political position or, you know, a policy announcement that you’ve made . . . You know, there’s a very real difference between political communications and spin, and simply not telling the truth. And that again is something that vastly erodes the public trust in their politicians.

You know, another quote — and this one I do know who it’s by — is Joe Biden: “Corruption is a cancer that eats away at a citizen’s faith in democracy.” And you know, this is why I think it’s so important, Mr. Speaker, that we truly reflect on the weight of what it is to be an elected official. The weight of the trust not only to represent the individual that has put you here, that has elected you, or the population as a whole that has elected a government or elected members of the opposition. Not just to advocate for you and that you will do so in good faith to the best of your ability, but also they need to know that the tax dollars — of which they pay a lot particularly since the PST [provincial sales tax] hike in 2017 — that the tax dollars are being used widely and prudently in a way that benefits the public the most.

And that goes not only for the priorities that a government sets. You know, I think the public really hates to see massive amounts of waste such as the AIMS [administrative information management system] scandal or the GTH [Global Transportation Hub] bypass boondoggle. You know, when you see costs ballooning . . . Even when we look at the recent reports of refurbishing the coal fire power plants, the population was told one thing, and we now see that that cost has gone through the stratosphere.

And so there’s that side. They want people to be honest. They know building things, doing things in government are going to cost money. But when you undersell what the reality is, again people go, why can I believe that anything is going to cost anything? And you see that now, honestly. When somebody says, oh, this is going to be the cost of this new project, people go, ah, no, it isn’t, right? And so why would I even bother paying attention?

But in addition to the larger coffers of a provincial government, people expect us to follow the regulations that exist in this, and again, not just to the letter but so that we can be perceived beyond reproach, that there is no perception of wrongdoing. That’s what people expect from us.

You know, people see us as — and we are — very privileged in terms of the jobs we have and then the fortune we have to represent people, and they want to know that you are behaving in a way that is honourable and respects their taxpayer money as well. And you know, going back to . . . I mean even if we look at the Devine era, there was 12 members of that Conservative government that were charged with fraud. It was so bad they had to rebrand as the Sask Party in order to move forward, Mr. Speaker. But you know, at that time, the damage that that did to the political process here in Saskatchewan I think was really immeasurable.

And so I think it behooves all of us here in this legislature to really kind of take a look internally, not just of . . . again going back to that quote, not just what you have the right to do, but what is in fact right to do, and hold ourselves to that standard collectively. There are regulations that have been put in place in this House. They are there for a reason. A lot of them were put in place after that Devine era and for good measure.

So you know, I think for respect for the voting public, for respect for this institution, Mr. Speaker, we should all follow that. And with that, Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to be speaking and supporting the motion from my hon. colleague and friend, the MLA for Cumberland. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Yorkton.

David Chan: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased today to speak to the motion before the House. Let me start off by saying that I agree with this motion. There’s nothing in it that is controversial. It says what everyone already believes, what everyone expects of public service. There’s no one in this Assembly that disagrees with what’s written in the motion. Government spending should be done in a responsible manner. Agreed. It should follow rules and laws. Agreed. And it should provide value to the public. Again, agreed.

However, Mr. Speaker, that’s a 30,000‑foot view of what it actually takes. In the real world, decisions have to be made against competing priorities. They must address real-world economic conditions, must work within constraints, and must make difficult determinations between trade-offs.

Governing responsibly is not done by merely making slogans or motions or applying critique void of context. It is done in making decisions — often difficult ones — under pressure with real consequences for the people we serve, and owning those decisions. But, Mr. Speaker, that’s what our government is good at.

Our approach to governing has always been guided by a few core principles. First, the government does not create wealth; it manages the resources generated by the people and businesses of this province. And that means every dollar entrusted to us must be treated with care and discipline and purpose.

Second, that government must be effective but not excessive. That means government is not the solution to every problem. More government is not necessarily the answer. Instead, government must be focused, efficient, and deliberate in how it operates and how it spends.

And third, that responsible spending is not simply about limiting costs, it’s about making the right investments — investments that enable growth, that strengthen communities, and ensure long-term stability. And if there’s one thing that this government is, it is stable.

These are not just some fancy ideas. These are principles that shape how we make decisions day in and day out. But, Mr. Speaker, it’s not enough to simply have principles or even to simply keep them. We don’t operate in a vacuum and we don’t just do whatever we want according to our whims. We operate within systems of accountability that are embedded in the structure of our institution. We operate within systems that hold us accountable, and these are non-partisan systems that ensure public dollars are scrutinized, reviewed, and spent appropriately. So let’s mention a few of these systemic safeguards.

I’m on the Public Accounts Committee. The Public Accounts Committee is made up of members from both sides of the House, provides ongoing oversight of government spending, and reviews the work of the auditor — the auditor and her team, who are independent of government. Through that process, we’re not only subject to scrutiny, we participate in it.

And I’m proud of what I’ve seen from our government and I’ll stand by it any day. Our ministers and ministries engage with the findings of the auditor. We respond to recommendations. We either comply or we make progress consistently towards strengthening accountability, transparency, and best practices.

