Hon. Eric Schmalz: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today and ask all members to join me in welcoming some of the hard-working members of the Saskatchewan Association of City Clerks seated in your gallery, Mr. Speaker.

This week is Municipal Clerks Week, so it’s an honour to be joined by these individuals from various Saskatchewan communities. Among the group are clerks at various stages of their careers, some who are newer and bring a youthful perspective to their municipalities, and some who have served long careers and are looking forward to a well-deserved retirement. These clerks are key in keeping our cities running each and every day.

As Minister of Government Relations, I’ve met a lot of city mayors from across this province. So I’m confident that you all have your hands full keeping the mayors and council in check.

These members of SACC [Saskatchewan Association of City Clerks] join us from cities across the province. From Swift Current we are joined by Jacquie Schlamp, city clerk and president of the SACC; along with Sandra Kern, assistant city clerk. Joining us as well are retiree Judy Pilloud, city clerk from the city of Estevan; Lydia Steffen, city clerk for Melfort. We have with us today as well Tracy Wittke, the city clerk for Moose Jaw and treasurer for the SACC. From Battleford, or North Battleford, pardon me — got to get that right, member for Battleford — we are pleased to welcome, and congratulate on her retirement, city clerk Debbie Wohlberg.

From Prince Albert we are joined by city clerk Savannah Price and retiring clerks Sherry Person and Terri Mercier. Sherry Person also served as the city manager for Prince Albert. Joining us from Regina is Amber Ackerman, city acting clerk and former president of the SACC. And from Weyburn we are joined by current city clerk Tina Clay and retiring city clerk Donette Richter. We also have with us Jessica Matsalla, the city clerk for Yorkton and the director at large of the SACC. And joining them is Megan Istace, director of municipal engagement with the Ministry of Government Relations.

I thank each of these clerks for their diligent work, especially those that are retiring. Thank you for dedicating your careers to serving your municipalities. I ask all members to please join me in welcoming these city clerks to this, their Legislative Assembly.

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

Erika Ritchie: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to join with the minister opposite in welcoming these clerks to their Legislative Assembly.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with the clerk for the city of Saskatoon when I served on a city advisory committee, and that gave me a little bit of an inkling into the wide scope of responsibilities that you hold as clerks in your respective municipalities. It’s a crucial role and one that is so vital to the workings of city governments, also ensuring there is that direct link to the public, overseeing transparency and public engagement.

I wish those of you who are retiring congratulations and success in your future endeavours as you embark on that next chapter in your lives. And with that, I ask all members to join me in welcoming these fine folks to their legislature.

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

Hon. Lori Carr: — Well thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I’d like to welcome several guests in the west gallery joining us from Saskatoon. They’re seated at the very top row in the back there, so as I say your name if you just want to give a wave so we can all say hello to you.

From the Saskatoon Tribal Council I’d like to welcome director of wellness Lisa Munroe; and then the health centre manager, Ashley Hrabowy. We also have guests from the Saskatoon Community Clinic: executive director, Lisa Clatney; chief operations officer, Toby Esterby; director of member and public relations, Danielle Chartier — no stranger to this House, former MLA [Member of the Legislative Assembly]. As well we have the administrative coordinator, Pam Driedger, and board Chair, Jason Majid.

I had the pleasure of meeting with some of these folks earlier today, and I look forward to attending the MLA reception following proceedings today. I also had the opportunity of . . . I’ve toured both of these facilities, but I really want to give a special shout-out to Saskatoon Community Clinic. The work that they do there on the west side of Saskatoon, the interactions that they have, truly are special.

The one thing that stuck with me from my visit there was that patients who attend their clinic, they don’t necessarily have a doctor. The clinic is their doctor. So when they ask who their doctor is, they’re like, it’s the clinic. And that really does go to show you that group-based care, team-based care works, and they are truly the shining example of that happening in the city of Saskatoon.

So both of these organizations do incredible work for the community and make a lasting impact on those they serve. I would ask all members to join me in welcoming these folks to their Legislative Assembly.

And just while I’m on my feet, Mr. Speaker, I do want to give a special shout-out to Judy Pilloud, former city clerk with the city of Estevan. When I had the privilege to sit on city council there we had the opportunity to hire Judy. So I’m glad to see that she’s come full circle and she’s now taking the time to retire. And I wish her all the best in the future. Please join me in welcoming her to her Legislative Assembly.

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

Meara Conway: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to join with the minister opposite in welcoming the guests we have with us today from Saskatoon. I also want to welcome Lisa and Ashley from STC [Saskatoon Tribal Council] as well as Danielle, Lisa, Toby, Pam, and Jason from the Saskatoon Community Clinic.

Mr. Speaker, I think I can’t say enough about the work that these folks are doing on the front line in Saskatoon. I can’t imagine where we’d be without some of the services that both of these organizations offer. I will say that we had the opportunity to tour the Saskatoon Community Clinic a few — gosh, is it months now? Time is a thing; it’s a thing, Mr. Speaker, it’s a construct — and learn about all the incredible work they’ve been doing.

And of course the Saskatoon Community Clinic has been doing this for years. They’ve been really breaking the mould in terms of primary care, team-based care. We talk about a lot of the solutions that we need to see in primary care. Well these community clinics have been doing them for decades. You know, we don’t really need to reinvent the wheel. We just need to look at the good work that is happening around us, Mr. Speaker.

Similarly I will say for the STC, incredible, groundbreaking stuff under the leadership of Mark Arcand. And of course these two organizations are made stronger by coming together and partnering.

So we’re really looking forward to joining them at their reception later. And I would just ask all members to join me in welcoming this crew to their Legislative Assembly.

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

Kevin Weedmark: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I request leave for an extended introduction.

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Kevin Weedmark: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, I’d like to introduce President Cynthia Kalina and members of Hispanos en Regina, which is in your . . . They’re all seated in your Speaker’s gallery up there this afternoon.

Mr. Speaker, I met some of them at the Poltava Malanka here in Regina a few weeks ago. I brought greetings from the government at that event, and Cynthia came up to me at that event and asked if I’d speak at their event and asked very enthusiastically. If I remember, it was something like, “Kevin, Kevin, Kevin, would you please come and speak at ours?” And I said, of course I will.

And you know, she’d mentioned at that first event where I met her that she’s from Peru. And I told her that one of my favourite coffees is Peru Norte, which is roasted right here in Regina by Caliber Coffee Roasters. And she hadn’t heard of it but she . . . When we met at the Hispanos gala a couple of weeks ago, she said she had looked all around the city for it and had a few bags of Peru Norte for us. And today when they came in, the group brought us a few bags of coffee as well.

And you know, Mr. Speaker, that fundraiser was an amazing event. And I’ll have a bit more to say about it in a member’s statement in a few minutes, but we all certainly had fun. And I wanted to recognize Cynthia and the group by inviting them down to the legislature today. And a couple of days ago she let me know that she had 30 people coming with her. And I said, well if you’re anything like me, that 30 is going to be 35 by Tuesday. And I was wrong, Mr. Speaker. It’s actually 40.

So we have a very good group from Hispanos en Regina, so I’d just like to welcome them to this, their Legislative Assembly. Thank you.

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

Jared Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

So I want to say thank you to the board of Hispanos en Regina for all their work on the gala. It was a pleasure to attend. It was spectacular. And I look forward to attending in the future. I want to say thank you to Cynthia, to Carlos, to Tesi, and all the other board members for their work. It was truly a fun evening.

And I’m also looking forward to . . . They’ve told me that they’ve already switched gears and are working on their pavilion for Mosaic, which is going to be in just over a month now. So I’m very much looking forward to visiting and speaking some more Spanish with these wonderful people. So with that, Mr. Speaker, I ask all members to join me in welcoming the members from Hispanos en Regina to their Legislative Assembly.

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

Hon. Warren Kaeding: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, and all members of the Assembly, I would like to introduce constituents that have joined us today from the fine, great town of Saltcoats. Seated up in the top of the west gallery are Stephanie Newsham, a local artist, a participant in our local theatre group that I’m going to talk about here soon. Stephanie has been actively involved in her community, serving on a number of boards, including the school community council and the Godfrey Dean Art Gallery in Yorkton, and she is currently an education assistant.

Grant Bjornerud, a name that is recognized throughout this building. Yes, Grant is the son of the infamous Bob Bjornerud, and he is just recently retired. Grant has just retired from teaching in the area. He’s been a very active participant in the dinner theatre as well. He is active in the curling world still as a high school coach and curling on a number of local clubs.

Walter Farquharson is a long-time resident of Saltcoats, and in fact he’ll be turning 90 at the end of the month. And Rev. Farquharson has been a United Church minister in the parish for many, many years and was the moderator of the United Church of Canada from 1990 to 1992. And he has also served as a teacher in the local high school, has written many hymns that are found in the Anglican and United Church of Canada songbook. And Walter has also performed in a number of the local dinner theatres.

And we have many discussions regarding faith, education, and the environment, as Rev. Farquharson is an avid member of the Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail Association, has been a staunch supporter of celebrating Arbor Day in our province.

And Stephen Farquharson is a son of Rev. Farquharson. He is recently retired teacher and principal of Saltcoats School. Stephen has contributed many ways to his community through education and through his community service. He is an extraordinarily talented man, as I will discuss in a member’s statement in a few minutes.

And joining them today is Tim Ziola, my fabulous CA [constituency assistant]. So I’d like all members to welcome these fine folks from Saltcoats to their Legislative Assembly.

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

Bhajan Brar: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to you, through you, I would like to introduce 48 grade 8 students, along with their respected teacher Danielle Stinson and Brianne McFetridge. Kindly wave. Mr. Speaker, after the question period, I will be happy to visit with them in the Assembly, take photos, as well as to answer their tough questions. I am confident that I will be able to answer their questions.

