Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Well thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve got several guests to introduce here today, all sitting in your gallery. The first guest though I’d like to introduce: my wife, Meagan, and my little boy Bennett. Bennett, it’s been a while since he was at Daddy’s office. And new since Bennett’s last visit to Daddy’s office is his little sister Elys.

And so we had a great couple days down here in the city of Regina, checking out the T. rex and the Science Centre. And usually Bennett watches on TV, but now he gets to actually come here in person to watch question period. And really these are the folks that keep me sane and keep me having purpose to do my job each and every day. It’s the best part of my week to go home every week to Battleford on Thursdays. So I’d ask all members of the Assembly to join me in welcoming Meagan, Bennett, and Elys to this, their legislature.

We also have several guests from a couple fantastic organizations who really play some very key roles in our health care system. I’ll start with the pharmacy part of the health care system. And here with us, joining us we have Michael Fougere. He’s the CEO [chief executive officer] of Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan. Virginia Wilkinson, a communications consultant with the Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan; Kymm Wright, who’s the Vice-Chair of the Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan board of directors; Jahnaya Mann, who’s the past Chair of the PAS [Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan] board of directors. Also from the board of directors, we have Nathan Longeau, Jaelee Guenther, Casey Phillips. And then as well joining the PAS group here is also a former colleague of ours, Mr. Paul Merriman, sitting up there in the top corner of the Speaker’s gallery.

You know, I had an opportunity to sit down with the board members here from the Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan and really talk about where we’ve been able to come over, I’d say, the last several years in terms of being able to increase access for Saskatchewan patients. Especially, you know, really where we see the future going of pharmacy and the role that pharmacists and pharmacy techs can play, not only in our larger communities in the province but our rural communities dotted all over the province.

We have some excellent opportunities and really recognize in our patients-first plan, I think, the role that pharmacists and pharmacy techs can play. We look forward to ensuring, or continuing to collaborate really, with the Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan on how we can ensure Saskatchewan patients can receive the right care at the right time and as close to home as possible.

We have a reception here later tonight. I would encourage all members, if they can take some time out of their schedule, to join the PAS reception in room 218 from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight. And I’d ask all members of the Assembly to join me in welcoming these representatives from the Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan to this, their legislature.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And while I am also on my feet, we have several guests joining us in the legislature today in your gallery to really mark Heart Failure Awareness Week. We have Carolyn and Effie from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, no strangers to this building. We get to see them often. And really they continue to raise awareness of issues that we as legislators need to be aware of that are facing patients rights across the province.

We have several folks who work on the front lines really of cardiology care each and every single day for Saskatchewan patients. I’ll read these names now: Elise Buschau, the manager for out-patient cardiology services in Saskatoon; Amber Gorman, who’s the manager of non-invasive cardiology and neurophysiology here in Regina; Meg Vossen-Anweiler, a nurse practitioner who works at the Saskatoon heart function clinic; Cara Wihlidal, an NP [nurse practitioner] as well who works at the Regina heart function clinic; Lori Penner, who’s a nurse practitioner working at the Saskatoon in-patient cardiology and is also on the board of directors of the Saskatchewan Association of Nurse Practitioners. And we also have Jenna Kress joining us. She’s a nurse practitioner in the great city of Estevan, who also is representing the Saskatchewan Association of Nurse Practitioners.

And I’d be remiss, she wasn’t able to join us here at question period, but we did have an opportunity to this morning also be joined by Dr. Andrea Lavoie, who many members on both sides of the House will recognize is really an outstanding cardiologist right here in the city of Regina.

And really as part of Heart Failure Awareness Week, we had an opportunity to sit down this morning with these individuals and really talk about the challenges that it puts on our health care system in terms of the number of patients in Saskatchewan who deal with this on a regular basis and the length of stay in hospitals, and really the pressure that puts on them as patients as well as their families, but really the system as a whole.

I really appreciated this group. We have, as I said, we’ve had several nurse practitioners as part of this group. And it really speaks, I think, again to where we’re trying to go in this province, and nurse practitioners playing a larger role not just on the primary care side but also in more acute care settings and helping Saskatchewan patients manage chronic diseases that they are faced with.

Again, I want to thank all of these individuals for really the incredible work that they do each and every single day in our health care facilities in Regina and Saskatoon and Estevan as well. And as well to thank Carolyn and Effie for their continued advocacy for Saskatchewan patients. It is greatly appreciated.

So I would ask all members of the House to join me in welcoming these fine folks to this, their legislature.

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

Meara Conway: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d love to join with the minister opposite in welcoming these fine folks to their Legislative Assembly. First I wanted to just welcome Carolyn Cyr and the gang from Heart and Stroke. We have Effie, Elise, Amber, Meg, Cara, Lori, and Jenna.

A few weeks ago of course, Mr. Speaker, we had Heart and Stroke and Carolyn here and some others along some advocacy they were doing on AED [automated external defibrillator] availability and strengthening that across Saskatchewan. It’s great to have them back this week to kick off Heart Failure Awareness Month, Mr. Speaker. I did sort of tease Carolyn because at that reception she had us all get together, and there was a photo taken of everyone smiling, happy like one big family on both sides. And I was teasing her that, you know, it’s not everyone that can do that.

But really it’s a testament to her thoughtful approach, her and her team, the quality of the advocacy and the recommendations that are always being brought forward. I know I always learn something in those meetings, Mr. Speaker. So I wanted to join with the minister opposite in welcoming these fine folks from Heart and Stroke to their Legislative Assembly.

And of course, Mr. Speaker, while I’m on my feet I also want to welcome the folks from the Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan. I won’t read the full names, but as the minister mentioned, we have Kymm, Jahnaya, Nathan, Jaelee, Casey, CEO Michael Fougere, and Virginia.

Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, Mr. Speaker, support individuals and families across our province each and every day. They are one of the most accessible forms of care that we see in our communities today. They provide help, advice, and support. We have seen an expanded role for them which has been welcomed on this side of the House, Mr. Speaker. And they contribute in very meaningful ways to our community and our health care system each and every day.

So I’m quite pleased to be on my feet to join the minister, and I would ask all members to join me in welcoming these fine folks to their Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Community Safety.

Hon. Michael Weger: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 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. Michael Weger: — Mr. Speaker, to you and through you, the Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed today as Correctional Services Appreciation Day in Saskatchewan. Each year we mark this occasion to recognize the dedication of Saskatchewan’s correctional service employees and to express our gratitude for their commitment to creating safer communities. Working in corrections can be a challenging career, yet these employees carry out their duties with vigilance, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to excellence in every aspect of their work.

To help celebrate this day I had the honour of meeting several correctional service employees this morning and presenting the Minister’s Award for Excellence to a team that is demonstrating outstanding innovation and excellence in the field of corrections. Joining us in the Speaker’s gallery today are several correctional service employees and the recipients of this year’s Minister’s Award for Excellence.

Mr. Speaker, I’ll read into record their names. I’ll start with the recipients, and they cannot see me, but if they can wave I would appreciate it. Starting with Dawn Bartel, Ashley Chicoine, Rebecca Drozduik, Veronique Dube, Julian Gallimore, Anita Ingram, Hayleigh Klassen, Darla Lang, Nicole Lubiens, Crystal Markell, Cassandra McClelland, Hannah Anderson-Ross, Denise Sliva, and Jodie Suchan.

And also, Mr. Speaker, we have senior ministry officials: Scott Harron, Joshua Freistadt, Mark McFadyen, Caroline Graves, Bryce DeJong, Brice Kolybaba, Gord Lupanko, Tracy Gulka, Paul Sagel, Renee Schaan, Dean Carey, Allison Stene, and Devlin Clancy.

We have ministry comm staff Eilidh Thain, Shaira Etabag, and Hillary Pachal. Community corrections representatives: Kristopher Solsten, Raylynne Lewendon, David Nachtigall. Custody representatives: Jennifer McDonald, Jordan Riglin, Jennifer Rinholm, Stacey Risseeuw, Stephen Koop, Kevin Allison, Jessica Tremblay, Braxx George, Jason Howell, and Samantha Hopfner.

The community corrections service delivery model review team’s commitment to collaboration, innovation, and enhanced client care is creating real, lasting improvements in community corrections. This team led a comprehensive review that is providing rehabilitative supports within our correctional system. This approach is strengthening relationships, increasing efficiencies, and ensuring community corrections delivers a more trauma-informed approach to care.