We have also an independent Conflict of Interest Commissioner who ensures that members are held to clear, ethical standards. We have a Board of Internal Economy which governs the rules related to members’ expenditures. And importantly, Mr. Speaker, the board is not controlled by one side. It includes representation from across this Assembly. By design it is non-partisan.

We also have the Legislative Assembly Service, which administers and oversees expenditures to ensure they are processed and managed within established rules. So when we speak about responsible use of public funds, we’re not just speaking in the abstract. We are not speaking about a rogue government that can do whatever it wants. We are speaking about a government that subjects itself to a system, one that is structured, accountable, and committed to continuously improving.

But, Mr. Speaker, good governance and responsible spending is not only about rules and systems. It is also about results. So let’s talk value for a moment. And this is where I believe we need to bring clarity to another phrase in this motion: “good value for taxpayers.” Value is not defined simply in what is spent, by how much or how little. It’s defined in what that spending actually produces. What do you get for it? What do we get for the money that we spend?

[11:45]

Mr. Speaker, they say you can tell a lot about what a person values based on their spending. Well let’s apply that to our government. If you were only to look at our track record and what we’ve achieved, there are a number of things you could infer about the value this government seeks to create for the taxpayer dollars it spends.

You could easily infer that, to this government, value means constructing an economic environment that attracts investment and creates opportunity. That’s why there are 60 major private capital projects in this province, valued at over $60 billion in investment. Unprecedented across Canada. A milestone achievement in our province’s own history. That’s why we have the highest real GDP [gross domestic product] growth and the second-highest credit rating across Canada.

Value means ensuring that infrastructure supports growth and productivity. That’s why this year’s budget invests a record 4.3 billion into infrastructure, the largest infrastructure investment in our province to date. That infrastructure, in addition to highways and transportation networks, includes energy infrastructure, communication infrastructure, water security, and it also includes schools, hospitals, and post-secondary institutions that develop our labour force.

Because value, Mr. Speaker, also means strengthening services so that people can live, work, and raise their families with confidence in their communities. For the people that I represent, the people of Yorkton, Mr. Speaker, that value is not just words. It’s not just hypothetical. It’s tangible. It’s real.

For example, Suncrest College is one of the beneficiaries of the largest ever investment by our government into operational funding, with a 3 per cent lift each year for the next five years. This funding is critical, Mr. Speaker, because it provides stability for planning, growth, and effective programming. That’s our government recognizing the crucial role post-secondary institutions like Suncrest College play in producing a skilled workforce and partnering with them to see real results for our province, for our businesses, for our industries, and for our students.

Let’s continue. Funding for Yorkton’s SaskAbilities’ dementia friendly life enrichment program, a program that helps so many families and individuals living with dementia. Mr. Speaker, that’s value.

A strong 50 per cent funding commitment to Grain Millers Drive, not a provincial road but a crucial economic corridor nonetheless within the jurisdiction of a local RM. Again value, Mr. Speaker.

Dropping the community share for our new hospital from 35 per cent to 20 per cent to now 10 per cent. Mr. Speaker, for the folks in Yorkton, that’s value. In the tens of millions, I might add.

Expanding the rural physician incentive program to Yorkton to help recruit and retain more doctors. Mr. Speaker, for my constituents, for the ones who are looking for doctors, that’s value.

The patients-first health care plan, an incredible plan put forward by this government. It puts aggressive funding towards getting more nurse practitioners offering primary care. Funding and policies that remove barriers empowers nurse practitioners to work to the full scope of their training, empowers nurse practitioners to lead team-based primary care clinics, gives them the same opportunities as physicians to offer care to seniors, dramatically expands the nurse practitioner training seats in our province, and more.

Mr. Speaker, that’s just one aspect of this plan. And that’s going to mean better access, better care, reduced bottlenecks, shorter wait times. Mr. Speaker, that’s not just throwing dollars at a problem. That’s leveraging existing capacity and maximizing return. That is dollars getting results. Again, Mr. Speaker, value.

I’ll continue: $357,000 in municipal police grants to put boots on the ground in Yorkton. That’s tangible improvement to community safety, as well as intersecting safety with mental health support for our most vulnerable. That’s value.

I could go on, Mr. Speaker. I could go on about the affordability measures, the increased tax exemptions, the lower provincial income taxes, increasing your supplement. Again, all value.

So yes, Mr. Speaker, we agree with the principle in this motion. But let’s be clear: responsible government is not in statements like this. It’s in how the government operates every day through discipline, prudent decisions, through systems of accountability, and commitment to continuous improvement, and through real results for the people that we serve, results that I’ve just highlighted from my own constituency.

Mr. Speaker, this government does more than just talk about value. We deliver it. Every budget, every year. We don’t just call for responsibility; we practise it. We embrace the weight of responsibility of making real decisions, and that is a standard we will continue to uphold for the people of Yorkton and for the people of all Saskatchewan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Silverspring.