[13:45]

Mr. Speaker, with this I request to all members on both sides of the Assembly, please join me to welcome these students and their respected teachers to their Legislative Assembly. And also join me to congratulate all students who are being graduated next month. Thank you.

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

Tajinder Grewal: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, it’s my pleasure to welcome 39 grade 8 students from the Greystone Heights School. It’s very rare to have students from Saskatoon, and you’re my first guests here. Also welcome to their teachers Cory Farthing, Christine Loewen, and Sheri Johnson.

Mr. Speaker, Greystone Heights School is a very renowned school in Saskatoon. It has many special programs, like SAGE [Saskatoon Public Schools Academically Gifted Education] gifted education, intensive resource program, core French, arts education, and band and many others. I’m looking forward to answering your questions after the question period. Enjoy the show. I’ll ask all the members to join me to welcome the students and their teachers.

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

Trent Wotherspoon: — Thanks, Mr. Speaker. I request leave for an extended introduction.

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Trent Wotherspoon: — Thanks, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, I just want to join in a very warm welcome to Danielle Chartier, who served in this Assembly, was an hon. member, an incredible member of this Assembly, and was my seatmate for some time and an awesome leader within our caucus and for her community.

She was a real trailblazer, Mr. Speaker. She had a tiny little baby just before she was elected. And it wasn’t a time where there was some of the provisions in place and some of the cultural shift that was needed to accommodate a young parent. And Danielle worked real hard and worked through some tough situations to make her service happen. I had no end of respect for her trailblazing the path that we see here today in a large way. That’s why this legislature is starting to change and why you see a different place in this Assembly.

She was also a real trailblazer in the discussion around mental health in the province, Mr. Speaker, and spoke about it before it was a common conversation, and was ahead of the curve in speaking to the realities that many face, Mr. Speaker. And she was funny as heck as well, Mr. Speaker.

She’s got two incredible daughters. I can’t believe now Ophelia and Hennessey are 18 and 28. That’s wild. I guess I’ve been around here a long time, Danielle. Anyways it’s a real pleasure, and I ask all members to join with me in welcoming an incredible leader to her province, a great friend to this Assembly and to all, Danielle Chartier.

While I’m on my feet, Mr. Speaker, I want to just give a shout-out. Two awesome teachers up there. I’m going to give a shout-out though to Brianne McFetridge. I have the privilege of seeing her in action as well at the hockey rink. She’s here with her students here today.

Her and her husband, Kyle, they give back to this through their professions in both the police in a leadership role and through education in extraordinary ways. And they give back to their communities through coaching and involvement at the community level as well. Their son, boy he lit it up this weekend — four beauty goals off the blue line, Mr. Speaker. Great kid as well. So I ask all members to welcome Brianne McFetridge and to thank her and her husband, Kyle, for their leadership to our community and our province.

And while still on my feet, Mr. Speaker, my mom and dad have come in here for their annual visit I guess, Mr. Speaker, seated right up here. And they’ve brought a couple special guests that have come in with them here today. Now it’s my dad . . . you can see him with that big, crooked nose, Mr. Speaker. That’s a gift from Dave “Tiger” Williams back in Weyburn back in the day, Mr. Speaker, with a bit of hockey. But it’s a real privilege to welcome them to this Assembly.

Joining them today is their friend and neighbour Gerry Kovacs. He’s a good friend of my parents. He was born in Pilot Butte, spent his life in White City and Pilot Butte, and now in Regina.

He’s a big sports guy, big community guy, awesome hockey player — broomball, fastball. Just a real good community guy. And he spent his life, 33 years, as a Greyhound bus driver in this province, Mr. Speaker. So I ask all members of this Assembly to join with me in giving Gerry Kovacs a very warm welcome.

While on my feet, Mr. Speaker, I want to welcome my cousin. A bit of a distant cousin. But my mom’s grandmother was the sister of Kathleen’s grandmother, so my cousin Kathleen Woodward, Mr. Speaker. Now she’s an extraordinary person and an awesome leader, Mr. Speaker.

She was born on a farm just outside Balcarres. Studied at the U of S [University of Saskatchewan], the U of R [University of Regina], out in University of Manitoba as well at one point. But spent a life as an educator all through largely northern Saskatchewan and then back into Regina, but also in rural Saskatchewan. She served in the communities as a teacher and an administrator in Patuanak; in Pelican Narrows; Sturgeon Landing; Lashburn; and then 27 years in Creighton, Flin Flon where they raised their daughters; Prince Albert; and also Regina, Mr. Speaker.

She continues to volunteer in so many ways, including with Darke Hall, Regina seniors fitness, and the Highland Curling Club, as well as a not-for-profit, The Virtues Project. This is somebody who’s given much to her province and many communities.

Her husband, David Woodward, was also a teacher — 27 years as largely a grade 3 teacher, Mr. Speaker. He passed away just a few years ago. Kind of a legendary guy. Known as Woody to many, Mr. Speaker. And he gave back to the sporting community in a big way. He was an awesome teacher, very active in the late stages with the Regina Thunder and the Pilot Butte Storm when he came down here. Very active in their life up in Flin Flon, Creighton with the Bombers, Mr. Speaker. And he’d be so pumped to see the Bombers win that SJ [Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League] title this year, and to go off right now as they are to compete in the Centennial Cup, Mr. Speaker.

A little side story on Woody: he was the one, Mr. Speaker, that secured Mike Reagan, the current head coach of the Flin Flon Bombers, to secure him as the head coach. And he’s been an awesome leader to that organization. I understand he was secured on a drive down the Hanson Lake Road up to Flin Flon there in their convertible Mustang, Mr. Speaker. And by the time he got to Flin Flon, he had the good news for the leadership of the team that they’d secured him as the coach.

Kathleen, thank you for your incredible leadership to the province. And I ask all members to join with me in honouring Kathleen Woodward to her Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, I might sit down at some point here, but you gave me the floor and I’ll take advantage of it. I’ve got my mom and dad up there, you know, Faye Wotherspoon and Craik Wotherspoon. My mom . . . A little proud fact that connects to Kathleen: the two of them have completed two Queen City half-marathons, 21 kilometres, since they’ve been 70 years old, which I think is pretty remarkable. She’s out there walking and biking every day, Mr. Speaker.

She watches this Assembly far too much though, Mr. Speaker. One of my buddies texted me the other day. He said, hey, I just saw your mom at the field house. It was kind of an ugly day. She usually likes to walk outside. He said, yeah, she had her phone up like this, full tilt, blaring question period as she was walking around the track.

My mom’s a rock for our whole family, just the best. She knew how to stretch a budget and make everything pretty special as we grew up. Continues to lead for all of us. You know what moms are to us. So I ask all members to welcome my mom, Faye.

And then sitting beside her, you know, is Craik, eh. And my dad’s a pretty awesome guy too. He’s spent his life as an educator, teacher, principal for 37 years. Over the last 10 years now as a realtor in the community. Avid outdoorsman. We hunt and we fish together. We hike and we paddle. He’s got that crooked nose, but he’s actually a pretty straight shot, Mr. Speaker. And he’s a real keeper of a community outdoor rink that he works hard on, Mr. Speaker. He’s got no end of good energy.

And together my parents are incredible grandparents that are so valued by us, by our son William, by us as a family. So I ask all members of this Assembly to welcome my parents, Craik and Faye Wotherspoon, to their Assembly.

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

Brittney Senger: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will try to keep my introduction a smidge shorter than the last one. We have some guests seated in your gallery that are joining us today. These are some truly incredible young people that are keen on getting further engaged in politics and stepping into a very valuable role.

We have Barrett Fleck, Marissa Kakakaway, Ensa Sather, Minah Boru, Aiden Cobbe, and Ivan Teteria. These young people have joined our party as summer outreach organizers. This is a role that I stepped into in 2017, and it truly helped me throughout my political journey, helped me get engaged, and really inspired me. I’m very keen and excited to see the direction that these young people go, not only within this role but throughout their life and their career, because I know there’s really phenomenal things to come for them.

We are also joined by Bre Litzenberger and Cameron Robinson. These two, also remarkable young people, are working for the party, organizing outreach within communities across the province, supporting constituency associations, and doing really incredible work.

I am so inspired to see young people getting engaged in politics and look forward to supporting them throughout their journey in this role but also throughout their life. I’d like to ask all members of the Assembly to join me in welcoming these incredible young people to the Assembly.

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

Betty Nippi-Albright: — Request leave for an extended introduction.

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Betty Nippi-Albright: — Mr. Speaker, to you and through you, I’d like to join my colleagues in welcoming a few guests to their Assembly. First of all I just want to say to Saskatoon Tribal Council, Lisa and Ashley, thank you so much for being here and for the work that you do for Saskatoon. And as a member of the Saskatoon Tribal Council, it’s always wonderful to see Indigenous-led programming and services for the people in and around Saskatoon and the communities that the Saskatoon Tribal Council serves.

So I’m so grateful to see you here and to know the work that you’re doing, the innovative work that you’re doing. And please keep doing that. And I’m rooting for you guys. So I ask all members to join me in welcoming Lisa and Ashley to their Assembly.

And while I’m on my feet, I want to acknowledge one special person that I met shortly after he graduated . . . or actually I don’t know if he graduated. But he graduated from the poli-sci program a few years back. And he listened to me or heard me speak at the political studies forum at the University of Saskatchewan. And he was so eager that — he was thrilled I guess, whatever I said — he called my office and said, Betty, I want to come and volunteer for you.

And I thought, wow, here’s this young boy, young man who’s fresh out of university, that wants to come and volunteer for me. And I don’t know what it was, how I inspired him, but he came. He came to volunteer. Then he came and worked with me over the summer. And then I hired him on as a casual. And then last year he became my half-time CA for Saskatoon Centre.

So, Cameron Robinson, thank you for all that you have done for me and all the support and commitment that you have given to Saskatoon Centre. And I ask all members here in the Assembly to welcome Cameron Robinson to his legislature.