I will ask all members to join me in thanking the members of this team and all Saskatchewan correctional service employees for the vital work they do to help keep our communities and families safe and secure. Please join me in welcoming these individuals to the Saskatchewan legislature. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Nicole Sarauer: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my absolute honour to join with the minister opposite in welcoming this gallery filled with correctional services employees today to honour Correctional Services Appreciation Day.

First of all, congratulations to all of the award recipients. Thank you for all the work that you do on behalf of this province. And to everybody in the gallery — I see a lot of familiar faces — thank you so much for all the work that all of you do, not just yourselves but the many thousands of workers that you represent who work in corrections each and every day for the people of Saskatchewan.

It’s an absolute honour to have you here. It’s an absolute honour to have the government recognize you in this way. And I ask once again to ask all members to join me in welcoming them to their gallery.

And while I’m on my feet, Mr. Speaker, I’d be remiss if I didn’t introduce two individuals seated in the east gallery. They are no strangers to this Legislative Assembly, but I do think it’s their first time visiting this term. It’s my parents, Donna and Owen Sarauer, who are here today.

As you well know, Mr. Speaker, there’s a lot of flooding going on in the area of the province where they have their cabin at Kipabiskau Lake. Unfortunately they can’t spend a lot of time there right now, but to my benefit they are here spending time in Regina helping out this week getting kids to activities. Soccer’s still on so far tonight; we’ll see. Baseball was just cancelled. So we’ll see what an hour brings, as we have some busy proceedings in the legislature for the next few days.

So I’d just ask all members to join me in welcoming these two individuals to their Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Justice.

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

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Well thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you and to all members, I’m very pleased to introduce some exceptional law students seated in your gallery today. Mr. Speaker, these students are future lawyers who are currently articling with the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General.

I’m pleased to introduce and welcome Donnelyn Morrison, Michael Baumgartner, Connor Patterson, and Trish Esmeralda. Joining them is Amy Stapleton, executive advisor to the deputy minister and deputy attorney general of the Ministry of Justice.

[13:45]

Mr. Speaker, Donnelyn grew up in Regina, where she attended Luther College. Prior to obtaining her law degree from the University of Saskatchewan, she graduated from the U of R [University of Regina] with a Bachelor of Arts in international studies. Upon completing her articling term next month, Donnelyn will join the civil law branch with the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General as a solicitor, where she will be advising the Ministry of Health as well as advising on general matters of privacy and access.

Mr. Speaker, Michael Baumgartner is an articling student with the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General. He graduated from the University of Saskatchewan College of Law in 2025 and will be working with public prosecutions here in Regina once he completes his articles in June.

Connor Patterson is an articling student with the public prosecutions in Regina. Connor graduated with his Juris Doctor with distinction from the University of Saskatchewan as well. Once completed, Connor will be working with Gerrand Rath Johnson LLP right here in Regina.

And Trish Esmeralda is an articling student with the Saskatchewan public prosecutions in Melfort. Last month Trish clerked with the Provincial Court in Saskatoon. This month she will be working with the Ministry of Justice civil branch, and is excited to broaden her legal perspective beyond just criminal law. Notwithstanding her interest in civil law, she has always been drawn to criminal law and is committed to continuing her work within the criminal justice system.

Mr. Speaker, the dedication these students show to their learning and commitment that they bring to the public service is already evident. They each bring a unique perspective and a strong sense of purpose and passion for the legal profession. We are pleased to welcome them here today as they take these important early steps in their careers. I look forward to seeing how each of them will turn out in their commitment to justice, turning the commitment to justice into meaningful, lasting contributions for our province in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask all members to please join me in welcoming these young lawyers to this, their Legislative Assembly.

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

Nicole Sarauer: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know I’m always happy when there’s more lawyers in the Legislative Assembly, so I have to take the time to join with the Minister of Justice to welcome these individuals to their gallery. Donnelyn, Michael, Connor, and Trish, very happy to hear the work that you’ve done with the ministry. Happy to hear that so many of you are both staying on with the Ministry of Justice or staying in Saskatchewan. I think the Saskatchewan bar in particular is an exceptional bar to work for.

So on behalf of the Minister of Justice and I, I’d like to first of all welcome you to the profession. You’ve finished the bar and articling, and that’s always a very difficult hurdle to go through. And now you can just enjoy the joys of practice for decades and decades. As we all both know in the Assembly, it’s nothing but joy after you get called to the bar. There’s no stress or tension after this phase of your career.

I’d like to again ask all members to join me in welcoming these individuals to their Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Moose Jaw Wakamow.

Megan Patterson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to introduce Ammanda Zelinski this morning. I had the pleasure of meeting her at the wonderful Autism Resource Centre 50th anniversary event.

Ammanda is a neuro-divergent performing artist and a member of Listen to Dis’ community and arts organization. Listen to Dis’ is the first disability-led arts organization which offers recreational and professional opportunities for its members.

Ammanda is the lead singer of the Dripping Honeys, a professional music ensemble within the organization. She’s also part of a new series called How We Do It that was filmed at the Regina John Hopkins Soundstage. How We Do It will be coming to AMI [Accessible Media Inc.] and Citytv Saskatchewan this summer.

Ammanda has also become a disability advocate on her own, sharing her lived experiences with autism. I would like to ask all members to now help me in welcoming Ammanda to this, her Legislative Assembly.

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

Erika Ritchie: — Request leave for an extended introduction.

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Erika Ritchie: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to welcome the family of Henry Losco, seated in your gallery. Today we have with us Marina Hills, Sergio Losco — parents of Henry Losco — and Henry’s grandmother Claudette Patry. They’re here alongside of Henry, who is here in spirit, after the tragic loss that they suffered this past Christmas when Henry died due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

No family should have to go through such a tragedy. And I continue to be immensely moved and proud of Henry’s parents and his family in the way that they have advocated for justice for Henry and safety for all children here in Saskatchewan and throughout Canada.

I had the opportunity to meet with Henry’s family before proceedings today and was really struck by how Henry continues to guide and inform their actions and their dedication towards seeking better protections for families here in Saskatchewan. And it’s been an absolute honour and privilege to get to know, meet, and advocate on their behalf.

I do want to say a couple of words about Henry himself. Henry and his family had just moved to Saskatchewan before these tragic events occurred. Henry was an 11‑year-old boy. He was a curious, kind, and joyful young boy with many interests and pursuits. He enjoyed soccer. He enjoyed chess, and was loved by friends, family, and team members alike for his kind spirit. And I have to think that Sergio and Marina had everything to do with who Henry was as a person, as such a beautiful young boy.

And I know that, you know, all of us have families of our own and can’t imagine the tremendous loss and heartbreak that such an incident and loss has caused in their life. And I am just so proud of Sergio and Marina and how they have conducted themselves and pursued justice for Henry. And it’s been an honour to get to know them and work alongside them.

So with that, I want to ask all members to join me in welcoming the family of Henry Losco to their Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Government Relations.

Hon. Eric Schmalz: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to rise and welcome the Losco family: Sergio, Marina, and Claudette. I haven’t had the chance to meet Claudette, but I look forward to that happening, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to welcome them to their Legislative Assembly.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with Sergio and Marina to learn about who Henry was and to discuss what we as a government can do to help prevent tragedy like this from happening to another family in Saskatchewan. I want to acknowledge the strength and courage and resilience of Henry’s parents, who have become powerful advocates for change.

Like the member opposite, I too had the chance to learn through our conversation about who Henry was, how he was bright, joyful, deeply empathetic. He was a passionate and talented soccer player who enjoyed chess. He had an entrepreneurial spirit, and he loved his family very much.

I want to sincerely thank Sergio and Marina for taking the time to share their son’s story. It is clear how deeply they love Henry and how proud they are of how remarkable a person he was. Henry’s spirit continues to influence his community and province, and we look forward to the further announcements in the coming days that will honour his legacy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Kim Breckner: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, I wish to introduce my mother, seated in the east gallery with my son Ian there. My mother, Pauline Bistritzan, she is a career nurse. She worked in home care for several decades as an RN [registered nurse] and later into management.

She’s gone through three retirements. The first retirement from home care was followed by helping a seniors’ living facility be upgraded to provide care to SHA [Saskatchewan Health Authority] parents, which was quite the undertaking I understand from her. And after that she retired, you know, for real this time. But what brought her back was the, you know, not too busy, not too crazy experience of being a manager in COVID with contact tracing.

And you know, that wasn’t enough, so after the pandemic she retired and then came back to do occupational health and safety medical work for a company here based out of Regina. And she continues to do that when she’s not helping me by taking care of my son Ian while I’m here in the legislature.