Hugh Gordon: — Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. It’s a pleasure to be on my feet to engage in this debate today, an important debate I think we would all agree. And where I’d like to start I think, Mr. Speaker, is members of the opposite side always like to go back 30 years ago and talk about what a horrendous time it was in the ’90s. And I’d like to discuss one of those very interesting moments.

In April of 1995, the Saskatchewan RCMP charged 12 former Progressive Conservative MLAs, two caucus staff workers, with fraud in a scheme that ran from 1987 to 1991. Project Fiddle was tasked with looking into a scheme whereby the government caucus agreed to pool a portion of their communications allowance into a central account. The party’s director of communications siphoned cash from this account and stashed it in safety deposit boxes. Another former staffer alleged that this was common knowledge and that if you needed money, all you had to do was just go to this director of communications.

Members of the Devine government treated this fund like their own personal ATMs [automated teller machine]. Former cabinet ministers and MLAs spent tens of thousands of dollars on personal expenditures, everything from vacations to Hawaii to personally embroidered saddles. Money was distributed through invoices from a series of shell companies, of all things, for services that were never rendered or expenses that were illegitimate. Overall the fraudulent expense claims totalled approximately $837,000.

Police were first alerted to the scheme in 1991 when a legislative Clerk reported suspicious activities. In 1992 bank officials drilled into an unclaimed safety deposit box that contained $150,000. The box was addressed to the PC [Progressive Conservative] caucus office in the Saskatchewan legislature. Nineteen staff or MLAs were charged in the scheme and 15 were convicted, including 10 cabinet members and a caucus Chair, with many serving jail time.

The director of communications was sentenced to two years in prison. A former MLA, whose defence claimed that he was too financially incompetent to have committed fraud, was sentenced to 18 months. The stiffest sentence went to a former caucus Chair at three and a half years. Many other PC party members were convicted in the scandal. Sadly a former cabinet minister died by suicide in 1995 when he learned that, in addition to testifying against his colleagues, that he too would be arrested.

So complete was this humiliation the PCs had to merge with the provincial Liberals and change their name to the Saskatchewan Party. You know, Mr. Speaker, this case was so horrendous it continues to serve as a warning to every elected member, not just in this Assembly but in this country. When people of this province learn of unscrupulous dealings on the part of their elected representatives, they rightly get concerned. They ask questions and demand that their representatives be held to account.

These were the kinds of cases that I worked on as a commercial crime investigator in the RCMP. And even though Project Fiddle was before my time, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I carried on with this kind of work in the commercial crime unit in Saskatoon. One of the first cases I worked on involved a multi-year investigation of numerous elected officials who had misappropriated money from their community.

Speaking from experience, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I can tell you these investigations can be quite complex. They take a long time to investigate. They involve witness interviews, production orders, search warrants, and reems of documents that require hours, days, and weeks of careful, painstaking analysis. Such was the work that I did with some joy and a good deal of satisfaction, Mr. Deputy Speaker, because when my investigation was complete, I could with some certainty know that the charges that were laid were likely to lead to a conviction, and that some measure of justice would be sought for the members of the community or the victims of this kind of offence.

You know, Mr. Speaker, when we’re elected as representatives of our communities, we are entrusted with the solemn obligation to shepherd the money and the assets of our communities in a responsible way. We are indeed public trustees. And when an elected official abuses the money and the assets entrusted to them to safeguard, it’s more than the trust with our communities that has been broken. It’s more than some moral or ethical line that has been crossed. It can very well indeed be a legal one as well.

And this case that I mentioned, like the PC expense scandal before it, was no different. In that case, nine individuals were charged with either fraud over or theft over $5,000 and breach of trust under section 336 of the Criminal Code.

I went on to work on several other fraud cases involving elected officials and the like. And in one such case for which he was convicted, I recall asking the elected official under investigation, “As a leader of your community, who’s responsibility is it to ensure that your community’s financial interests are protected?” And his answer to me was, that’s a pretty good question.

No kidding. Unfortunately for him, that was a pretty bad answer. And apparently the judge agreed, and that man was given a three-year sentence for defrauding his community of vital monies that were earmarked to help people in his community.

Now with that PC expense scandal, you would think that the lessons to each of us as elected representatives would still have some relevance and some significance. So when a member of this Assembly doesn’t follow the rules set out by the Board of Internal Economy or LAS [Legislative Assembly Service], things can cross a line, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

When they clearly violate conflict-of-interest rules, like when a government member gives inside information to a business associate on an impending land deal or when a cabinet minister uses their position to influence foreign investors to put money into their own business, not only have they crossed a line with respect to any rules or policies that this Assembly has put forth, but they are most likely going to spur the start of a project called F-something-or-other, started by the RCMP. Maybe project fraudster would be the next appropriate title.

And when dollars aren’t being used for personal gain, we have seen — as we’ve seen several examples mentioned by the member from Cumberland — where this government has not responsibly shepherded taxpayers’ money to ensure the money went towards its intended purpose or that some semblance of value was secured for the taxpayer.