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

Brent Blakley: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I may as well keep this ball rolling and welcome a few people to the legislature. Up there I see Kathleen Woodward, whom I taught with at George Ferguson School a few years ago. You know, it’s just a pleasure to teach alongside her.

And teachers Danielle Stinson and Brianne McFetridge up there. A few years ago at Ethel Milliken School, they taught my daughter a few years ago. And they must have had a good, positive influence, because my daughter is now a teacher in Edmonton.

So I’d like to thank those three for their contribution to education and welcome them to their Assembly.

[14:00]

Speaker Goudy: — Well I just want to say, the Wotherspoons are here. We wondered who raised this fellow. He’s a little short on confidence and shy at times, but we’re working on him. So thanks for doing a great job, and welcome to your legislature.

PRESENTING PETITIONS

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

Aleana Young: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to be on my feet today to again present a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan calling for the upfront funding for fertility care here in Saskatchewan.

As many will be familiar, infertility is a health condition that impacts one in six people, Mr. Speaker. It knows no bounds. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, of gender, of faith, sexual orientation, of geography. It impacts one in six people right here in Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker.

And science is supposed to move us forward. And when we look at the high costs associated with receiving fertility care up front, upwards of $15,000 for one round of in vitro fertilization before the cost of drugs, this is something that is out of reach for far too many people here in Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker.

We should be helping people who want to grow their families right here in Saskatchewan. And I am confident that with the support of members on all sides of the Assembly, we can make this a reality and move Saskatchewan forward in line with other jurisdictions in Canada.

With that, I’ll read the prayer:

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request that the Government of Saskatchewan immediately move to cover the financial burden of fertility care up to and including two rounds of in vitro fertilization treatments for those Saskatchewan people struggling with infertility.

Mr. Speaker, the signatories of this petition today are from Yorkton. I do so present.

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

Brent Blakley: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to present a petition calling on the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan to support band education in the province.

These residents of the province of Saskatchewan wish to bring attention to the following: that Regina Public Schools are facing significant budgetary pressures and that band programs have reportedly already been reduced and are at risk of being eliminated due to inadequate operational funding; that music education, including band programs, are a critical part of a well-rounded public education that supports student achievement, mental health, and engagement; that research shows that music education improves cognitive development, literacy, numeracy, school attendance, and graduation rates; and that band programs provide unique opportunities for teamwork, discipline, leadership, inclusivity, and particularly benefiting students who may not engage in traditional academic or athletic programs.

The prayer reads as follows:

We respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to adequately fund public education, ensuring that all students in Regina and Saskatchewan have access to band education as prescribed by the Saskatchewan arts education curriculum.

Mr. Speaker, the signatories today reside in Regina. I do so present.

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

Noor Burki: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to present our petition to proclaim October of each year as Islamic Heritage Month.

We, the undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan, wish to bring to your attention the following: that Islam is the second most common religion in Saskatchewan, accounting for 2 per cent of the population; that between the 2001 census and the 2021 census, the Muslim population of Saskatchewan grew elevenfold; that the first Muslim organization in Canada was registered in Regina, Saskatchewan in 1934 by Lebanese immigrants; Muslims across the province contribute to Saskatchewan’s culture, economy, and communities; that the Muslim community must currently reapply every year to have October recognized as Islamic Heritage Month; that the governments of Canada, Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and Labrador have all proclaimed October as Islamic Heritage Month.

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan to call on the Government of Saskatchewan to proclaim October of each year as Islamic Heritage Month.

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. Mr. Speaker, I rise here on my feet today to present a petition calling for the acceleration of construction of the 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 a 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 new joint-use school in the Harbour Landing area as soon as possible.

This petition has been signed by residents of Regina, particularly from the 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 suspend the provincial fuel tax. The gas price is 189.9 today, and many people are struggling to make ends meet.

The undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan wish to bring to your attention the following: Saskatchewan people are struggling to keep up with the increased cost of food, shelter, and other basic necessities as wages have not been kept up with the rate of inflation; that the Sask Party government could provide immediate cost-of-living relief to Saskatchewan families by suspending the 15‑cent-per-litre provincial gas tax; that the Saskatchewan NDP [New Democratic Party], the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, among others have been calling for immediate gas tax relief.

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

Respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to suspend the collection of the provincial fuel tax from gasoline and diesel for a period of six months to help families struggling with the high cost of living.

The petition has been signed by residents of Regina. I do so present. Thank you.

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Provincial Secretary.

Red Dress Day

Hon. Jamie Martens: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. May 5th marks Red Dress Day, the national day of awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. The red dress is a powerful symbol of remembrance first brought forward through the Métis artist Jaime Black’s REDress Project, which honours the lives lost to violence and calls attention to those still missing. While Red Dress Day is one we honour and remember those who we have lost, it also is a call to action. Indigenous women and girls experience disproportionate levels of violence, and there is no place for any form of violence here in Saskatchewan.

Our government remains committed to preventing and ending gender-based violence through community education, advocacy, and direct support services that help women live safe, healthy, and prosperous lives. We share a hope with the people in this Chamber and the people of our province that respect, dignity, and compassion be the values that guide us towards a world without violence.

I encourage everyone to learn more, to attend a Red Dress Day event, wear red, or display a red dress in honour of solidary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Betty Nippi-Albright: — Mr. Speaker, today on Red Dress Day we honour the lives of missing, murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people. This day reminds us of the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence against Indigenous people, a crisis that continues to take lives and leave families without answers.

Across Saskatchewan, too many of our sisters, daughters, aunties, kohkoms, and girls have gone missing or been taken by violence. Their families search the ditches, the riverbanks, the back roads. They hold on to hope long after the rest of the world has moved on. And far too often, Mr. Speaker, they never receive closure.

Mr. Speaker, while provincial funding has been directed towards MMIWG2S [missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people] work, families tell us these funds do not help them search for their missing loved ones. There is no support for gas, for food, for any time away from work for the community-led searches. Families must organize themselves. Families are left to fundraise, to rely on volunteers, to carry the emotional and financial burden alone.

Every red dress we see today represents a life stolen and a family forever changed. And today, Mr. Speaker, we honour them by remembering their names, by standing with their families, and by refusing to look away from this ongoing crisis. Miigwech.

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

Hispanos en Regina Fundraiser Blends Community, Culture, and Compassion

Kevin Weedmark: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to celebrate Hispanos en Regina for their incredible community leadership and generosity. On April 25th, this organization hosted their first-ever fundraiser in support of the pediatric cancer clinic in Regina, raising more than $10,000 to help children and families across southern Saskatchewan with a cancer diagnosis.

The Hispanic fundraising gala brought together community, culture, and compassion in partnership with the Hospitals of Regina Foundation. Held during Cancer Awareness Month, it shone a light on the importance of supporting young patients and their families during some of life’s most challenging times.

Hispanos en Regina is truly a pillar of kindness in our province. Beyond fundraising, every Christmas they visit the pediatric cancer clinic to deliver toys and joy to children receiving care, reminding those families that their community stands behind them. Their dedication embodies the very best of the Saskatchewan spirit, and I’m happy to see their members at so many other events around the community showing their support. Through efforts like the Hispanic gala, they’re not only improving access to care but also strengthening hearts and communities.

Mr. Speaker, I extend my heartfelt thanks to President Cynthia Kalina, the volunteers, sponsors, and everyone involved for their compassion and their commitment. And on behalf of all my colleagues, I say:

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

Thank you.

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

Globe Theatre Celebrates 60 Years of Innovation

Brent Blakley: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The city of Regina is home to one of the most unique and innovative professional theatre companies in Canada. The Globe Theatre is a fundamental part of not only the Saskatchewan arts community but the community as a whole.

The Globe Theatre was founded in 1966 when Ken and Sue Kramer received a $3,000 grant from the Saskatchewan Arts Board to start a touring company for young audiences. It was the first professional educational theatre company in Saskatchewan. From their beginnings as a small theatre group touring Saskatchewan schools to a pioneer in the landscape of Canadian theatre, the Globe Theatre is Canada’s only professional, permanent theatre-in-the-round and only one of nine in the world.

Along with the amazing mainstage performances, the Globe Theatre has grown to offer additional programming with community black box theatre, play readings, new work development, digital programming, and a theatre education program through the Globe Theatre School.

The theatre operates through the generous contributions of their dedicated donors, capital campaigns, grant initiatives, and through funding from all three levels of government. Seventy-five per cent of the theatre’s revenue is earned, and 57 per cent of that comes from ticket sales.

This year marks 60 years that the Globe Theatre has been operating in the province. Let’s continue our support for the Globe and ensure that it keeps going for another 60 years and beyond. Thank you.

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

Saltcoats Resident’s Theatre Productions Support His Community

Hon. Warren Kaeding: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize and celebrate the remarkable contributions of Mr. Stephen, or Steve, Farquharson, a distinguished resident of Saltcoats.

As a founding member of the Saltcoats Laketown Players renowned theatre group, Steve has been instrumental in producing annual dinner theatre productions since 2006. His creativity is evident in all nine of the original plays that he has written for the event, including his most recent, Torched by an Angel, which was performed in February of ’26. And this lighthearted comedy brought to life a mix of heavenly, demonic, and very human characters, Mr. Speaker.

As a result of Stephen’s creativity and the help of countless volunteers such as those joining him here today, the Laketown Players’ productions have raised approximately $300,000 that has supported the town hall, the regional park, the historical cemetery revitalization project, and the local school.

A retired teacher and former principal of Saltcoats School, Mr. Farquharson’s influence extends to generations of students who benefit from his passion for literature, drama, and community engagement. His legacy is one of storytelling, mentorship, and a deep commitment to fostering a strong sense of belonging in Saltcoats.