My mom, Pauline, now lives on a farm just outside of Zehner, Saskatchewan with her husband, Darrell. And together they do grain farming and they also have livestock. They have cows, pigs. They have these cute little chicks every year. And I just don’t know where they run off to each fall, but they’re really precious.

And I know many of us, we utilize the support of our family to serve here and I’m no exception. My mom is a great supporter, both in providing child care and being a friend and helping me through this work, always there to lend an ear or lend a hand. So thank you to my mom for being here today. She brought me my laptop because I completely forgot this morning. So she drove 40 minutes from out of town to bring that to me so I could get some work done and visit with little Ian. So I wish all members to join me in welcoming my mom, Pauline, to her Legislative Assembly.

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

Travis Keisig: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, it is my great privilege to introduce a group of grade 5 students from William Derby School in Strasbourg. Give a wave, guys. They are joined by their teacher Courtney Kelln and parent chaperones Jill Heisler, Alicia Dunlop, Nicole Herman, Karla Hegglin, Leslie Wilker, and David Schmidt.

There’s a fine-looking young man up there, Mr. Speaker, wearing an Oilers jersey. And I said he looked a little sad this morning. And I said the Premier joins you in the challenges of losing out in playoffs so early. But you know, he’s going to get over it and so will the Premier. So anyway join me in welcoming this group of students to this, their Legislative Assembly.

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

Hon. Sean Wilson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, I would like to introduce six constituents up in the west gallery. First, in the very front are the two Dianes: Diane McDougall and Diane Jamieson. Diane Jamieson has an extensive career in municipal administration, starting out I believe in Melville-Saltcoats and eventually ending up in Canora-Pelly, where I learned a thing or two from her when she worked at the RM [rural municipality] of Good Lake, and for a short time just prior to me becoming an MLA [Member of the Legislative Assembly], in the RM of Buchanan.

Also way up top are Chris and Kayla Blotski — Chris and Kayla, give a wave — and their son and daughter, Rhett and Rayna. Chris was on my very first crushing crew, and I learned a few things about life from him. And Kayla is the executive director of the Mackenzie Society Ventures, our local CBO [community-based organization] in Preeceville. Earlier this past year, Minister of Social Services and I toured this facility and we were very impressed.

And also before I sit down I’d like to thank their son Rhett, who makes sure that everyone in his school knows not only who the MLA is, but knows how his name is spelled. So I invite all members to welcome them to their Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — And I would like to welcome a couple cottage constituents from my area to their Legislative Assembly today. And I’m not going to say why they’re here, but I wish my mom would show up on my birthday too. So welcome to your Legislative Assembly.

PRESENTING PETITIONS

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Athabasca.

[14:00]

Leroy Laliberte: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to present a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan to implement rent control now.

We, the undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan, wish to bring to your attention the following: that Saskatchewan tenants are currently experiencing the highest level of rent increases in the country; that rent in Saskatchewan has risen 4 per cent in the last year alone, far outpacing wage growth and putting more pressure on families, seniors, students, and low-income residents; that without rent control, landlords implemented unchecked rent hikes, making housing increasingly unaffordable and unstable; that with rent control, residents budget more effectively, potentially putting them in a position to save for a down payment for their first home; that provinces such as British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island have already implemented rent control measures to protect tenants and maintain housing affordability.

So with that, I’ll read the prayer:

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to adopt fair and effective rent control legislation that limits annual rent increases, ensures housing stability, and protects tenants from being out-priced of their homes.

The undersigned signatories reside here in Regina. I do so present.

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

Keith Jorgenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to rise today to read a petition to call for adequate and equitable SAID [Saskatchewan assured income for disability] rates.

We, the undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan, wish to bring to your attention the following: that the Saskatchewan assured income for disability program is designed for people with significant and enduring disabilities; and that the SAID rates mean that individuals who rely on this program live in what is often referred to as deep poverty, defined as less than 75 per cent of the poverty line; that SAID rates de-incentivize employment by having a very low employment exemption of just $7,500 a year; and that Saskatchewan people with disabilities are struggling to make ends meet under historical inflationary pressures.

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request that the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to immediately increase SAID rates to account for inflation and the cost of living; respect the constitutional rights of persons with disabilities by halting discriminatory practices and aligning the policies with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms; and that we index SAID basic amount to inflation going forward; and that we provide targeted relief to those people living in deepest poverty, such as single individuals paying market rent.

The people who signed the petition are from Gravelbourg and Kincaid. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Noor Burki: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to present a petition calling on the affordability crisis.

The undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan wish to bring to your attention the following: that inflation is the highest it’s been in more than three decades; that according to Angus Reid, 84 per cent of Saskatchewan people are feeling stressed about money, the highest such rates of inflation and insecurity; also that Saskatchewan residents were living paycheque to paycheque before the transportation and the food costs skyrocketed in 2022. The Sask Party government’s power, PST [provincial sales tax], and tax hikes make life more expensive. While other provinces acted, the Sask Party government ignored the opposition’s calls for a gas price relief plan.

I will read the prayer:

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan to call on the Government of Saskatchewan to meaningfully address the affordability crisis in Saskatchewan.

Mr. Speaker, the signatories of this petition reside in Regina. I do so present. Thank you.

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

Bhajan Brar: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise here today to present a petition calling for the acceleration of construction on a new joint-use school in the Harbour Landing area of Regina.

We, the undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan, wish to bring to your attention the following: that Harbour Landing School and St. Kateri Tekakwitha School in Regina were over capacity in their first year of operation; that the building codes and the fire safety regulations may be breached if fewer than 10 per cent of students are absent on any given day; that essential resources like the library have had their size reduced to accommodate temporary classrooms; that all children have the right to a well-rounded education in a safe environment.

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to immediately provide the support needed to complete and open the joint-use school in Harbour Landing area as soon as possible.

This petition has been signed by the residents of Regina, particularly from Harbour Landing area. I do so present. Thank you.

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

Tajinder Grewal: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to present a petition to immediately address crime in our communities.

The undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan wish to bring to your attention the following: that Saskatchewan consistently has the highest crime rates in Canada; that the province also has the highest rates of intimate partner violence and intimate partner homicide in Canada; that Saskatchewan lacks a comprehensive domestic violence strategy despite repeated calls for one; that all Saskatchewan residents deserve safe communities and access to proven supports like mental health care, addictions treatment, and housing and community safety programs.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I’ll say the prayer that reads as follows:

We respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to immediately develop and implement a province-wide crime reduction strategy that addresses the root cause of crime and prioritizes prevention, safety, and support for all communities.

And the petition has been signed by the residents of Saskatoon. I do so present. Thank you.

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

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

Economic Development Week and Cost of Living

Kim Breckner: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today in response to the proclamation of Economic Development Week.

As a lawyer with a background in the corporate and mining world, I know how lucky we are to live in a resource-rich province. We are the largest potash producer in the world, and we have the world’s largest high-grade uranium deposits. We have 23 of 31 critical minerals and amazing innovation in our agricultural sector.

With that much wealth, Saskatchewan should be one of the best places for good-paying jobs and for people to raise their families. Instead we have the highest child poverty rate among the provinces, the highest rent increases, and a population in decline.

The Sask Party government celebrates our booming economy while Saskatchewan people report the highest financial anxiety in Canada. Their utilities and car payments rise, and we see increases in crime, record homelessness in our cities. And we cannot have a strong economy when we neglect our own people and leave them unable to afford food and rent in the same month.

In celebrating Economic Development Week, I look forward to a time when economic development is not just corporate profit, but also delivers good-paying jobs and the strong health care and education system that Saskatchewan people deserve.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Moose Jaw Wakamow.

Greek Night Fundraiser Celebrates Community

Megan Patterson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to celebrate a truly spectacular evening in our community: the fifth annual Greek Night, held this past Saturday at the Temple Gardens Centre.

This event brought together food, drinks, and dancing, creating an unforgettable night of Greek culture right in my beautiful community of Moose Jaw. Guests were treated to the sounds of Arkadia, the Greek band, alongside local favourites The BrassRoots Collective, filling the room with authentic music and energy.

Of course no Greek Night is complete without plate smashing. Each year plaster of Paris plates are created for the occasion, and watching them shatter on the dance floor never grows old.

I was proud to attend, and I was equally proud to be joined by several government MLAs from across the province who were happy to show their support for this wonderful community celebration and show them they could smash plates with the best of them.

This event raises funds for Tourism Moose Jaw and the downtown business association, both who host a number of events and initiatives throughout the year to help our city thrive. Greek Night was a sold-out event. Congratulations and thank you to all the organizers and sponsors. Opa.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Athabasca.