But yet our obligation to the taxpayers and the people of this province remains the same as it ever was. Their money is not our money. It isn’t the Premier’s or the Finance minister’s money. It isn’t any other minister’s money, for that matter. Our solemn obligation, Mr. Deputy Speaker, remains the same. Are we getting value for the taxpayer, for the people of Saskatchewan? And is that money going towards its intended purpose?

So much money has been wasted by this government. It hasn’t happened all at once. It has come in chunk after wasteful chunk, each time costing the taxpayers of this province more and more money. So poor have been the decisions by this government in health care, in education, in botched contracts, in general operations, I would dare say that borders on criminal — not literally, Mr. Deputy Speaker, but figuratively.

And the people of this province see it. They’re living with the consequences of it. Every time they go to an ER [emergency room] in rural Saskatchewan or drop their kids off at a school, they see it. Every dollar this government adds to the provincial debt, that burden grows larger. So when one of us in this Assembly plays fast and loose with our expense accounts, when we submit for payments to things we know we aren’t entitled to, when we try to take just a little bit more for ourselves and hope that no one else will notice, we give all members of this Assembly a bad name. The public wonders, have you no decency? And they will rightly question, for whose benefit are we governing?

You know, Mr. Speaker, at a time when we have people living on the streets, when children go hungry, when those in need can’t get access to health care or for treatment for mental health and addictions, the decisions we make in this Assembly can literally have life-and-death consequences. All of us in this Assembly have a duty to these people before ourselves, before our parties. If we allow one of us to breach this trust, then it has been breached for all of us. This cannot stand.

And just because the cop hasn’t caught you, doesn’t mean it’s still okay to keep doing what you were doing. We must be better than that, Mr. Speaker. It is, after all, our solemn obligation. Thank you.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Dakota-Arm River.

Barret Kropf: — Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I’m pleased to rise today to speak to the motion put forward by the members opposite. And I want to begin by saying something that may surprise the opposition. I agree with this motion almost word for word.

[12:00]

It said every member of this Assembly should ensure public dollars are used responsibly, consistent with all rules, laws, and regulations, delivering good value for taxpayers. Absolutely, Mr. Deputy Speaker. A great motion, except I would say, delivering great value, not just good value. That’s exactly what the people of Dakota-Arm River sent me here to do, and that’s what the people of this entire province expect all 61 of us to do.

The question before us today is not whether we agree on that principle; it’s which party actually is delivering on it. And I would submit, Mr. Speaker, that the 2026‑27 budget, tabled by the Minister of Finance, does exactly that. It protects Saskatchewan families with record investment in health care, education, community safety, and infrastructure without raising taxes and without cutting services.

So let’s talk about what this budget delivers, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and let me speak to what taxpayers are getting in terms of great value when it comes to our patients-first health care plan, a record $8.5 billion investment in health care, the largest in the province’s history. The patients-first health care plan is connecting every Saskatchewan resident to a primary care provider and reducing surgery wait times to three months by 2028. The largest expansion of nurse practitioners in provincial history; 500 addiction treatment spaces being completed; $1.9 million for hospital public safety teams in Regina, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert.

When it comes to the education and how we’re adding great value with this budget, Mr. Deputy Speaker, $2.5 billion in school operating funding, up 62 million from previous years. New schools in the Martensville-Warman multi-use school, the Shellbrook school, and the major renovation in Esterhazy. The $10‑a-day child care agreement that’s been renewed. A new multi-year post-secondary funding agreement — 3 per cent annual increases over the next four years. Those are great values being added to Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker.

When it comes to affordability: $200 million in personal income tax relief, which means no tax on your first $65,000 in household income; over $2.5 billion in annual affordability measures; the small-business tax held back 1 per cent.

Then let’s talk about great value when it comes to infrastructure in our communities: $4.3 billion capital budget, one of the largest in Saskatchewan’s history; $417 million for highway infrastructure, improving 850 kilometres of highway this year; a record $392.4 million in municipal revenue sharing, more than triple what it was in 2007; $310 million supporting RCMP and First Nations policing.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, that’s what responsible use of public dollars looks like, and that’s what delivering value for taxpayers looks like.

Now let me expose the NDP’s contradiction. Mr. Deputy Speaker, the members opposite bring forward this motion about responsible spending, and let’s talk about what they’ve actually been asking for. In the weeks leading up to this budget, what did the NDP demand? More spending on health care, more spending on education, a freeze on power rates, a cut to the gas tax, more money for policing, more support for housing. And yet when the budget came forward, a budget that invested in every single one of those areas, Mr. Deputy Speaker, every member opposite voted against it — every single one. They voted against it 33 to 18.

Mr. Speaker, let me be clear with what a no vote on this budget means. Eighteen members opposite voted against record health care investment. They voted against new schools for Saskatchewan families. They voted against $200 million in income tax relief. They voted against record municipal revenue sharing for communities across the province. They voted against 850 kilometres for highway improvements. And now they stand and lecture this side of the House about responsible use of public dollars.