[14:15]

Mr. Speaker, I invite all members of this Assembly to join me in expressing our deepest gratitude to Mr. Stephen Farquharson for his remarkable contributions, his dedication to the arts, and his lasting impact on the community of Saltcoats and area. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from the Cumberland.

Happy Charles Is Still Missing

Jordan McPhail: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to bring awareness and to acknowledge the awful plight of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. For too long Indigenous women and girls have gone missing or have been murdered at disproportionate rates in our province, leaving behind children, loving partners, brothers, sisters, aunties, uncles, and parents, with far too many questions and little to no closure.

But today I’m thinking of Happy Charles, her daughters, and her loving family and parents, Regina and Carson Poitras. Happy is a nêhiýaw-iskwêw from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band who was last seen nine years ago, on April 3rd, 2017, in Prince Albert. Since then her family have been strong advocates, organizing walks, hosting press conferences, and striving to implement the calls for justice detailed in the final report of the MMIWG [missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls] inquiry.

However Happy Charles is still missing. Her children and family deserve to have the answers that they seek, and it is long past due to bring Happy home. Very recently the Prince Albert Police Service historical crimes and missing persons unit appealed to the public for assistance in locating Happy. If anybody has information regarding this case, they can reach out to the Prince Albert Police Service or provide an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 1‑800‑222‑8477.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hope that by this time next year, we can all say that we have brought Happy home. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Renovations to College of Dentistry Will Benefit Entire Province

Barret Kropf: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to recognize a significant milestone for post-secondary education and health care training in our province: the grand opening of the University of Saskatchewan’s newly renovated College of Dentistry clinical facility. The College of Dentistry is regarded as a leader across Canada and is globally recognized for its growing research portfolio. The college is unique in that it offers training for the entire dental team, including dentists, assistants, therapists, hygienists, and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that our government has invested $17.2 million in this impressive new clinic. And because of this funding, the college has completed major renovations and equipment upgrades. The result is a full-service, state-of-the-art clinical facility featuring new treatment chairs, delivery units, and advanced simulation stations. Mr. Speaker, roughly 19,000 patients were seen at the clinic last year, and with these upgrades that number could reach 23,000 patients.

Graduates of the College of Dentistry go on to become vital members of Saskatchewan’s health care community, improving the well-being of patients across our province. Congratulations to the U of S, the College of Dentistry, faculty, students, and partners on this exciting achievement. This investment reflects our commitment to students, innovation, and to building a strong future for oral health care in Saskatchewan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

QUESTION PERIOD

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

Affordability and Provincial Fuel Tax

Nicole Sarauer: — Mr. Speaker, that Premier’s own pollster has found that the sky-high price of gas is hammering household budgets right across the province. Eighty-four per cent of people surveyed by Angus Reid last week said they were feeling the pain at the pumps.

Can the Premier tell us for the record what the average gas price is today in Saskatchewan?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Mr. Speaker, we’ve seen fuel prices at the pump fluctuating almost on a daily basis. The oil price, Mr. Speaker, likewise has been fluctuating on a daily basis due to geopolitical consequences, geopolitical actions that are happening half a world away, Mr. Speaker.

On the topic of general family affordability in this province, this is and has been a priority of this government for years now, Mr. Speaker, lest I say more than a decade, up to and including this most recent budget where we saw two and a half billion dollars of affordability measures put in place. That’s up half a billion dollars from before the election budget, Mr. Speaker, where we campaigned on a platform largely focused on affordability for Saskatchewan families, largely focused on affordability for families.

And most notable among those initiatives — and there’s many that I can list, Mr. Speaker — is lowering the personal income tax for families in the province of Saskatchewan to the point where a family of four now pays no provincial income tax on their first $65,000 of income, Mr. Speaker. That is the highest tax-free threshold in the nation.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Opposition House Leader.

Nicole Sarauer: — Mr. Speaker, clearly the Premier doesn’t know what the price of gas is today, so I’ll tell him. It’s $1.86 per litre. That’s nearly 60 cents more than it was just two months ago.

Still the Premier refuses to suspend his gas tax, even as his own pollster found that two-thirds of people say they’re driving less because of the price of gas. But here’s the thing. Not everyone has that option. They need their vehicles to get to work, to pick up their kids, to go to the store, and so much more.

Can the Premier tell this House precisely what rate the price of gas has to climb to before he will stop taxing Saskatchewan people at the pumps?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Mr. Speaker, I filled up my truck this weekend. It was just over a hundred . . . a dollar seven eighty cents a litre, Mr. Speaker, which is far higher than it was just a couple of months ago.

But here we see the contradictory position of the members opposite, Mr. Speaker. Just this morning they had a news release out criticizing this government for what they claim is a reduction in the investment in highways, Mr. Speaker. That’s where the gas tax goes — in fact all of the gas tax — which is new to this province. Under the previous governance, Mr. Speaker, not all of the gas tax went to our investment in highways in this province.

Mr. Speaker, today that is no longer the case. The entirety of the gas tax plus additional investment goes into the investment in our highways, Mr. Speaker, criticized by the members opposite this morning. Now they stand and ask for that gas tax to be reduced. Thereby the highways budget would correspondingly be reduced as well, Mr. Speaker.

This is a government that continues to invest in highways, whether it be to ensure that our highways are going to be fixed this spring, or whether it be to ensure that we have a safe highway system for our goods to get to market, Mr. Speaker, but most importantly to ensure that those highways are safe for our families that travel those very same highways each and every day.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Opposition House Leader.

Provision of Addictions Services

Nicole Sarauer: — Mr. Speaker, the gas tax goes to the GRF [General Revenue Fund]. Revenues are way up, and that Premier should know that.

Sadly, Mr. Speaker, the Premier’s also failing to address a drug crisis that has overrun Saskatchewan communities. Front-line responders can’t keep up with the calls. People are dying. Children are dying. There are Saskatchewan agencies who are ready to help, but this Premier chose a Toronto-based, private, for-profit company to lead his failing efforts.

Can the Premier explain why he denied Saskatchewan people, who are ready to help, the chance to address the drug crisis that is impacting their own communities?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Mr. Speaker, we’ve been very deliberate in our investment in recovery spaces in this province, intensive recovery spaces. Over 300 of those beds, those spaces are open today, Mr. Speaker, servicing people that unfortunately are living a life of addictions. Mr. Speaker, 200 more of those spaces are being funded in this year’s very budget.

And we have said, have been very clear from the beginning that we will not put ideology over opportunities, that we have to use today’s innovation, tools, and services, Mr. Speaker, to improve the outcomes in health care.

Mr. Speaker, this is unlike the members opposite, Mr. Speaker. We will use, yes, publicly funded, privately delivered services when it comes to, for example, STARS [Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service] air ambulance, when it comes to funding fee-for-service physicians that run their own operations, Mr. Speaker, in delivering health care in this province.

When it comes to expanding our diagnostics, our lab services, a year ago we saw the members opposite demanding that LifeLabs be removed from the province, Mr. Speaker. We will continue to use publicly funded, privately delivered surgical clinics and surgical initiatives across this province.

And when it comes to delivering some of the highest quality, highest outcome care in that recovery space, that intensive recovery service that is offered, Mr. Speaker, we will continue to put outcomes ahead of ideology.

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

Meara Conway: — Well, Mr. Speaker, the Premier’s own team denied a call for the head of that Toronto-based, for-profit, private-equity company Edgewood Health Network, or EHN, to come to this legislature for questioning despite the fact that that government is handing them $20 million to address the addictions crisis. Mr. Speaker. I guess we just have to take his word that EHN has the best interests of Saskatchewan people at heart.

Meanwhile that CEO [chief executive officer] preaches a Korean War aerial combat mentality when it comes to their business strategy. He touts speed, aggression, profit, when we need care, time, and compassion to address a crisis that is spiralling out of control, Mr. Speaker.

We just want basic accountability when so much is at stake. Why is the Premier hiding the CEO of Edgewood? What is he trying to protect?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — I know there has been some request or letter submitted; I’m not sure to who, Mr. Speaker. I talked to the Chair of Committees. He’s not received any such letter or request. Mr. Speaker, so I’d ask the member opposite if she has a request, that maybe she’d table it in the House or at least make the government aware as she comes to ask questions on the requests that they may be putting forward.

Mr. Speaker, we have an opportunity either this week or early next week to vote on the appropriations for the budget, Mr. Speaker. In that appropriations is 200 additional intensive care beds that are going to be added to our commitment of 500 intensive recovery beds, Mr. Speaker, that will be available to Saskatchewan individuals and for Saskatchewan families to support their individuals in a recovery journey.

We have the opportunity either later this week or next week to vote on those appropriations. I would hope that the members opposite, Mr. Speaker, would vote on behalf of supporting Saskatchewan residents that are asking for access to those recovery spaces, and support that appropriation bill that supports the budget.

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

Content of The Compassionate Intervention Act

Meara Conway: — Well about that, Mr. Speaker. This government shot down 17 amendments we put forward to fix their deeply flawed Bill 48. We know now, from last night, that people seeking treatment for drug addiction voluntarily can be removed and the space handed to someone forced into treatment involuntarily. We know that already the wait times in Saskatchewan can be up to six weeks or more. The Premier himself said so last week.

Those are the worst wait times in Canada, Mr. Speaker. People will continue to die waiting for life-saving treatment, Mr. Speaker. Why is the Premier failing so badly to meaningfully address this crisis?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — I understand there was a number of amendments that were put forward last night, Mr. Speaker. I’ll mention three that are actually included in the bill as well. One is to offer voluntary treatment first. That’s what these 500 beds are about, Mr. Speaker, is to offer voluntary treatment for Saskatchewan residents.

Second is to have a right to legal counsel, Mr. Speaker. There is free legal counsel that is offered to each individual, Mr. Speaker, that may find themselves working through The Compassionate Intervention Act.