Indigenous Women Lead Saskatchewan Communities

Leroy Laliberte: — Mr. Speaker, on the eve of Red Dress Day, I want to acknowledge all Indigenous women that take up leadership roles within our province. In Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker, we should be proud that there are 19 remarkable women serving as First Nations chiefs, one Tribal Chief, six elected MNS [Métis Nation of Saskatchewan] regional directors, and two female members of the MNS executive.

I want to give a special recognition to those who are constituents of the Athabasca riding that are currently serving, people like Buffalo River Dene Nation Chief Kelly Montgrand, Black Lake Denesuline First Nation Chief Coreen Sayazie, Meadow Lake Tribal Council Dene Vice-Chief Norma Catarat, Métis Nation Saskatchewan Secretary Marlene Hansen, Ile-a-la-Crosse Mayor Myra Malboeuf, Dore Lake Mayor Kathleen Greening, Buffalo Narrows Mayor Shaylee Gardiner, Cole Bay Mayor Nadine Couillonneur, hamlet of Patuanak Mayor Tanya Opekokew, St. George’s Hill Mayor Donna Janvier, and Turnor Lake Mayor Tanya Mongrant.

I congratulate each of these leaders, Mr. Speaker, and former leaders that have served for the work they contribute to their respective communities and to this province. As a father of three remarkable kids, I thank them for choosing to serve the people and being such a positive role model for upcoming generations.

Tomorrow, Mr. Speaker, we grieve for our sisters who were taken from us, but today we join together to celebrate the incredible Indigenous women who make our province a better place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Emergency Preparedness Week

Blaine McLeod: — Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the week of May 3rd as national Emergency Preparedness Week in Saskatchewan. This year’s national Emergency Preparedness Week theme is “Be prepared. Know your risks.” Being informed and prepared helps ensure that together we can respond effectively when the unexpected occurs. From severe weather and power outages to evacuations and other emergencies, preparation strengthens our collective ability to protect lives, property, and critical services.

This year’s theme encourages individuals and families to take meaningful steps such as making a plan for evacuating, building a 72‑hour emergency kit so that your family can be supported for up to three days, and understanding the risks in their community. Preparedness is not about fear. It is about confidence and readiness, knowing that support systems are in place and that people are equipped to act until assistance arrives.

Mr. Speaker, this government will always be there to protect Saskatchewan people and to support emergency response efforts across the province. And we also know that Saskatchewan communities are resilient.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of this Assembly to join me in recognizing Emergency Preparedness Week and in supporting the shared message of readiness, co-operation, and awareness for people across Saskatchewan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mental Health Week and Supports for Saskatchewan People

Betty Nippi-Albright: — Mr. Speaker, this week is Mental Health Week, a time when we are called to speak honestly about the realities facing people across Saskatchewan. Today I want to recognize the first responders, health care workers, grassroots organizations, and community-based organizations who show up every single day for people in crisis.

These are the folks answering the calls at 3 a.m., responding to overdoses, supporting families, and holding our communities together. They are doing life-saving work, and often without mental health supports they themselves need and deserve. And despite their dedication, they continue to receive no meaningful support from this government to protect their own well-being.

Mr. Speaker, we are also seeing children, youth, and families falling through the cracks. Parents are waiting months — sometimes years — for assessments. Young people are being turned away because services are full. Families are left to navigate impossible systems on their own. Community organizations are doing everything they can, but they cannot replace a functioning, accessible mental health system.

Mental Health Week should be a reminder that mental health is not optional; it’s foundational. And now too many people in Saskatchewan are being left behind. We owe our first responders, our health care workers, our grassroots leaders, and especially our children and youth more than words. We owe them action, investment, and a government that treats mental health like the urgent priority it is. Miigwech.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Humboldt-Watrous.

New Technical Training Centre Prepares Skilled Workers

Racquel Hilbert: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to speak about an event that was hosted in Humboldt this weekend. The Minister of Advanced Education announced a newly multi-million-dollar investment that’ll help Saskatchewan students gain the skills that they need to enter the workforce.

Carlton Trail, in partnership with the Government of Saskatchewan and BHP, is opening a new training centre. The BHP Technical Training Centre will deliver lasting training capacity in critical areas such as health care, trades, and mining.

[14:15]

Mr. Speaker, our government is investing nearly $4 million towards a new facility and BHP is providing 1.9 million. This brings the total investment to trades readiness in Saskatchewan to 3.5 million over the last five years. Mr. Speaker, this is an investment in our people, in our communities, in the future of our province. And it shows how shared commitment between government, industry, and post-secondary sectors can create lasting benefits for regions and students.

Carlton Trail is central in preparing skilled workers for BHP and other employers. They provide in-demand career opportunities, hands-on real life and world training, and industrial recognized certificates. We have locations in Humboldt, Wynyard, and Watrous. This new training centre will have positive benefits for those in the Humboldt region and beyond. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Cannington.

Saskatchewan Leads in Economic Growth and Opportunity

Daryl Harrison: — Saskatchewan is once again showing why we are a national leader in economic growth and opportunity. Statistics Canada’s latest numbers show Saskatchewan’s GDP [gross domestic product] grew over 2 per cent in 2025, reaching a record $85.4 billion and outpacing the national average. This is a major milestone for our province and a strong sign as the momentum Saskatchewan continues to build.

This growth is being driven by the hard work of our producers, workers, and businesses: 14 of 20 major industries expanded last year; value-added agriculture reached a record $8.4 billion; and strong crop production helped agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting surge by over 15 per cent. Construction also increased by over 9 per cent with major residential and infrastructure projects strengthening communities across the province. Private capital investment rose 12 per cent last year to $13.6 billion, the highest growth in Canada.

Mr. Speaker, there are 60 major projects under way or in planning across our province, representing more than $62 billion in investment. Companies are choosing Saskatchewan because of our world-class resources, skilled workforce, and stable, competitive environment.

Saskatchewan’s record GDP is more than an economic statistic. It reflects jobs, opportunity, and a growing economy that supports the services families rely on. Mr. Speaker, Saskatchewan is open for business.

QUESTION PERIOD

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

Affordability and Provincial Fuel Tax

Carla Beck: — Mr. Speaker, we were out in Moose Jaw again last week talking with folks about just how hard it is to make ends meet under this Sask Party government. We also brought with us a list — a list of eight things that this government could do to offer the people of this province some relief.

The Premier could suspend his gas tax. He could cut his tax on kids’ clothing and on groceries. He could reverse his SaskPower rate hike and shelve his plan to hike up car insurance. He could also crack down on AI [artificial intelligence] price gouging; enhance grocery store competition. He could also bring in rent control.

Now, Mr. Speaker, the people in Moose Jaw really liked this list. Will the Premier commit to these eight things today and start saving Saskatchewan people some money?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Mr. Speaker, as we know and have debated on the floor of this Assembly many times and in the most recent provincial election, it was this government, this party, that ran on an affordability campaign platform.

And I would say by the outcome of that election that the people in Moose Jaw spoke very loudly with respect to the two and a half billion reasons, Mr. Speaker, that are annualized in each and every budget, including this budget that was introduced on the floor of this Assembly this very session, Mr. Speaker, that the members opposite voted against.

In that budget, had a lowering of the personal income tax across the province, Mr. Speaker, saving families of four over $3,400 in the next four years. And in that budget was securing the second-lowest utility bundle in the nation of Canada. It doubled the active families benefit, Mr. Speaker. Had an incentive for those that are first-time homebuyers in this province. Had incentives and enhancements for students. Had incentives and enhancements for people that are entering their career in a Saskatchewan community. It had enhancements to the seniors’ income plan, the seniors’ housing supplement, Mr. Speaker.

Two and a half billion dollars annualized in this year’s budget, Mr. Speaker, and affordability measures for families and for everyone across the province of Saskatchewan.

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

Carla Beck: — Mr. Speaker, I honestly do not know who it is that that Premier is listening to, because it certainly is not the folks struggling in Moose Jaw and right across this province. People in Saskatchewan right now have more financial anxiety than anywhere else in the country.

And, Mr. Speaker, I do not understand why members of his own caucus aren’t raising these very same concerns. Right now in this province we have gas at a buck ninety per litre. We’ve got some grocery items that have increased 50 per cent under that Premier’s watch. And we now have a SaskPower rate hike that wasn’t on the table, according to that Premier, until it was. And that is costing people, costing families and businesses in this province $136 million every year.