You cannot simultaneously demand the government spend more, then criticize them for spending. You have to pick one lane, Mr. Deputy Speaker. The NDP wants to have it both ways, and Saskatchewan people see through it. I invite any member opposite to stand in this House today and tell us specifically which of those investments would they cut. Which school would they cancel? Which hospital bed would they take away? Which community would lose their revenue sharing? We never get the answer, Mr. Speaker, because they don’t have one.

When it comes to fiscal responsibility in this context, Mr. Deputy Speaker, let me address the deficit directly because the members opposite want to talk about the numbers without any context. Yes, we are projecting an $819 million deficit. We’re honest about that, and the reason is straightforward. We are operating in period of unprecedented global insecurity — American tariffs, the conflict in the Middle East, volatile energy markets. Every province in this country is facing these pressures.

But here’s what sets Saskatchewan apart. Our per capita deficit is the second lowest in the nation. We are one of the few provinces in Canada with a detailed year-by-year plan to return to surplus by 2030‑31.

Our budget uses a conserve oil price assumption, and independent analysts at RBC [Royal Bank of Canada] and Scotiabank have noticed that this gives us a material revenue upside. Saskatchewan remains the second-least indebted province in Canada. That is what fiscal responsibility looks like: being transparent with the public about the challenges, making smart investments in the priorities, and charting a clear path back to balance.

Here’s what we get for value in our communities, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak briefly about what good value for taxpayers means in Dakota-Arm River and across rural Saskatchewan because this budget isn’t just numbers on a page; it’s real investment in real communities.

The rural integrated roads for growth program received an additional $2 million, now at 20.4 million. That matters when my constituents are driving on the highways every day. The highway infrastructure of $417 million is improving safety and connectivity for the 45 communities that I represent.

$42 million in school preventative maintenance and renewal funding specifically for divisions outside of Regina and Saskatoon. Police grants up to $8.6 million including support for SCAN [safer communities and neighbourhoods] in small-town and rural police grants. Over $8 million for MRS [municipal revenue sharing] into Dakota-Arm River. That’s real protection for my rural families, Mr. Speaker. And that’s value and rural Saskatchewan sees it.

We also have incredible value in provincial investments. We have used our trade offices to not only attract export opportunities for Saskatchewan businesses, but those trade offices have also fostered relationships and helped us build trade policy that’s one of the best in the world.

It’s been stated many times in the last month in this Chamber that we have over 60 projects being invested in here in Saskatchewan worth over $62 billion. So do our investment and trade offices count as wise stewardship of provincial resources? Absolutely. The $12 billion data centre with Bell kick-starts us into the AI [artificial intelligence] space, letting the world know that we are innovators.

On Tuesday I was with the Minister of Trade and Export in Saskatoon at the University of Saskatchewan to watch the announcement of quanTA [Quantum Topology and Its Applications], the first of its kind quantum computer in any Canadian university, Mr. Speaker. It is a brilliant, worthwhile investment to intersect with the other world-class research projects at the U of S, and it will allow data that we are gathering with our current research projects to put that data on steroids and help shape the future in innovation.

Innovation is attracting innovation. We are the Silicon North. That, Mr. Speaker, is how our government is giving incredible value to our provincial resources.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, this motion asks all members to ensure public dollars and resources are used responsibly and deliver good value. I could not agree more. And I’m proud to be part of a government that is doing exactly that: investing in health care, investing in education, investing in infrastructure, making life more affordable, keeping taxes low, and charting a responsible path back to balance.

The members opposite voted against every one of those investments. They demand more spending and then criticize the spending. They offer no alternatives, no costed plan, no specifics. They want to lecture us about fiscal responsibility from a party whose last government closed 52 hospitals, sold Crown assets, and left this province stagnant. Saskatchewan people know the difference between the government that invests in the future and an opposition that just complains about it.

I will be supporting this motion, Mr. Speaker, because this government is delivering exactly what it describes: responsible, effective, great-value investment in the people and communities of Saskatchewan. Thank you.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — The 65‑minute period has expired. The 10‑minute question-and-answer period will begin. I recognize the member from Martensville-Blairmore.

Hon. Jamie Martens: — To the member from Saskatoon Silverspring: this government’s 2026‑27 budget includes investments into important health care and education facilities for communities like Saskatoon. Do you agree that these investments represent good value for taxpayers’ money? And why did you vote against it?

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Silverspring.

Hugh Gordon: — Okay, Mr. Speaker, I don’t agree with spending three times as much on financing the debt you guys have racked up — they have racked up, Mr. Deputy Speaker — than we do on policing services in this province. And we’ve been warning this government, Mr. Deputy Speaker, for years about their waste and mismanagement. And we could not, and I could not, in good conscience support a government that put us one extra dollar further into debt. It’s a lack of priorities.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Cumberland.

Jordan McPhail: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. To the member from Yorkton: does he think it was okay for the Minister of Health to accept his Christmas bonus cheque for $2,000 for his business even after being warned by the Conflict of Interest Commissioner?

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I’m going to rule that question out of order and ask that you pose another question.

Jordan McPhail: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the member from Yorkton: why did the government need to pay $12 million to Brandt so they would sign an NDA [nondisclosure agreement] about the CNIB [Canadian National Institute for the Blind] scandal?