Third was Indigenous representation. There is right in the Act, Mr. Speaker, Indigenous representation that is required to be on the board, Mr. Speaker. And it would be the expectation that is mirrored throughout the committees that are there.

Mr. Speaker, we’ll have the opportunity today to vote on The Compassionate Intervention Act, an Act that has been asked for, Mr. Speaker, by municipal leaders, has been asked for by Indigenous leaders, has been asked for by police chiefs and, most importantly, Mr. Speaker, has been asked for by families: the opportunity to intervene, Mr. Speaker, for a loved one and ensure that they have an opportunity to enter a recovery lifestyle.

I would hope that the members opposite would support Saskatchewan families in providing that opportunity and not deny them.

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

Meara Conway: — Mr. Speaker, one of the mind-boggling aspects of this bill we learned about last night is that there is no plan to add treatment spaces under this bill. The minister said so last night. They could provide no date for more treatment spaces to come online, not one. We asked that over and over and over, Mr. Speaker.

They also couldn’t tell us how many spaces they intend to create. Forget supportive housing, peer support, employment support, mental health support — all those different things you need for successful recovery. This government is failing on the bare minimum, and that is treatment spaces, Mr. Speaker.

Why hasn’t the Premier opened the spaces we need to get treatment to people to stop preventable deaths to offer real compassion and real hope for the future?

[14:30]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Well that simply isn’t the case. I’ve said on the floor of this Assembly that the treatment beds, the intensive recovery treatment beds that will be available for the small number of people that may be referred through The Compassionate Intervention Act, Mr. Speaker, are going to be in addition to the 500 beds, the voluntary beds that we have provided. Which are in addition to the original above‑500 recovery beds that we had in this province.

So the premise of the question, Mr. Speaker, does not match the answers that were given last night. Does not match what I had said on the floor of this Assembly over the recent number of days, Mr. Speaker. We have 300 beds, adding 200 more in this budget, of which I hope the members opposite will vote in a positive manner on behalf of Saskatchewan people, supporting Saskatchewan people when that appropriations budget comes.

But later today we’re going to have the opportunity to vote on The Compassionate Intervention Act . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Order, please.

Hon. Scott Moe: — The Compassionate Intervention Act, Mr. Speaker, which is an Act that has been brought forward by as I say, community leaders, police chiefs and, most important, families to have the opportunity to intervene on behalf of a loved one so that they have the opportunity to enter a recovery lifestyle. Are you going to deny families that chance?

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

Access to Addictions Treatment and Mental Health Supports

Jacqueline Roy: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now yesterday I was in Yorkton to talk about this crisis. It’s a crisis that impacts communities all over Saskatchewan. Now Yorkton’s 20‑bed shelter, Bruno’s Place, just can’t keep up. And why? It’s because for 20 years there has been no investment. The government has been missing in action on addictions treatment, mental health, and housing. The head of the shelter says that they’re seeing more people struggling with mental health and more people displaced by rising and rising rents. I quote, “There’s nowhere else for them to go.”

Will that Sask Party take some responsibility for the housing, homelessness, and addictions crisis that they themselves have created in Yorkton?

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

Hon. Lori Carr: — Well thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our government is focused on helping people overcome mental health and addictions challenges by supporting recovery no matter where they reside in the province.

Within the city of Yorkton we have several programs and services that are available for those individuals, Mr. Speaker. We work directly with Bruno’s Place, four addiction treatment spaces right there in Yorkton. Very shortly we’re going to be making an announcement on more spaces that are going to be coming available in Yorkton.

But as well as that we have 15 in-patient mental health spaces offered at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre. We have out-patient mental health and addictions services that are also provided through the regional centre. We have rapid access counselling, Mr. Speaker, Family Service Saskatchewan in partnership with the SHA [Saskatchewan Health Authority]. There are several different services that are available. Thank you.

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

Health Care for Women and Victims of Violence

Jacqueline Roy: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Interesting that, because the government just denied several requests.

Mr. Speaker, they’re failing people across the province. This includes those facing the worst days of their lives. Sexual assault victims in Prince Albert and area do not have access to a sexual assault nurse examiner on evenings and on weekends. The minister point-blank refused the SHA’s request to expand nurse examiner services.

It’s not just wrong. That policy is cruel. Bryce Boynton, the president of SUN [Saskatchewan Union of Nurses], has stated that this lack of access is leading to painful decisions. Victims, newly traumatized and forced to sit in ERs [emergency room] for hours and hours and be re-traumatized, sometimes can’t handle that. They leave without receiving care.

Does that minister think a woman deserves worse medical care if she was assaulted on a Friday night instead of a Monday morning?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Well thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’ve answered questions regarding this in previous weeks here on the floor of the Assembly. I’ve been quite clear, Mr. Speaker, that currently we have a sexual assault nurse examiner available Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If a patient presents outside of those hours, again our emergency room physicians in Prince Albert, the Victoria Hospital, are quite capable and do provide that care, Mr. Speaker.

We’re working with the Saskatchewan Health Authority to continue to expand services in multiple areas, Mr. Speaker. This is an area certainly that we have ongoing discussions with leaders in the Saskatchewan Health Authority on how we enhance services for women in Prince Albert and northern Saskatchewan.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Cumberland.

Response to Spring Flooding

Jordan McPhail: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. People in P.A. [Prince Albert] are being failed by this government, and so are people across this province who are facing states of emergency due to flooding. The road into Patuanak is washed out due to flooding and, as of this morning, Highway 918 is closed. And this government cut $36 million for northern roads and highway infrastructure.

Where is the plan to restore road access to communities like Patuanak? And how can the Highways minister justify his cuts to northern Saskatchewan?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Highways.

Hon. Kim Gartner: — Well thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the member opposite for the question. It’s going to give me an opportunity to extend a huge thank you to our Ministry of Highways teams, the road construction crews, flag persons and employees, and elected officials from all our community partners.

Mr. Speaker, crews are working tirelessly assessing road damage, repairing roadways, and working with community leaders to ensure our roads are safe and accessible for those travelling on our provincial roads. We have taken proactive measures wherever possible to address historic problem areas and reactive measures to address the ever-changing conditions across the province. We will continue to work with the SPSA [Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency] and Water Security Agency to provide updates as conditions change. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Cumberland.

Jordan McPhail: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hope that minister hears this very clearly. Those front-line workers are working their butts off all across Saskatchewan, and they deserve a government that’s working just as hard as they are, not cutting their funding out of the provincial budget.

Mr. Speaker, it’s not just northern communities that are facing road closures due to flooding. Communities all over Saskatchewan are seeing roads closed. As of yesterday, there were closures on highways 3, 5, 23, 25, 55, 320, 355, 916, and 936. And guess what? Cuts from this government helped make all of this situation worse. Capital spending for dams and water supply channels has been cut by 16 per cent, and the Sask Party budget cut the highways capital budget by $20.5 million.

Will the Minister of Highways accept that his cuts have consequences and take some accountability for these road closures today?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Highways.

Hon. Kim Gartner: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This year’s budget is $764 million for the Ministry of Highways. This budget improves more than 850 kilometres of provincial highways. In the seventh year of Saskatchewan’ growth plan for growth goal, our goal is to build and upgrade 10 000 kilometres of highways by 2030. We have now improved 7900. We’re well on track to meet our target.

This year’s capital budget is $401 million, Mr. Speaker, and we have lots of planned capital investments involved in that.

For weeks now the NDP has called for the Ministry of Highways budget to be cut through elimination of the gas tax, which goes directly into our provincial highway budget, Mr. Speaker. Now those same members are calling for more highways and infrastructure funding. I ask them, can they please pick a lane?

Future of Information Services Corporation

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

Aleana Young: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday the Sask Party government moved one step closer to the sell-off of ISC [Information Services Corporation of Saskatchewan]. And it’s Saskatchewan people who are already paying more and Saskatchewan people who are going to lose the profits. Selling a house, registering a business — it’s all about to get more expensive once this government sells off the rest of ISC.

Now, Mr. Speaker, this government is opening the door to allow another majority shareholder to take control of ISC. Will the minister guarantee that no one will ever own more of ISC than the Saskatchewan people?

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

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Well thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As this House is well aware and as this House has been well aware, a strategic review has been initiated by the board of the Information Services Corporation. That board, that review has been supported by the government. There are no recommendations that have come forward yet from that review, Mr. Speaker, and in fact we have put in place measures to ensure that the interests of the Saskatchewan public are protected.

That bill is going to be going to committee, I believe, later today, Mr. Speaker. I hope that the opposition will support those strengthened measures, which include ensuring ISC’s intellectual property stays in Saskatchewan, maintaining the service obligations of ISC for this province and guaranteeing board seats, along with the head office being located here in this province, Mr. Speaker.

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

Aleana Young: — I don’t know, Mr. Speaker. It’s the same minister who said that SaskPower rates wouldn’t be going up, so I guess we’ll have to ask some questions because this is a minister who is opening the door to hand ISC off to a fully private, Quebec-based company, Mr. Speaker. For-profit companies, they’re going to squeeze Saskatchewan people buying or selling a house, registering a business for every penny they can.

Now when the Sask Party first sold off ISC, Mr. Speaker, they told the people of Saskatchewan not to worry. Trust us, they said. They said that the government would keep the golden share. They said that 29 per cent of the company would stay with Saskatchewan people.

So again, to the minister: will you guarantee that the Government of Saskatchewan will never sell its shares of ISC, and it will always be controlled by the people of Saskatchewan who built it?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Crown Investments Corporation.

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Well thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. This is the same member who advocated for liquefied natural gas to be the power source of this province on the recommendation of a Quebec-based company who they contracted to tell them that, Mr. Speaker . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Oh, excuse me. Order, please. You know, I just sometimes wonder when I stand up, does everybody know what that means? I think . . .

I recognize the minister.

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Well thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. This is again a demonstration from the members opposite why they’re not taken seriously by anyone. The members opposite have advocated for liquefied natural gas to be the power source for this province, Mr. Speaker, on the recommendation of a Quebec-based company.