Mr. Speaker, not only has this Premier refused to offer any relief; he is actually making life more expensive for people in this province who are already struggling. The question is, why?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Mr. Speaker, as we again have debated on the floor of this Assembly a number of times, the gas tax that has long been in place in this province goes directly into investment in our highways to ensure that they are safe, not only for the industries that are utilizing those highways to export our Saskatchewan goods and create jobs but for our families that also travel on those highways, Mr. Speaker.

We’ve seen investments in intersection safety, Mr. Speaker. We’ve seen investments in upgrading the highways that are there. That’s where that investment from that charge on gasoline goes, and it will continue to go into upgrading our highways.

With respect to grocery stores, Mr. Speaker . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Member from Saskatoon Stonebridge, come to order, please.

Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — With respect to grocery store competition, Mr. Speaker, as I said again on the floor of this Assembly, there are 14 grocery stores within a five-minute drive of where I am standing right now, which is the Leader of the Opposition’s riding.

However I would say when it comes to predatory pricing in online shopping, Mr. Speaker, that is an area where the Minister of Justice is engaged with the federal government to ensure that we are making a difference across this nation. And it would be our hope that we would be able to make a difference not only for Saskatchewan residents, to protect them from that online predatory pricing, Mr. Speaker, but in turn protect all of our fellow Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

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

Measures to Prevent Children’s Exposure to Drugs

Carla Beck: — Mr. Speaker, the Premier has the ability to offer relief to the people of this province. He’s choosing not to.

It’s been over a week since we heard the devastating news that 13 children in this province under the age of 5 — just babies — died after being exposed to toxic drugs in our province. We’ve yet to hear any meaningful action taken by this government to make sure that this never happens again. We need to learn from these tragedies, Mr. Speaker. And solemn words, they’re not enough.

Will the Premier commit today to creating the child death review committee that was recommended by the former Saskatoon chief of police almost a decade ago?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Mr. Speaker, the loss of 13 children due to coming in contact with poisonous drugs in our communities and all too often in the homes of families is simply unacceptable.

And we’ve been very clear with respect to . . . This government’s intention is to remove those poisonous drugs, not only from those homes, but to remove those poisonous drugs from communities across the province of Saskatchewan and participate to the level that we can in removing these poisonous substances across our nation. There’s no place in a Saskatchewan community for the drugs that we are seeing all too often in our communities today.

That’s why you see, Mr. Speaker, the efforts and initiatives around recovery opportunities for those that unfortunately are living a life of addictions. Three hundred beds available today; 200 more funded in this very budget. We will achieve that 500‑bed commitment that we had made. And I say that is likely going to have to increase in the months ahead. Mr. Speaker, you’re seeing investments directly in our enforcement agencies to take those drugs and those drug dealers out of our communities so that we don’t have these poisonous substances in these homes or in any other home across this province. This is an initiative that this government is very serious about, has been funding, Mr. Speaker.

And in the days and weeks ahead, you will see the Minister of Social Services very much address this report, and it will coincide with the efforts and the initiatives that have already been undertaken by the Government of Saskatchewan.

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

Provision of Addictions Services

Carla Beck: — Mr. Speaker, 13 babies in this province are dead. I would implore the Premier to revisit that decision to take that recommendation to implement that child death review committee in this province.

Mr. Speaker, this drug crisis is claiming nearly one life each and every day in our province right now. In the month of April, we saw 450 overdose calls in Regina and Saskatoon alone. This Premier’s response to this spiralling tragedy has been to offload his responsibility for this drug crisis to a private, out-of-province, for-profit company. Edgewood Health Network is set to make millions off of the tragedy unfolding in this province, but we’ve yet to see any evidence of any success.

Why is this Premier handing off responsibility to a private, for-profit, Toronto-based company instead of working with the dedicated front-line experts and workers that we have right here in this province?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Mr. Speaker, Edgewood Health Network are the experts, the front-line experts in recovery, not only in this province but in other provinces across our nation of Canada as well. And they are making an impact. And the impact to one individual was read into the record just last week with respect to an individual from Northwest Territories that attended an Edgewood Health Network recovery centre. And I would say that the results for that individual were very, very positive, Mr. Speaker.

We also heard on the floor of this Assembly that the Northwest Territories government is no longer dealing with Edgewood. Edgewood didn’t bid on that RFP [request for proposal], so there was no opportunity for the Northwest Territories government to deal with Edgewood, Mr. Speaker.

But here’s what the minister in NDP [New Democratic Party] British Columbia had to say about Edgewood, Mr. Speaker:

“When people make the [very] courageous decision to call for help, they need to be met with quality care close to . . . home,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “We are expanding access to substance-use treatment . . . on Vancouver Island so that people will have options closer to home and get treatment while staying connected to their family and community.”

Mr. Speaker, that’s precisely what we are trying to do with the investment into recovery beds in this province. Yes, partnering with Edgewood Health Network. Yes, partnering with many other community-based and community organizations to ensure that we are offering those recovery services for those that all too often have fell into a life of addictions, Mr. Speaker, so that they can aspire . . .

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

Betty Nippi-Albright: — Mr. Speaker, the people in this province have been calling for government-funded programs. I too am deeply concerned. Any company looking to make a profit off people’s suffering . . . that’s what EHN seems to do.

The CEO described his approach as being similar to military strategy during the Korean War, Mr. Speaker. He preaches speed when people need compassion.

Can the Premier explain what the CEO of EHN meant when he talked about the “10‑to‑1 kill ratio” as being core to how his company handles drug addiction?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Mr. Speaker, there is an aspiration I believe that we truly share, all of us on the floor of this Assembly. And that is to provide an opportunity, an opportunity for a recovery life, whether it be through engaging with professionals in Edgewood Health Network in a publicly funded . . . a privately delivered, yes, Mr. Speaker, recovery opportunity in this province, much like we do with the surgical initiative that we have in the province that now does about 20 per cent of the surgeries in our province, a record number of surgeries. About 17 per cent actually of those surgeries are done in that same publicly funded, privately delivered system, Mr. Speaker.

What the Government of Saskatchewan is most certainly attempting to do with this investment in intensive recovery supports, 500 intensive recovery supports, Mr. Speaker, — I think this is where we share this aspiration — is to end the suffering, end the suffering that individuals that have entered and are living a life of addictions have today and to provide them an opportunity for a better life through recovery, Mr. Speaker.

[14:30]

That’s the investment that’s being made to provide 300 beds that are operational; 200 more funded in this year’s budget, Mr. Speaker. And we’re going to continue to fund that service until we have an opportunity for every and each individual that unfortunately is living a life of addictions has access to one of these recovery opportunities.

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

Betty Nippi-Albright: — Mr. Speaker, people are dying today. I have asked questions of the Premier and the minister about EHN for more than a year. This is a for-profit, out-of-province company, and this Premier seems to be handing them the keys when it comes to the drug crisis.

How much money is EHN receiving from this government? Will they table every contract with EHN today? If not, what are they trying to keep from the people of Saskatchewan?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.

Hon. Lori Carr: — Well thank you, Mr. Speaker. We work with several different community partners across this province, 21 of them in fact, including EHN. All of those spaces are funded publicly, and all of them are doing it through the recovery-oriented system of care. This is a holistic approach for individuals where we take them from detox to in-treatment spaces, and then we do post-treatment spaces after that, Mr. Speaker.

This government is interested in delivering services that are important to the individuals that are out there looking for a hand up and living that life of recovery, Mr. Speaker. And we won’t apologize for that.

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

Measures to Prevent Children’s Exposure to Drugs

Nicole Sarauer: — Mr. Speaker, 13 children died of exposure to drugs in recent years. The majority of the children who died were less than a year old when they were exposed to toxic, illicit drugs. They were innocent, and many more of them are still at risk. The government needs to take this seriously, and sadly we have seen no evidence yet that they do.

Will the Minister of Justice join with this side of the House, stand up for these children, and order a public inquest?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Justice.

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And I’ll begin by extending my sincere condolences to the families of any lost child. Mr. Speaker, the loss of a child is an unimaginable tragedy under any circumstances, and so our condolences go out to those families.

Mr. Speaker, our government will always look at all options when it comes to preventing the deaths of children. And that’s why I will be meeting with the Chief Coroner for Saskatchewan to discuss what options he believes are most appropriate moving forward; what is going to result in the most meaningful and appropriate response to a tragedy like this, Mr. Speaker.

But I will say, Mr. Speaker, that what the government can do and what we have been doing is taking these poisonous substances out of our communities. That’s why we introduced the street weapons legislation that takes needles and crack pipes and fentanyl and methamphetamine off of the streets. Because these children should never be exposed to those substances, Mr. Speaker. That’s why these children need to be protected. We need to keep these dangerous items out of our parks, out of our playgrounds, and out of our communities.