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Yorkton.

David Chan: — Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. You know, this conversation, this debate is really about being a responsible government, getting good value for taxpayer dollars. And if you look at the record of this government, if you look at our track record, you can see that what we’ve done over our five-term government is build a strong economy that works for, you know, that’s benefiting everyone and that’s providing money for us to invest in services. And I’m proud of the record that this government has.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Last Mountain-Touchwood.

Travis Keisig: — Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. To the member from Saskatoon Silverspring: do you believe our government’s multi-year funding agreement with post-secondary institutions that allows these institutions to cap their tuition increase to zero to 3 per cent is good value for taxpayers?

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Silverspring.

Hugh Gordon: — What isn’t a good value for taxpayers, Mr. Speaker, is when a government doesn’t prioritize our post-secondary education and support our students right from the very beginning. We’re seeing layoffs at Sask Poly. This is going to deeply affect our economic outlook and the ability to attract bright minds in this province. So no, you’re not doing a good job on that.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recommend . . . I recognize the member from Regina — and I always forget — Regina University.

Sally Housser: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I do come highly recommended all the time.

To the member from Yorkton: does the member from Yorkton agree that in order to maintain public trust that the letter of the legislative regulations must be followed? And that when it’s identified that those regulations are in breach, that immediate action must be taken to rectify that?

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Yorkton.

David Chan: — Mr. Speaker, I first want to start off by saying that we are all hon. members. And we have systems in place, independent oversight of the Legislative Assembly, the Public Accounts, the auditor. And as I mentioned in our speech, our government actively participates in those systems. We take the auditor’s recommendations. We comply with the commissioner’s recommendations, the commissioner’s rulings. And so we participate in these systems. We don’t operate in a vacuum. And I’m proud to stand by what this government has on its record.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Martensville-Blairmore.

Hon. Jamie Martens: — Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. To the member from Saskatoon Silverspring: do you agree with this government’s municipal revenue-sharing system that delivers good value for Saskatchewan taxpayers with no-strings-attached funding for municipalities?

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Silverspring.

Hugh Gordon: — Mr. Speaker, this government has got a pretty poor record supporting our municipalities when they pulled the grant funding from them in 2016, when they’ve downloaded more and more costs onto them, expecting them to deal with homelessness, to deal with addictions, deal with mental health. Little to no supports for them for that, Mr. Speaker.

This is also a government that expects them to build schools faster but cut the capital budget, and a government, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that wanted to compete with the city of Regina for Costco for their own GTH. Thank you.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Cumberland.

Jordan McPhail: — Well thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the member from Dakota-Arm River. How many hundreds of millions of dollars were spent on AIMS before you thought it had gone too far?

[12:15]

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Dakota-Arm River.

Barret Kropf: — Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. And thank you for the question from the member opposite. When it comes to the deficiencies that are in the game plan of this debate today, we’re not going to dip down into . . . We’re going to continue to talk about the strength of our budget that we just put forward that they decided to vote against, and we’re going to make sure that we continue to protect the families of Saskatchewan.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Last Mountain-Touchwood.

Travis Keisig: — Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. To the member from Saskatoon Silverspring: if you support the responsible use of public dollars, how do you justify opposing a budget that delivers clear, positive outcomes for Saskatchewan families including new schools, expanded health care capacity, and major affordability measures?

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Silverspring.

Hugh Gordon: — Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. This coming from a member of the opposite side that gerrymandered a contract to take away valuable jobs from a local business, an entire contract . . .

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I’m sorry. The conversation around gerrymandering, that needs to be withdrawn and apologized for.

Hugh Gordon: — I withdraw and apologize, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Silverspring.

Hugh Gordon: — This coming from a government that decided to end 60 good-paying jobs in Saskatchewan and added a contract onto the backs of the Saskatchewan taxpayers with additional tire fees. I will not be taking lessons from the opposite side.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Regina University.

Sally Housser: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Can the member from Yorkton tell me how he feels about the government having paid nuns $11,000 an acre for their land and Sask Party insiders $103,000 an acre for that same land?

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Yorkton.

David Chan: — Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I thank the member opposite for the question. Our government takes accountability and transparency very seriously, and that’s why we work within the systems that are built in, embedded into the structure of this institution.

And we do that day in and day out. We make complex decisions. And what we don’t do is we don’t reduce complex administrative matters into simplistic conclusions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Martensville-Blairmore.

Hon. Jamie Martens: — Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. To the member from Saskatoon Silverspring: do you believe that a new joint-use high school in Martensville and Warman, plus a new pre-K to 12 [pre-kindergarten to grade 12] school in Shellbrook, and a major renovation in Esterhazy High School are projects to give good value to taxpayers’ dollars?

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Silverspring.

Hugh Gordon: — Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Thank you for the question. We on this side believe that we need to empower our school boards to make those decisions and also to help support and fund those decisions.

We need a government, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that is actually capable of planning for these kinds of facilities well in advance so that by the time they build a school — maybe, hopefully, perhaps one day in Brighton — when it opens it is not literally bursting at the seams like Sylvia Fedoruk School in my riding. Thank you.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Cumberland.