What I would say, Mr. Speaker, with regard to Information Services Corporation — which we have made very clear over the course of the last number of months — we support the board-led process.

And what we’re doing with this bill that we have in the House right now is going to be strengthening the position of the Government of Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker, by ensuring that the intellectual property for ISC stays domiciled here in Saskatchewan, maintaining the service obligations that ISC has to the province through the master services agreement, ensuring that the head office remains here in this province, Mr. Speaker, as well and looking to grow jobs on top of that. I would hope that the members opposite would be supporting that bill later this day.

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

Access to Addictions Treatment

Betty Nippi-Albright: — Mr. Speaker, toxic drug overdose deaths are claiming lives across Saskatchewan. Over the weekend there were multiple overdoses in communities in every part of our province. One individual was found deceased behind Fire Creek in Saskatoon. We have all lost people in our lives to drug overdose and it has to stop, Mr. Speaker.

When will we see real action from this government to stop these preventable deaths from happening in Saskatchewan?

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

Hon. Lori Carr: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, overdoses are a tragedy, and I extend my condolences to those who have lost a loved one under such difficult circumstances.

Mr. Speaker, in our action plan for mental health and addictions, we are taking measures to stop and to put recovery spaces in place for these individuals. As we look at the progress that has been made — it’s a five-year plan; we are in year three of that plan — since we’ve introduced that plan, overdose deaths have decreased by 28 per cent. So the actions that we’re taking are starting to work.

One death is too many, and we want that number to be zero. And that’s why we will continue adding those spaces across the province to get individuals into recovery.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

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

Henry's Law Regulations Will Protect Saskatchewan Residents

Hon. Eric Schmalz: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in the House today to honour a young man who left this world far too soon. Henry Losco was only 11 years old when he died in December of 2025 from exposure to carbon monoxide while he slept.

[14:45]

I recently had the opportunity to meet with Henry’s parents, Sergio and Marina, to hear about who Henry was and to discuss what we as a government can do to protect families in Saskatchewan from a tragedy like this ever happening again. I want to acknowledge the bravery and resilience of Henry’s parents, as they have been such strong advocates for change while experiencing a grief that most of us will never comprehend.

In this conversation with Marina and Sergio, I heard about how bright, joyful, and deeply empathetic Henry was. Henry was a strong and passionate soccer player. He truly excelled in the sport that he loved. Off the field Henry was not only an athlete but a musician, a chess player, and a burgeoning entrepreneur. I thank Sergio and Marina for their time and for sharing with me their stories about Henry.

It is evident when talking to Henry’s parents how deeply they love him and how proud they are of him. We often talk about how our children are the future of our province, which only makes stories like that of Henry much more heart-wrenching — a life that had only just begun, a bright future that did not have the opportunity to be realized, potential that did not get a chance to flourish.

It is in honour of Henry Losco we are introducing Henry’s Law, to ensure that other children’s stories do not meet the same end as Henry’s.

Mr. Speaker and members of the House, I am on my feet to announce new provincial regulations that will strengthen carbon monoxide alarm requirements in all residential suites in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan already requires carbon monoxide alarms in many residential buildings, but Henry’s Law requires a carbon monoxide alarm in every suite, in every multi-unit residential dwelling.

Henry’s Law will provide greater safety for people inside their homes and protect against the possibility of another life lost to carbon monoxide. Compliance will be required by November 1st of this year. Over the next six months the Ministry of Government Relations will offer education to building owners, local authorities, building officials, and industry associations about their obligations. Let me be very clear, Mr. Speaker. These regulations impact buildings old and new.

Henry’s Law will be the second time in recent years this government has acted to strengthen carbon monoxide regulations in Saskatchewan. In 2022 our government amended the building code regulations to be among the most stringent in the nation, and we will go even further with these new regulations.

Mr. Speaker, with our winters we need our furnaces and fuel-burning appliances to keep us warm, and that isn’t going away any time soon. With Henry’s Law, when Saskatchewan residents lay their heads to rest at night, they can expect to be safe from the dangers of carbon monoxide.

What happened to Henry is a tragedy. In his memory and in his honour we can help protect other children and Saskatchewan residents from the same fate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Erika Ritchie: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today we are here responding to a preventable tragedy. An 11‑year-old boy, Henry Losco, lost his life due to carbon monoxide exposure in his home, with no alarm to warn him or his family. This is exactly the kind of loss that stronger safeguards are meant to prevent. Our focus has been clear, ensuring that buildings in Saskatchewan are safe and that no family has to endure this kind of tragedy again.

We undertook the work on Henry’s Law to strengthen carbon monoxide alarm requirements in Saskatchewan, and I appreciate that the minister has indicated a willingness to work collaboratively to deliver these regulatory changes. I thank the minister for that collaboration, and I hope that we can continue that same approach in other areas where lives are at risk.

Regulation alone is not enough. Education is also a critical part of prevention. School-aged children must understand what a carbon monoxide alarm sounds like and how to respond immediately. If we are serious about preventing tragedies like this, we must empower children with knowledge that can save their lives.

Stronger rules are only effective if they are enforced, and we know that municipalities are beginning to take this seriously. The city of Saskatoon has already introduced bylaws to strengthen enforcement of carbon monoxide alarm requirements, and this is an important step that shows leadership at the municipal level. Other municipalities may follow, but we need a consistent province-wide approach that ensures compliance, accountability, and enforcement.

We are still waiting for the final investigation results. We need to fully understand the scope of what went wrong, but one thing is already clear: this was preventable. This is why we will continue to push for accountability, transparency, and justice. We will continue to advocate for justice for Henry, and we will ensure that anyone responsible is held accountable.

In December I wrote to the minister asking how the ministry is ensuring strong governance and oversight through TSASK [Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan]. These are essential questions, and I will continue to scrutinize the government’s approach because oversight failures can have deadly consequences.

Let me be clear. This is not over. I will continue advocating to protect children and families in Saskatchewan. That means working collaboratively with industry stakeholders, parents, educators, and fire chiefs. We will ensure that Henry’s Law is implemented fully and effectively.

Henry’s parents have shown incredible courage in the face of unimaginable loss. We owe it to them and to every family in this province to act. These tragedies are preventable, and it is our responsibility to make sure this never happens again. Protecting children should never be partisan. It should be our shared responsibility. Let’s get this done.

PRESENTING REPORTS BY STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

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

Standing Committee on Human Services

Travis Keisig: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I apologize for being a little tardy. Mr. Speaker, I am instructed by the Standing Committee on Human Services to report Bill No. 48, The Compassionate Intervention Act with amendments.

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

Hon. Lori Carr: — I request leave to waive consideration in Committee of the Whole on this bill and that this bill and its amendments now be read the third time.

Speaker Goudy: — The minister has requested leave to waive considerations in the Committee of the Whole on Bill No. 48, The Compassionate Intervention Act and that the bill be now read the third time. Is leave granted?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — When shall the amendments be read the first time?

FIRST AND SECOND READINGS OF AMENDMENTS

Bill No. 48 — The Compassionate Intervention Act

Hon. Lori Carr: — I move that the amendments be now read a first and second time.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the minister that the amendments be now read a first and second time. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Deputy Clerk: — First and second reading of the amendments.

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

THIRD READINGS

Bill No. 48 — The Compassionate Intervention Act

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

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the minister that the bill be now read the third time and passed under its title. I recognize the Leader of the Opposition.

Carla Beck: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I stand on my feet today to put some comments on the record ahead of the vote on Bill 43 and to enter some thoughts, Mr. Speaker. Before I start . . . [inaudible interjection] . . . 48. Thank you.

I want to express sincere and heartfelt gratitude to my team, both the elected members and the staff, for the care and the compassion and the diligence with which they have approached this bill and the debate. I want to especially express my gratitude to the shadow ministers, the member for Saskatoon Centre as well as the members from Regina Douglas Park and Regina Elphinstone-Centre, for their time with stakeholders and their time in committee last night.

I know it was a long session last night in committee. And I thought that their thoughtful questions, interventions, the amendments that they brought forward showed their thoughtful, their collaborative approach to this bill given the potentially serious implications that this bill has. I think it also showed their understanding of the complexities and the broader social context in which this bill finds us in this province today.

And I’d like to thank all of the members . . . the thoughtful remarks that were put on the record about personal experiences, about experiences in their community. And I think it really showed the gravity of this bill that we are soon to vote on.

Mr. Speaker, I’d also like to thank all of the families, all of the professionals, all of the front-line workers, the experts, subject matter experts who engaged with this bill, who worked with our team, worked with our shadow minister through the implications, some of the shortcomings of this bill, and were eager to offer those collaborative suggestions.

And I am going to start with some common ground. Today we just witnessed what can happen when we do take that collaborative approach, as the member for Nutana noted. Passing Henry’s Law, I want to say how strong we saw Henry’s parents advocate for him, for all children in this province at a time that they were going through their own deep, personal grief, to advocate to make things better, as the member for Nutana said, as we all should when there are the lives of Saskatchewan people at risk. And they certainly are.

And I think all members will agree that there is a tragedy that is playing out in communities large and small right across this province right now: toxic, terrible drugs that are causing great harm to people, tearing families apart, undermining our social fabric, community safety; drugs that are all too easy to obtain, and incredibly difficult to free oneself when people are caught in the grip of those drugs.

I think we all share concern about those who are bringing these poisonous drugs into our communities and destroying lives. Want to see harsher penalties, more effective means to stop those drugs from filtering, from flooding our communities.

And it’s true that this is a tragedy that is playing out across the country. But I’m going to focus my remarks, my attention to this province because it is this province and the people of this province that we are all elected to serve, that we owe that due diligence, especially when Saskatchewan lives are at risk.