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

Restrictions on Farm Landownership

Trent Wotherspoon: — There’s more drugs on the streets than ever before, Mr. Speaker.

But shifting gears just a little bit: this government has failed to take the issue of farm landownership seriously. Of course they failed to crack down on illegal foreign farm-landownership, and we’ve recently learned at legislative committee that they’ve permitted Avenue Living, a large Alberta real estate investment trust, to purchase more than 80,000 acres of Saskatchewan farm land as well as permitting other large institutional investment trusts and funds.

This clearly isn’t in the interests of producers, rural communities, or agriculture in Saskatchewan. Why has this government been green-lighting and permitting large, out-of-province investment funds and trusts to buy up and consolidate Saskatchewan farm land at the expense of Saskatchewan producers?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Agriculture.

Hon. David Marit: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government does listen to the farmers and the producers of this province. And that is why we’ve enacted on the Farm Land Security Board. That’s why we’ve strengthened the regulations. That’s why we put into place all the recommendations from the Provincial Auditor, Mr. Speaker.

And let’s be perfectly clear, Mr. Speaker: if you are not a Canadian citizen or not a permanent resident in the province in Canada, you cannot own land in the province of Saskatchewan. If you are a Canadian company owned by Canadians, you can own land in the province of Saskatchewan.

And if there’s another question, then, Mr. Speaker, I want to read something into the record.

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

Trent Wotherspoon: — He can read whatever he wants in the record, but I hope he answers the question.

You know, that Sask Party has failed to protect Saskatchewan farm land and producers. We’ve learned, as I say, at the legislative committee, they’ve permitted an Alberta real estate investment trust to buy over 80,000 acres along with other large investment trusts and funds in addition to that. And of course they’ve failed to adequately respond to the very serious concerns of illegal foreign farm-landownership.

Now all this matters. It’s mattered for years. But it matters right now because Monette Farms is going through a creditor protection process, and thousands and thousands of acres could be coming onto the market. And it’s certainly not in the interests of producers and agriculture for those acres to be gobbled up and bought up by large trusts and investment funds, and certainly not to be bought by foreign entities, shutting out producers and their best interests.

Why won’t this minister step up for producers and agriculture and prevent this from happening?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Agriculture.

Hon. David Marit: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Being a farmer all my life and investing in the farm as I did years ago, I do not want to see any farmer going through financial situations in their operation. And that’s a decision that would be made by the operation and the financial institution.

And, Mr. Speaker, I do want to read something into the record. This is dated December 19th, 2002:

Legislation to remove restrictions on ownership of Saskatchewan’s farm land becomes law on January 1st, 2003. [Under the NDP government,] The new law removes all restrictions on ownership for Canadian individuals and companies.

And I want to quote:

“Saskatchewan needs increased investment to ensure the long-term sustainability of our rural communities,” Justice Minister Chris Axworthy said. “Stakeholders have said removing ownership restrictions would encourage development in both the livestock industry and our value-added sectors. That kind of development provides new opportunities . . .”

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

Measures to Prevent Children’s Exposure to Drugs

Nicole Sarauer: — A lot of words, Mr. Speaker, but no answer to the question.

Again: 13 babies died under this Premier’s watch. They died after toxic drug exposures, and seven of them died directly because of these exposures. If this government won’t treat this crisis with the seriousness it requires, they should support those that will.

This child death review committee was recommended to this government by the former coroner, a very well-respected man, nearly a decade ago. This is long overdue. Will the minister commit to creating it today?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Justice.

Hon. Tim McLeod: — As I already said, Mr. Speaker, I will be meeting with the Chief Coroner to see what this coroner today believes is the most meaningful and the most appropriate response. That’s what we will be doing moving forward.

But, Mr. Speaker, what we are already doing in this space: as I said, we have the street weapons legislation that removes these poisonous substances from our communities so that children are not exposed to the drugs and to the paraphernalia that can cause them harm. And we’re taking a step further, Mr. Speaker. We have The Response to Illicit Drugs Act before the Assembly right now. That legislation allows the families who have suffered harm to go after the perpetrators of that harm, Mr. Speaker, to sue the people who are manufacturing and trafficking these poisonous substances in our communities.

And, Mr. Speaker, on the flip side of that, this government is showing compassion to individuals who are battling addiction. We’re adding more than 500 addiction treatment spaces to help those individuals get into treatment, lead healthy lives in recovery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Legislation regarding Availability of Emergency Health Care

Jared Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now last fall I introduced Bill No. 606, The Provincial Health Authority (ER Closure right-to-know) Amendment Act. The Sask Party voted for it at second reading earlier this spring, but last week every Sask Party MLA voted against it.

Now on the doorstep in Moose Jaw on Friday, Sask Party supporters I talked to could not comprehend how this government would vote against this common-sense bill. This government runs a website where you can see the status of every highway in the province in real time. And on that same website, you can track each and every snowplow on the roads in real time.

So why on earth does the Premier think Saskatchewan people should be in the dark when it comes to their local rural ERs [emergency room]?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Well, Mr. Speaker, I think I’ve answered this question several weeks in a row now, but I’ll take another shot at it here this Monday. Again, Mr. Speaker, when Bill 606 was introduced, we had an opportunity as a government caucus to support that at second reading, largely because we agreed with the principle that patients should have access to reliable and up-to-date and accurate information.

After working with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and our partners at the Ministry of Health, Mr. Speaker, we made some determinations on what was possible to be operationalized. Last week we announced that we are directing the Saskatchewan Health Authority to update on just temporary service disruptions at least twice a day, if not sooner, Mr. Speaker, as that information is available.

What this government is absolutely going to stay focused on, Mr. Speaker, is our patients-first plan, getting rid of those temporary service disruptions so that patients can get the right care at the right place and at the right time.

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

Legislation to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisonings

Erika Ritchie: — Mr. Speaker, we are joined today by the family of Henry Losco. Henry died from carbon monoxide poisoning. He was just 11 years old. And no family should have to go through such a tragedy. His parents want to ensure no one else dies from carbon monoxide poisoning and that we change our laws to ensure this never happens again.

Will the Government Relations minister work with the family to fix our laws and keep children and families across Saskatchewan safe from carbon monoxide poisoning?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Government Relations.

Hon. Eric Schmalz: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the wake of the tragedy that befell the Losco family, our government undertook a comprehensive review of regulations surrounding carbon monoxide detection. Mr. Speaker, we’ve met with the family, as I outlined in my introduction earlier. And we’re working with the family currently to ensure that this tragedy does not occur in another instance in this province.

We will be having an announcement in the next 24 to 48 hours about these regulations. And we look forward to that opportunity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

SECOND READINGS

Bill No. 58 — The Time Act, 2026

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Government Relations.

Hon. Eric Schmalz: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to rise today to move second reading of The Time Act, 2026.

Saskatchewan’s time system has long been governed by The Time Act. Today most of the province observes Central Standard Time year-round, with limited exceptions along the region defined as the Battle River Time Option area near the Alberta border and the city of Lloydminster. These communities have historically aligned with Alberta’s seasonal time changes.

However, Mr. Speaker, recent developments require us to act. The Government of Alberta has introduced legislation to move to permanent Central Standard Time. If Saskatchewan does not update this legislation before the end of daylight saving time this fall, certain border communities risk becoming what we might call a time island, where their clocks no longer align with either Saskatchewan or Alberta.

Bill No. 58, The Time Act, will ensure that does not happen. At its core, the Act establishes Central Standard Time as the standard time to be observed across Saskatchewan, providing clarity and certainty for residents, businesses, and public institutions.

Mr. Speaker, the bill also modernizes our legislation by repealing outdated provisions that are no longer needed. Much of the current Act reflects a time when Saskatchewan had a patchwork of local time standards, including rules for local votes to determine which time to observe. By repealing and replacing the Act, we are creating a clearer, more flexible framework for the future.

[14:45]

The new Act introduces a structured approach to establishing time option areas through regulation. This ensures that Saskatchewan can continue to respond to regional needs in border communities while maintaining overall provincial consistency. These decisions will be informed by consultation with municipalities, First Nations, and made in a transparent and orderly way.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to highlight specific considerations with respect to the city of Lloydminster. The Lloydminster Charter currently requires the city to observe Mountain Standard Time in winter and Central Standard Time in summer. This bill clarifies that Central Standard Time will apply year-round on the Saskatchewan side. As a result, corresponding amendments to the Charter will be developed with the Government of Alberta to avoid inconsistencies, particularly given the city’s unique cross-border nature.