Jordan McPhail: — Well thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the member from Yorkton. Do you believe that your government followed all policies and procedures when they allegedly overspent $100 million on water bombers in the North?

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the member from Yorkton.

David Chan: — Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the member opposite for the question. You know, the question is about public trust, and it’s about whether the public can trust this government. And I want to say that trust is something that’s built through working within those systems of accountability. It’s built through structure, and it’s built through showing up consistently.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — The 75‑minute debate period has expired.

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ PUBLIC BILLS AND ORDERS

ADJOURNED DEBATES

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ MOTIONS

Motion No. 1 — Support for Development of Pipeline to West Coast

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by Barret Kropf.]

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — It is my duty pursuant to rule 27 to advise the Assembly that this item of business has been previously adjourned three times and cannot be further adjourned. At the conclusion of the debate or at the normal time of adjournment, whichever is reached first, every question that’s necessary to dispose of this motion shall be put.

I recognize the member from Cannington.

Daryl Harrison: — Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Building a pipeline to tidewater is imperative to get Western Canadian oil to world markets. Having this access will ensure the energy the world needs is available and provided in a safe and reliable manner.

Oil produced right here in Saskatchewan is some of the most sustainably produced anywhere on the planet. A pipeline to the West Coast is the safest and most efficient way to deliver oil and oil products to port. A pipeline is far less carbon intensive than either rail or truck.

There’s a saying — keep the grain on the train and the oil in the pipeline. Our farmers are growing more crops than ever before, and the best way to move our crops to market is rail. Removing oil off rail and into a pipeline will free up capacity on rail and allow additional room for crops. That’s Saskatchewan producers feeding the world.

In addition to having more capacity for grains, there will be increased capacity for potash. Potash from our rapidly growing industry — the new BHP mine at Jansen and the expansion of the K+S mine at Bethune, just to name a couple.

In recent weeks, world events show the importance of energy security. Oil is a primary energy source powering well over 90 per cent of global transportation, not to mention electrical generation, heating, and it’s used in almost every product we have in our daily lives. World oil demand continues to grow, and we have the fuel they need. The issue: getting our most sustainably, ethically produced oil in the world to the countries and people that need it. A pipeline to the West Coast will do just that.

The recent NDP leadership convention and their newly elected leader, Avi Lewis, have made their position very clear, Mr. Deputy Speaker. They will not support new pipelines and they will stop any expansion of the oil industry.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, the opposition NDP leader can write all the letters she wants trying to run away from her federal leader and the NDP policies, but they are in lockstep, lockstep with their federal allies. They are firmly joined at the hip. The NDP are not working for Saskatchewan.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, I mention the federal NDP because no matter how many letters the Leader of the Opposition writes, article 2.1 of their constitution directly shows that membership in their provincial party automatically puts one in the federal NDP as well. The NDP in Ottawa is the same NDP as is in Regina.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Saskatchewan is a landlocked province, and we rely on transportation networks to get our goods to market. These networks include rail, highways, and yes, pipelines. Our oil industry here in Saskatchewan has been marketing oil at discounted prices of up to $20 per barrel for decades, largely to geography.

Being a landlocked province, our discounted oil has cost the province jobs and growth in the oil industry. It’s cost the province economically, lost revenue for the province — lost revenue that could have been used to build hospitals, long-term care homes, and schools. Projects that invest in the province and provide a better quality of life for the people of this great province. Hard to believe the NDP don’t want to stand up and work for the people of Saskatchewan.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, the member from Regina Elphinstone — this is Facebook quotes: “The tar sands are a bleeping nightmare. Period.” Another quote from the same member, Mr. Deputy Speaker: “Any political agenda that takes climate change seriously doesn’t have space for the KM Trans Mountain expansion, and most regular people understand this intuitively.”

Just one more for good measure, Mr. Deputy Speaker: “If our society relies on a destructive, finite resource, boom-bust economy to fix income inequality, well this is a problem, but is not a reason to keep pumping oil.”

Mr. Deputy Speaker, the majority of Western Canadian oil is shipped to the US [United States], a market, I might add, that is already exporting oil at a rate of roughly 4 million barrels per day. Mr. Deputy Speaker, does it make sense to sell oil into a market that produces more than it consumes?

We need to look at direct market expansion. This expansion requires a pipeline to West Coast ports, making our oil accessible to every country around the world. And creating competition would shrink the discount between West Texas Intermediate and Western Canada Select crudes. This would benefit our province and grow our oil industry here in Saskatchewan. It’s time to build our pipeline capacity and stop leaving money on the table.

As I said, Mr. Deputy Speaker, oil is a critical industry here in the province. I spent over 30 years in that very same industry. And it has helped make our communities thrive in not only my communities in southeast Saskatchewan, in Cannington, but up in the Southwest — the member from Cypress — and up in the Lloydminster area, up in the west central. It is critical. It provides jobs, provides for families to raise our kids in such a dynamic community. There’s generations of workers that work not only on pipelines, but in the operations, the drilling, the servicing, the dirt movers, Mr. Deputy Speaker. It is critical to keep those jobs going.