[15:00]

We also agree that in a small minority of cases, when these terrible drugs cause imminent, immediate danger to those who are using them and to public safety, as a last resort, that involuntary or forced treatment is indicated as something that we should be looking at, but only with those safeguards in place to ensure that the rights and the dignity of the person — let’s be clear — that’s having their personal liberties taken away, even temporarily, that that deserves.

Mr. Speaker, I think we’ve got agreement up until that point. However, Mr. Speaker, I said “a small minority of cases.” And the fact is that this bill does not make up for the failures to address all of the other instances, from voluntary treatment let alone prevention, that this government should be focused on and haven’t been focused on, Mr. Speaker. In fact they have failed to come up with a full strategy to address this crisis, the kind of collaboration and urgency that this issue requires.

This is a government that has watched this drug crisis make its way across this province, has failed to invest in those voluntary treatment services that are needed. We had the Premier himself acknowledge that our voluntary beds in this province are full and people are waiting six weeks, even longer, to access those beds. Mr. Speaker, when you are white-knuckling through your addiction waiting for that gap between detox and treatment, those six months can seem like a lifetime. And unfortunately for many people, that wait is costing people their lives.

In this province right now, we are losing one person a day to this tragedy, to addiction. Obituaries of young people that at one time used to be rare are all too common. And it’s not just in the big cities. It’s happening right across this province. Mr. Speaker, this government has failed to focus on that treatment and those services. That is not compassion.

And this government has actually watched this drug crisis unfold. And inexplicably against advice, with disregard, they have actually made things worse. When I think of the removal of the direct payment to landlords, for example, Mr. Speaker, something that everyone told this government would have tragic results when it came to homelessness, when it came to addictions, this government plowed ahead. They didn’t undertake the collaboration and the care that was necessary, Mr. Speaker, and that decision has had consequences.

We had in the child advocate’s report recently, Mr. Speaker, a report that at least 13 children in this province under the age of five have lost their lives due to exposure to toxic substances. Mr. Speaker, I see nothing in this bill to address those children who have died, let alone a willingness to get to the root causes, to understand how we make sure that no child in this province dies that way again.

Mr. Speaker, in a small number of cases, involuntary treatment as a last resort, with those guardrails, those very important measures in place, may be necessary for some people in our province, but as a last resort. This government has failed to address all of the other issues, all of the other things that they can and should be doing to address the drug crisis in this province. In fact they’ve done that for years.

And last night, with the input of families who have been struggling, people with lived experience, the input of experts, those in the medical community, those who are subject matter experts, our shadow ministers put forward in committee 17 amendments. Mr. Speaker, these were not outrageous amendments. These are amendments that were aimed at making this bill better so that we could save the lives of Saskatchewan people.

One of those amendments was to ensure that people in this province right now, those people who are waiting six weeks or more for voluntary treatment, that they don’t lose their space to someone in involuntary treatment. That amendment was voted down by the members opposite.

There was another amendment to ensure Indigenous representation was present and central in making these decisions when they involve Indigenous people, Mr. Speaker. That was also voted down. There was another that required mandatory approval for someone to be put into treatment — also denied.

Seventeen amendments aimed at making this bill stronger, at actually getting to the root causes of the addictions crisis in this province, Mr. Speaker, when Saskatchewan people’s lives are on the line, all attempts to fix this deeply flawed bill. But this government voted them down without even considering them.

Mr. Speaker, there are deep concerns in this province about the drug crisis, a crisis that seems to worsen every day. We had 450 overdose calls in Regina and Saskatoon alone in April. We hear from front-line firefighters, paramedics who are not only run off their feet, but they themselves are experiencing deep, personal crises, having revived so many people who have nearly lost their lives to this drug crisis, or responding to calls where people have indeed lost their lives, Mr. Speaker.

We see concerns with this drug crisis that has spiralled out of control — in some cases has been made worse by decisions of this government — overrun our downtowns, businesses having to lock their doors during the day, and people feeling unsafe in their own communities.

I talked to a dad in P.A. not that long ago who talked about how much his daughter enjoyed going to the park, you know. Something that I think we all did with our kids. Something that you kind of take for granted that you can enjoy in your community. Something we should be able to enjoy. He said he doesn’t take her to the park anymore because they have found needles at their park, Mr. Speaker.

We have attempted in our amendments, comments from the floor, engaging in second reading debate, to draw this government’s attention to all of the things that they are missing with Bill 48, to put forward thoughtful amendments that have come out of consultation and collaboration with the people of this province.

This government has been wilful in their rejection of these amendments. I would guess because they came from members on this side, Mr. Speaker. This is too important. This is too important to reject amendments, ideas, evidence that would make this bill stronger and would make our communities and the people of this province safer, Mr. Speaker.

There’s a lot that happens, as you well know, in the cut and thrust of debate in this Assembly, a lot of back-and-forth. Mr. Speaker, this tragedy is too big. What is at stake is too great for the people of this province to play those kinds of political games with a bill as important as this, Mr. Speaker.

And this crisis is too important to hand over millions of dollars to a private, for-profit, out-of-province company that has already registered concerns in other jurisdictions, Mr. Speaker, a company whose CEO preaches a business model of speed and compares his business strategy to aerial combat in Korean War. Mr. Speaker, that is not the compassion with which we need to approach this issue in this province.

We also saw this government reject an almost decade-long standing call for a child death review committee yet again. Mr. Speaker, that is not compassion.

It is okay not to know exactly what to do in a crisis. It is okay to try something new. We all know that sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures. We understand that. We understand that these drugs that are on our streets today are not the same as the drugs that were there even 10 years ago on our streets, Mr. Speaker.

But the tragedy that is unfolding in our communities, that is killing young people across this province, is too important for a government that refuses to take any advice, not just from us but from anyone in this province, when it comes to this bill and their approach to the drug crisis.

Mr. Speaker, we took our duty as the official opposition very seriously. This is a crisis that has touched people I know on both sides of this Assembly, many families who are listening at home. We tried to make it better. We tried to bring those voices to those ministers, to that Premier, tried to make them see that they were missing too much when it comes to Bill 48. They refused to listen, Mr. Speaker.

We will continue in that spirit of collaboration, of trying to save lives in this province. But for all the reasons I just mentioned, we will not be voting in favour of this bill. And I urge all members, all of you who cannot look me in the eye right now — you’ve heard these stories, you’ve heard the concerns about this bill — to vote this bill down. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Justice.

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Well thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I too will take a moment to enter a few comments regarding Bill 48.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to start by simply correcting the record because a lot of what we heard from the Leader of the Opposition just now, frankly a lot of the questions that we heard in committee last night, and a lot of what we heard in debate from the members opposite through second reading demonstrate to me, Mr. Speaker, that they either haven’t read the bill or they fundamentally misunderstand this piece of legislation, Mr. Speaker.

[15:15]

They’ve introduced in last night’s committee 17 amendments, and, Mr. Speaker, most of those amendments were voted down because they’re already in the bill. The bill already does a lot of those things. It addresses the concerns that the members can’t seem to find within the piece of legislation, but it’s there.

Or some of the amendments that were proposed at committee last night don’t make any sense, Mr. Speaker, because they actually apply rules of criminal law to a health care bill . . . [inaudible interjection] . . . I hear the member from Elphinstone heckling, Mr. Speaker, and I can assure her this will only sting for a second.

We heard her referring last night in committee to a reference to detention, and she thinks that that somehow makes this a criminal justice bill. Mr. Speaker, the word “detention” also appears in The Mental Health Services Act where we deal with people who are battling complex mental health issues. That’s a health Act, Mr. Speaker.

The members opposite proposed that we use the standard of “beyond a reasonable doubt,” the criminal justice standard, Mr. Speaker, before we find somebody who is battling a severe and complex addiction in need of treatment. Mr. Speaker, that’s not the standard we’re using because these people aren’t criminals, they’re patients. These are health care patients who need to find treatment and they’re not in a position . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Order. I’m going to ask as the response is given . . . There was attentive listening to the Leader of the Opposition.

Minister of Justice, please.

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. These are health care patients, Mr. Speaker. These are patients who are battling such severe and complex addictions that they can’t find their way to treatment.

The members opposite talked about in their proposed amendments and we just heard the Leader of the Opposition talking about how a voluntary bed shouldn’t be taken away from somebody who’s choosing treatment in favour of somebody who’s receiving involuntary treatment. Those are two totally different beds, Mr. Speaker. That will never happen because voluntary treatment is for the individuals who have the capacity to choose treatment. That’s not who we’re talking about with this legislation.

This legislation is designed for the very rare occasion, the very small subset of the population that is battling such a severe and complex addiction that they cannot find a path to treatment, Mr. Speaker. They lack the capacity. These are the most severe and complex addictions. And on this side of the House, Mr. Speaker, we will not let these individuals fall through the cracks. We need a piece of legislation, Mr. Speaker, that will specifically help these individuals find a path to treatment. So that’s what this bill does, Mr. Speaker.

The Compassionate Intervention Act specifically targets the individuals — the few, granted, the few individuals — but the most severe cases of severe and complex addiction, the individuals who need our help the most and can’t find that path, Mr. Speaker. This legislation gives them a path.

And it has safeguards in it, Mr. Speaker. We heard the members opposite concerned about safeguards. Of course there are safeguards. There are three gateways for individuals to find this path. Our PACT teams, the police and crisis teams, across our province can find one of these individuals and take them to an assessment centre; a Provincial Court judge can hear evidence from a family or a loved one and rule that the person needs to find their way to an assessment centre; or a medical health professional can refer a person to an assessment centre.

At the assessment centre, Mr. Speaker, these individuals will be assessed and their needs will be identified. And if it’s deemed that they lack the capacity but they are in need, then a hearing panel will be struck, Mr. Speaker. And that hearing panel will include a medical representative, a legal representative, and a community representative that specifically matches as closely as possible to the individual’s cultural or ethnic background.