Importantly, Mr. Speaker, this legislation also confirms that the Act prevails over conflicting laws or bylaws, ensuring consistency across jurisdictions including border communities.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, this legislation is practical and responsive to changes in our neighbouring jurisdictions. It ensures clarity, consistency, and flexibility for the people of Saskatchewan.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to move second reading of The Time Act, 2026.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — It has been moved that Bill No. 58, The Time Act, 2026 be now read a second time. Is the Assembly ready for the question? I recognize the member from Regina . . . South Albert. Thank you.

Aleana Young: — Thank you very much, Mr. Deputy Speaker. My thanks to the minister for his second reading remarks. I understand that the critic for Government Relations has undertaken some good and very fruitful consultations on this fascinating piece of legislation before the House. I understand those conversations are ongoing and I look forward to her entries based on the feedback that she’s received from those stakeholders.

With that, I have no further comments to add, so I’ll move to adjourn debate.

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — Carried.

Bill No. 59 — The Time Consequential Amendments Act, 2026/Loi de 2026 corrélative de la loi intitulée The Time Act, 2026

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — I recognize the Minister of Government Relations.

Hon. Eric Schmalz: — Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I rise to move second reading of Bill No. 59, The Time Consequential Amendments Act, 2026.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, the comments I made in my previous remarks related to Bill No. 58, The Time Act, 2026 stand. Bill No. 59 makes minor technical amendments to ensure consistency across Saskatchewan legislation following the enactment of The Time Act, 2026. Specifically this bill updates references in The Alcohol and Gaming Regulation Act, 1997 and The Legislation Act so that they correctly reflect the new Act. These changes are administrative in nature but are important to maintain clarity and coherence in legislation.

And so, Mr. Speaker, with that I move second reading of Bill No. 59, The Time Consequential Amendments Act, 2026.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — It has been moved that Bill No. 59, The Time Consequential Amendments Act, 2026, bilingual, be now read a second time. Is the Assembly ready for the question? I recognize the member from Regina South Albert.

Aleana Young: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I think my comments on Bill 58 stand for Bill 59 as well. So with that, I’m happy to move to adjourn debate.

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — Carried.

ADJOURNED DEBATES

SECOND READINGS

Bill No. 48

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Lori Carr that Bill No. 48 — The Compassionate Intervention Act be now read a second time.]

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

Betty Nippi-Albright: — Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak to Bill 48, The Compassionate Intervention Act. We are in the midst of a drug toxicity crisis that has taken thousands of lives, devastated families, and placed enormous strain on communities, service providers, and first responders. Every member of this Assembly knows someone who has been affected. Every one of us has heard the grief, the fear, and the frustration from people who are desperate for solutions that actually save lives.

But, Mr. Speaker, performative politics or political placebos cannot become an excuse for abandoning evidence, ethics, or the lessons of history. When governments legislate in times of fear, the results are often harmful, sometimes catastrophic, and almost always borne by the people who are already the most vulnerable.

Bill 48 is being presented as compassionate, but compassion is not measured by the strength of our intentions. It is measured by the outcomes we create, the rights we protect, and the trust we build or erode.

People in Saskatchewan deserve care, treatment, housing, and support. They deserve a system that meets them where they are at, not one that waits for crisis and for more people to suffer or die.

Mr. Speaker, it is essential that this Assembly understands what the research shows about involuntary treatment. Across jurisdictions, involuntary treatment for substance use harms has been studied extensively. The findings are consistent and deeply concerning. People who are detained involuntarily experience higher mortality risks in the weeks and months following discharge. They experience higher relapse risk, higher overdose risk, and higher disengagement from voluntary services.

These are documented outcomes, Mr. Speaker. One study found that the risk of fatal overdoses increase significantly after involuntary discharge because people’s tolerance is reduced while their underlying conditions remain unaddressed. Another found that people subjected to involuntary treatment are less likely to seek help voluntarily in future because the experience erodes trust.

When legislation increases the likelihood of death, we cannot call it compassionate. Involuntary treatment is one of the most serious intrusions a government can make into a person’s life. It removes autonomy, restricts liberty, and places the individual under government control at a moment of profound vulnerability. Ethical frameworks in medicine, law, and public policy emphasizes that such powers must be used only when there is clear evidence of benefit, clear safeguards, and clear pathways to voluntary care. Bill 48 does not meet these standards.

We also cannot discuss coercive health interventions without acknowledging the history that shapes how they are understood, particularly by Indigenous peoples. In 1953 amendments to the Indian Act made it a criminal offence for Indigenous people to refuse medical treatment or to leave an Indian hospital without being formally discharged. These amendments created a system where Indigenous autonomy was restricted through coercive health policy.

This stood in contrast to the original spirit of the treaty relationship, including the medicine chest clause which envisioned access to care, not forced compliance. What was once framed as a benevolent health policy is now understood as colonial violence, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 48 must be understood in that context, but it is not only Indigenous people who will be affected. The bill creates detention powers that apply broadly to anyone experiencing substance-related harms, including people from racialized communities, people living in poverty, people with mental health challenges, and people who are unhoused, and others navigating multiple layers of vulnerability. The legislation casts a wide net over people who are struggling, at a time when voluntary services are already stretched beyond capacity, Mr. Speaker.

The toxic drugs and poisoning emergency cannot be separated from the colonial systems that created and continue to create many of the inequities we see today. Forced interventions have historically been imposed on Indigenous people on these lands. Those histories matter, and the structures that persist today matter in this conversation, Mr. Speaker. This is the context in which we must evaluate Bill 48: not in isolation, not in abstraction, and not through the lens of fear, but through the lens of evidence, ethics, and lived experience.

I speak here with the voices of families, service providers, Indigenous leaders, Indigenous people, and people with lived and living experience in mind. These are the people who have been carrying the weight of this crisis long before this legislation was introduced. They had been asking for help — for treatment, for detox, for housing, and for a system that responds with care rather than punishment.

This crisis has touched every part of our province. Parents have buried children. Children have lost their parents. Communities have lost caregivers, leaders, and friends. Service providers have watched people die despite doing everything they could to keep them alive. The grief is deep and the fear is real. And when we talk about evidence and statistics, we are talking about real human beings — people we know, people we care about, and people who matter deeply to their families and communities.

What we see on our streets does not feel acceptable, Mr. Speaker. It is understandable and deeply human to feel unsettled by it. It is human to want to act quickly to protect the people we care about, to do something. That is why topics like involuntary care are so emotionally charged — because they involve people we are trying to help and people we are trying to keep safe.

Second reading requires us to ask a clear question: what exactly are we being asked to accept? Mr. Speaker, we are being asked to accept that involuntary drug treatment should be put forward as a legislative response to the toxic drug poisoning emergency. We are being asked to accept that detention is compassion, that coercion is care, and that forced medical interventions can substitute for the functioning voluntary substance-use treatment system. This framing presents a false choice between coercive intervention and abandonment. That is not true, Mr. Speaker, and it’s certainly not acceptable.

I also want to speak to the experience of a 13‑year harm reduction nurse, Corey Ranger, whose insights were shared during a Moms Stop the Harm webinar. He emphasized that involuntary detention does not create safety; it creates risk. When people are detained and then released without stable housing, without treatment, and without ongoing support, their tolerance is reduced and their risk of overdose increases. Coercive interventions often push people away from the very services that could keep them alive.

He also spoke about trust. Trust is the foundation of effective care. When people fear that reaching out for help may result in detention, they stop reaching out. Service providers echoed this concern. They told us that if their work becomes associated with involuntary confinement, people will disengage, Mr. Speaker.

This is what the evidence shows from other jurisdictions. These perspectives from families, service providers, Indigenous organizations, Indigenous people, communities, experts, and history form the context in which Bill 48 must be understood. Legislation does not operate in a vacuum, Mr. Speaker. It operates in real communities and real systems and then in the lives of real people. This bill is being presented as a compassionate response to the drug toxicity crisis, but the evidence, the analysis, and the voices of those affected tell a different story.

Mr. Speaker, I want to speak directly to the families who are desperate for the government to do something. Your fear is real. Your grief is real. Your exhaustion is real. You are not asking for ideology. You are asking for help that works.

But the answer to that desperation cannot be detention without treatment. You are not asking for your loved ones to be detained. You are asking for your loved ones to have somewhere to go.

That is why we have called repeatedly, consistently, and urgently for a massive expansion of in-patient beds, increased detox capacity, new detox centres, provincially funded beds, on-reserve treatment centres, and a massive expansion of sober living homes across the province.