Far too long have we left that money on the table, Mr. Deputy Speaker. That discount between WTI [West Texas Intermediate] and Western Canada Select is very, very . . . We’re leaving money on the table, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and we could use that money right here in the province.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, the new federal leader is very much against most of what Saskatchewan . . . Mr. Deputy Speaker, the new leader of the federal NDP party will grant federal approvals for no new pipelines, offshore oil products, or liquefied natural gas terminals. Instead a large-scale investment to build a coast-to-coast clean energy grid, promoting new renewable energy exports between provinces and reducing economic dependence in the US, and to propel the rapid decarbonization of our economy.

Mr. Speaker, that doesn’t speak to growing Saskatchewan’s economy at all. And the Leader of the Opposition should be ashamed to throw her support in with the federal leader.

[12:30]

Mr. Deputy Speaker, the new leader also believes that the oil and gas companies should pay for his bold agenda and go after fossil fuel companies that have made extraordinary profits at our collective expense. An Avi-led NDP will push back against Trump and his tariffs with a tax on oil and gas exports to the US, and institute a windfall profits tax to help finance the energy transition and sustainable jobs.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, as I said before, I spent over 30 years in the oil and gas sector . . . Mr. Deputy Speaker, if they don’t mind, I’d like to carry on. But if they want to chatter . . . Mr. Deputy Speaker, I proudly worked over 30 years in the oil and gas industry. It has provided well for me and my family and several other generations in my corner of the province.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, I’ve worked in the tank trucking industry. We’ve imported oil from the US into Canada back in some days. I’ve worked in the battery operating field, the blending field and, Mr. Speaker, I’ve met so many wonderful people, some hard-working people that I don’t think the members opposite respect at all. Mr. Deputy Speaker, as I said, it’s been a tremendous opportunity for me and my family to work in the oil field of southeast Saskatchewan. And that’s a story that can be repeated across the entire province.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, oil and gas revenue here in the province allows us to . . .

[Interjections]

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I’m just going to call for order. And I’m only going to call for it once. Thank you.

Daryl Harrison: — Mr. Deputy Speaker, oil and gas revenue helps pay for our patients-first health care plan. It helps pay for our nurse practitioner access province-wide. It helps with the expanded training. Mr. Deputy Speaker, it also pays for help to train additional nurse practitioners here in the province, Saskatchewan-born and raised nurse practitioners going to school.

We’ve increased the new target by 13 at the U of S. We’ve . . .

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — Member from Saskatoon Meewasin, I did ask you to come to order and I expect that will happen. Thank you. I recognize the member from Cannington.

Daryl Harrison: — Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. As I said, the increased training seats at the U of S for nurse practitioners, an increase of 13, so a total of 35 at the U of S. The U of R [University of Regina] and Sask Poly, also an increase of 13 more seats from the current 35 for a total of 48. Overall training increase in the province, Mr. Deputy Speaker, is 26. That’s 83 training seats annually here in the province, and that’s something that oil and gas helps pay for, and that’s why we need a pipeline to the West Coast.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, I love Canadian oil and gas, and I love pipelines. I support the motion moved by my friend and colleague, the member from Dakota-Arm River:

That this Assembly call upon the Government of Saskatchewan to support the development of a new Canadian pipeline to carry Saskatchewan and Albertan oil to the West Coast of Canada.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — The question before the Assembly is a motion by the member from Dakota-Arm River. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — Carried. Call in the members.

[The division bells rang from 12:35 until 12:41.]

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — The question before the Assembly is a motion by the member for Dakota-Arm River. All those in favour of the motion please stand.

[Yeas — 53]

Moe

Gartner

Marit

Cockrill

Reiter

Hindley

Harrison, J.

Schmalz

Jenson

Weger

Keisig

Martens

Wilson

Beaudry

Rowden

Ross

McLeod, T.

Carr

Crassweller

Steele

Young, C.

Harrison, D.

Weedmark

Kropf

Patterson

Bromm

Hilbert

Chan

Thorsteinson

Kasun

Beck

Ritchie

Burki

Wotherspoon

Love

Teed

Young, A.

Clarke

Laliberte

McPhail

Sarauer

Breckner

Blakley

Grewal

ChiefCalf

Brar

Gordon

Warrington

Pratchler

Housser

Senger

Roy

McBean

[Nays — nil]

Principal Clerk: — Mr. Speaker, those in favour of the motion, 53; those opposed to the motion, zero.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I declare the motion carried. I recognize the Government House Leader.

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I move that the Assembly do now adjourn.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — Just before I announce the adjournment, we’ve reached the halfway point of the spring session. And thank you so much for everyone, for your participation and involvement. I wish you all the best during the holiday time period that we are entering into. May it be a time of remembrance and celebration with your families. Godspeed wish to you all. Have a great break.

This House stands adjourned until Monday, April the 13th at 1:30 p.m.

[The Assembly adjourned at 12:45.]

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

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