These individuals need this treatment, Mr. Speaker, and that’s precisely what this government is offering through this piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, this legislation was not created in a vacuum as the members opposite might suggest. This legislation was drafted in consultation with community partners, with experts in this space. It has been specifically called for by community leaders, by First Nations leaders, and most especially, Mr. Speaker, by the families of individuals who have been lost to complex and severe addiction. It’s the families of those loved ones that we are listening to.

Mr. Speaker, I want to quote from a community leader. Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand was quoted as saying:

This is about treating the addiction, the illness, for those who are struggling and can’t ask for help. I appreciate the involuntary treatment will be done in a culturally responsive way to support individuals on their health journey.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation is supported by city mayors across this province. It’s supported by First Nations leaders. It’s supported by the families. Mr. Speaker, it’s also supported by the business community and the experts in this space, the addictions treatment experts. I guess right now, Mr. Speaker, we’ll see if it’s supported by the opposition. Thank you.

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Some Hon. Members: — No.

Speaker Goudy: — Call in the members.

[The division bells rang from 15:21 until 15:24.]

Speaker Goudy: — Would all those in favour of the motion please stand.

[Yeas — 33]

Moe

Gartner

Kaeding

Marit

Cockrill

Reiter

Hindley

Harrison, J.

Cheveldayoff

Schmalz

Jenson

Weger

Keisig

Martens

Wilson

Beaudry

Rowden

Ross

McLeod, T.

Carr

Crassweller

Steele

Young, C.

Harrison, D.

Weedmark

Kropf

McLeod, B.

Patterson

Bromm

Hilbert

Chan

Thorsteinson

Kasun

Speaker Goudy: — Would all those opposed to the motion please stand.

[Nays — 21]

Beck

Ritchie

Burki

Nippi-Albright

Wotherspoon

Young, A.

Clarke

Laliberte

McPhail

Conway

Sarauer

Breckner

Blakley

Grewal

ChiefCalf

Jorgenson

Brar

Gordon

Senger

Roy

McBean

Clerk Assistant: — Mr. Speaker, those in favour of the motion, 33; those opposed to the motion, 21.

Speaker Goudy: — I declare the motion carried.

Deputy Clerk: — Third reading of this bill.

PRESENTING REPORTS BY STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

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

Standing Committee on Human Services

Travis Keisig: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am instructed by the Standing Committee on Human Services to report Bill No. 55, The Medical Profession Amendment Act, 2026 without amendment.

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

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

Speaker Goudy: — The minister has requested leave to waive consideration in the Committee of the Whole on Bill No. 55, The Medical Profession Amendment Act, 2026 and that the bill be now read a third time. Is leave granted?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

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

THIRD READINGS

Bill No. 55 — The Medical Profession Amendment Act, 2026

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

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

Some Hon. Members: — Question.

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Deputy Clerk: — Third reading of this bill.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

ADJOURNED DEBATES

SECOND READINGS

Bill No. 58

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Eric Schmalz that Bill No. 58 — The Time Act, 2026 be now read a second time.]

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

Erika Ritchie: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A pleasure to be on my feet on Bill No. 58, The Time Act. I really appreciated the opportunity over the last few days to undertake some consultation with leaders in community flanking our east and west borders in the vicinity of Lloydminster as well as Creighton to understand the implications of the bill for them, understand if there were any concerns.

[15:30]

These were very fruitful conversations. I came to understand the history of the previous legislation, you know, some of the factors around school boards that had the opportunity to set their time zones depending on their needs and kind of where we sit today in terms of the drivers for that. I appreciated those conversations with the mayor of Lloydminster, reeves in the vicinity, local chiefs as well that are also affected with that, and allowed me to ensure that, as part of that due process, that there weren’t any, that they were aware of, any unintended consequences.

And it’s with that that I’m prepared to allow this bill to proceed to its next stages.

Speaker Goudy: — The question before the Assembly is the motion by the minister that Bill No. 58, The Time Act, 2026 be now read a second time. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Deputy Clerk: — Second reading of this bill.

Speaker Goudy: — To which committee shall this bill be committed? I recognize . . .

Hon. Eric Schmalz: — I designate that Bill No. 58, The Time Act, 2026 be committed to the Committee of the Whole on Bills and that the said bill be considered in the Committee of the Whole on Bills later this day.

Speaker Goudy: — This bill stands committed to the Committee of the Whole on Bills.

Bill No. 59

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Eric Schmalz that Bill No. 59 — The Time Consequential Amendments Act, 2026/Loi de 2026 corrélative de la loi intitulée The Time Act, 2026 be now read a second time.]

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

Erika Ritchie: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the effort to ensure that we can move on to committee later this afternoon, I have nothing further to add on Bill No. 59. And with that, I’m prepared to allow this bill to proceed to the next stages.

Speaker Goudy: — The question before the Assembly is the motion by the minister that Bill No. 59, The Time Consequential Amendments Act, 2026 be now read a second time. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Deputy Clerk: — Second reading of this bill.

Speaker Goudy: — To which committee shall this bill be committed?

Hon. Eric Schmalz: — I designate that Bill No. 59, The Time Consequential Amendments Act, 2026 be committed to the Committee of the Whole on Bills and that the said bill be considered in the Committee of the Whole on Bills immediately.

Speaker Goudy: — This bill stands committed to the Committee of the Whole on Bills.

Deputy Clerk: — Committee of the Whole on Bills.

Speaker Goudy: — I do now leave the Chair for the Assembly to go into the Committee of the Whole on Bills.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ON BILLS

Bill No. 58 — The Time Act, 2026

Chair B. McLeod: — There are two bills that the committee will be considering today. The first item of business is Bill No. 58, The Time Act, 2026. By practice, the committee holds a wide-ranging debate during consideration of clause 1. The debate may include the principle and details of all clauses of the bill. Once clause 1 is voted on, the debate is limited to the clause under consideration.

So clause 1, short title. Minister, you may make an opening statement . . . [inaudible interjection] . . . No? Thank you. He deferred any statement. Are there any comments or questions on the bill? Seeing none, we will proceed to vote on the clauses. Clause 1, short title, is that agreed?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

[Clauses 1 to 9 inclusive agreed to.]

Chair B. McLeod: — His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, enacts as follows: Bill No. 58, The Time Act, 2026. I recognize the Minister of Government Relations.

Hon. Eric Schmalz: — Thank you. I move that the committee report the bill without amendment.

Chair B. McLeod: — It has been moved that the committee report Bill No. 58, The Time Act, 2026 without amendment. Is that agreed?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Chair B. McLeod: — Carried.

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

Chair B. McLeod: — The next item of business is Bill No. 59, The Time Consequential Amendments Act, 2026, a bilingual bill. Clause 1, short title, is that agreed?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Chair B. McLeod: — Carried.

[Clauses 1 to 4 inclusive agreed to.]

Chair B. McLeod: — His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, enacts as follows: Bill No. 59, The Time Consequential Amendments Act. I recognize the Minister of Government Relations.

Hon. Eric Schmalz: — I move that the committee report the bill without amendment.

Chair B. McLeod: — It has been moved that the committee report Bill No. 59, The Time Consequential Amendments Act, 2026 without amendment. Is that agreed?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Chair B. McLeod: — Carried. I recognize the Government House Leader.

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Mr. Chair, I move that the committee rise, report progress, and ask for leave to sit again.

Chair B. McLeod: — It has been moved by the Government House Leader that the committee rise, report progress, and ask for leave to sit again. Is that agreed?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Chair B. McLeod: — Carried.

[The Speaker resumed the Chair.]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Chair of Committees.

Blaine McLeod: — Mr. Speaker, I am instructed by the committee to report Bill No. 58, The Time Act, 2026 without amendment.

Speaker Goudy: — When shall this bill be read the third time? I recognize the Minister of Government Relations.

THIRD READINGS

Bill No. 58 — The Time Act, 2026

Hon. Eric Schmalz: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I request leave to move third reading for Bill No. 58, The Time Act, 2026 immediately.

Speaker Goudy: — The minister has requested leave to move third reading for the Bill No. 58, The Time Act, 2026 immediately. Is leave granted?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried. Leave has been granted. The minister may proceed to move third reading.

Hon. Eric Schmalz: — I move that Bill No. 58 be now read a third time and passed under its title.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved that Bill No. 58, The Time Act, 2026 be now read the third time and passed under its title. Is the Assembly ready for the question?

Some Hon. Members: — Question.

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Clerk: — Third reading of this bill.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Chair of Committees.

Blaine McLeod: — Mr. Speaker, I’m instructed by the committee to report Bill No. 59, The Time Consequential Amendments Act, 2026 without amendment.

Speaker Goudy: — When shall this bill be read a third time? I recognize the Minister of Government Relations.

THIRD READINGS

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

Hon. Eric Schmalz: — I request leave to move third reading for Bill No. 59, The Time Consequential Amendments Act, 2026 immediately.

Speaker Goudy: — The minister has requested leave to move third reading of the Bill No. 59, The Time Consequential Amendments Act, 2026 immediately. Is leave granted?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Leave has been granted. The minister may proceed to move third reading.

Hon. Eric Schmalz: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move that Bill No. 59 be now read a third time and passed under its title.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved that Bill No. 59, The Time Consequential Amendments Act, 2026 be now read the third time and passed under its title. Is the Assembly ready for the question?

Some Hon. Members: — Question.

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Clerk: — Third reading of this bill.

Speaker Goudy: — When shall this committee sit again? I recognize the Government House Leader.

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Next sitting.

Speaker Goudy: — Next sitting. I recognize the Government House Leader.

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

Speaker Goudy: — I has been moved that this Assembly does now adjourn. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

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

[The Assembly adjourned at 15:43.]

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

Disclaimer: The electronic versions of the Legislative Assembly’s documents are provided on this site for informational purposes only. The Clerk is responsible for the records of each legislature.