On-reserve treatment centres have been clear. They are not asking for full provincial funding or provincial control. They are asking for the province to fund treatment beds so that they can serve all people, Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, without forcing First Nations treatment centres to subsidize the province’s treatment gaps.

Sober living homes are equally essential. People cannot complete detox or treatment and then be discharged back into homelessness and instability, Mr. Speaker. These homes provide structure, safety, and community, the conditions required for long-term recovery, Mr. Speaker.

[15:00]

Families are not asking for detention. They are asking for treatment, detox, sober living homes, housing, mental health care, and they are asking for provincially government-funded, in-province treatment beds for their loved ones. They are asking for a system that responds with care, not coercion, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 48 intersects with health care, housing, policy, emergency response, and community-based supports, all of which are already strained. Detention systems divert resources away from voluntary services, deepening existing gaps, and erode trust. Indigenous organizations emphasize that unilateral action undermines partnership and reconciliation.

The evidence-based alternatives are clear, Mr. Speaker: expand treatment, expand detox, expand sober living homes, fund on-reserve treatment beds, strengthen harm reduction, improve mental health care, and invest in housing. These are the interventions that save lives, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, detention is not treatment. Coercion is not care. Expanding powers without expanding capacity will not save lives. Saskatchewan needs a system built on care, capacity, and evidence, not expanded detention powers. We need detox when people ask for it. We need in-patient substance-use treatment beds in the communities that need them. We need sober living homes. We need mental health care. We need housing. We need harm reduction. We need partnership, true partnership with Indigenous communities and grassroots organizations, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 48 is not that path. The people of Saskatchewan deserve solutions that work. They deserve a system that supports them, not one that detains them. They deserve a government that invests in care, not coercion. They deserve a response that meets the scale of the crisis. Bill 48 does not meet that standard.

Mr. Speaker, I conclude my remarks and allow Bill 48 to proceed to committee.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — The question before the Assembly is the motion by the member that Bill No. 48, The Compassionate Intervention Act be now read a second time. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — Carried.

Deputy Clerk: — Second reading of this bill.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — To which committee shall this bill be committed? I recognize the Government House Leader.

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. To the Standing Committee on Human Services.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — This bill now stands committed to the Standing Committee on Human Services.

Bill No. 57

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Jeremy Harrison that Bill No. 57 — The Information Services Corporation Amendment Act, 2026 be now read a second time.]

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

Trent Wotherspoon: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll enter in fairly briefly today with respect to Bill No. 57, The Information Services Corporation Amendment Act, 2026, Mr. Speaker.

Now this comes on the heels of the legislative changes in 2012, the privatization of ISC [Information Services Corporation of Saskatchewan]. That came five years before the bill that would have allowed the privatization of our Crown corporations, Mr. Speaker. Of course this is a government that has always claimed and said that our Crown corporations wouldn’t be privatized, Mr. Speaker, but of course every step of the way we’ve seen our Crown corporations put at risk, and we’ve seen their desire to privatize our Crown corporations, Mr. Speaker.

And when they haven’t been bringing forward legislation to privatize our valued Crown corporations, Mr. Speaker, they’ve been undermining and eroding and outsourcing within those Crown corporations, weakening their fiscal position and their strength, taking away their ability to deliver on their very important mandate to the people of Saskatchewan.

Now of course our Crown corporations were built by and for Saskatchewan people — incredible work and legacy. Incredible work to deliver for the people of this province from a perspective of affordability on so many fronts, and economic development and the jobs that we can count on, the revenues that are valued by government to deliver on the services that people should be able to trust in. So much of that’s been directly undermined or attacked or taken away by this current government, Mr. Speaker.

And with respect to this legislation here, I know the critic will be bringing forward a whole substantive number of questions and concerns as to what this government is doing here once again with ISC. But you know, really plain and simple, Mr. Speaker, of course they privatized this service, this monopoly, this Crown many years ago in 2012. They swore, Mr. Speaker, that that was it and they were going to retain all sorts of control and benefits. They’d promised that in this Assembly. I saw the debate. I was there for the committee. And of course they’ve walked away from that commitment again, Mr. Speaker.

And now it doesn’t surprise me, Mr. Speaker. They’ve walked away from their word time and time again with respect to our Crown corporations, Mr. Speaker, and again taken direct runs to privatize our Crown corporations. And when they haven’t been doing that, they’ve been undermining those Crown corporations, weakening those Crown corporations, and eroding the benefits that Saskatchewan people so rightly deserve from the Crown corporations that they own, Mr. Speaker.

With respect to this bill, again what do we see? We see the government selling off and giving away a monopoly. So what does that mean for you or I or for the people of this province, Mr. Speaker? Well if we look at cost itself, I mean the land titles system is something needed by people and families. It’s needed by farms and by businesses, Mr. Speaker. And they’re giving a licence to a private entity — a monopoly — to jack up those costs, Mr. Speaker, for hard-working families that might be buying their first home or moving up to expand for their family, driving up the cost of home ownership.

What else does this bill do? Well it drives up the cost of every land transaction in Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker. Every producer in this province should be concerned by this. If you think of the situation as our hard-working producers across this province head into another growing season and get into the fields here for seeding, Mr. Speaker, they’re facing enormous costs. The price of fertilizer and gas has been sent soaring, Mr. Speaker, at a time where commodity prices are a challenge. Puts huge pressure on producers across the province.

And I haven’t heard from a single producer in this province that’s said, “give me more costs, add to my bill,” Mr. Speaker. And that’s exactly of course what this legislation does, Mr. Speaker, what this Sask Party government does with the privatization on this front. Same can be said for businesses, Mr. Speaker, and anyone that’s involved in a real estate transaction.

With respect to farm land as well, Mr. Speaker, there’s already such serious concerns with the lack of transparency with respect to farm landownership in this province. A government that has failed to step up and protect the best interests of Saskatchewan producers, primary producers, proud multi-generational farms across this province, and agriculture as a very proud and vital sector as a whole.

And I don’t know why this government would think, well hey, we’re going to bring forward a piece of legislation that’s going to stick producers with a higher cost and the people of this province, including producers, with less control and less transparency, Mr. Speaker. You know, again, Mr. Speaker, this is a government that claimed until they’re blue in the face that they wouldn’t go in this direction with respect to privatization.

We know they’ve mismanaged themselves into one heck of a fiscal challenge in that budget, and you know, I guess they’re looking for cash somewhere this year, Mr. Speaker, this budget cycle. And I know they’re counting already, before they’ve passed this legislation, on the proceeds from this legislation, Mr. Speaker, just to prop up that mismanaged budget once again. You know, I’d suggest to the Finance minister opposite, as opposed to selling off the valued assets that deliver value to the people of the province and can make life more affordable and generate revenues, we’d suggest that he work to get that budget in order, Mr. Speaker.

And you know, frankly I’m almost sick of suggesting that he do it or they do it, Mr. Speaker, because over the last number of years we see their record with respect to our finances. And I would just say to the people of the province, if entrusted with the responsibility of serving as a government, Mr. Speaker, this team right here, we will open up those books and we will work tirelessly to get this budget back on track and delivering for the people of the province.

What we won’t cause by way of mismanagement like you see there is a fire sale on assets and giving away assets that’ll be there for generations, driving up the costs for homeowners, driving up the costs for farms, driving up the costs for businesses across this province. But I guess, Mr. Speaker, that’s become this government’s MO [modus operandi], hasn’t it, Mr. Speaker?

With respect to this legislation, again, you know, we’ve always known — and I think the people of the province know this — that we can’t trust that Sask Party government with our Crown corporations, Mr. Speaker. They’re demonstrating that once again. And of course we also know we can’t trust them to make life more affordable or to understand how important that is to families, farms, and businesses, Mr. Speaker. And we certainly can’t trust them with our public finances, Mr. Speaker.

With that being said, I know our critic has some incredibly thoughtful and substantive questions at committee, and we’ll take it from there. Thanks, Mr. Speaker. With respect to Bill No. 57, I know our critic and our team will be engaged in the committee process.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — The question before the Assembly is a motion by the member that Bill No. 57 be now read a second time. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — Carried.

Deputy Clerk: — Second reading of this bill.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — To which committee shall this bill be committed? I recognize the Government House Leader.

Hon. Tim McLeod: — To the Standing Committee on Crown and Central Agencies.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — This bill stands committed to the Standing Committee on Crown and Central Agencies. I recognize the Government House Leader.

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

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — It has been moved that this Assembly do now adjourn. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — Carried. This Assembly now stands adjourned until tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.

[The Assembly adjourned at 15:12.]

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

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