Blaine McLeod: — Mr. Speaker, many of the members in the House today began our morning at the fourth annual Saskatchewan MLA [Member of the Legislative Assembly] appreciation prayer breakfast hosted by Leading Influence under leadership provided by national director Tim Schindel and of course our own loved chaplain, Mr. Fred Hill. Joining us for that event were 24 very special guests coming from the following schools in our province: Valley Christian Academy, LCBI in Outlook, Regina Christian School, and Briercrest Christian Academy.

These students and some of their teachers are seated in your gallery, Mr. Speaker. And they’ve come today. Young adults in their own right are spending the day with us and have already elected their own premier and have spent time debating and have had a question-and-answer time with delegations of elected members.

I trust that your time spent here today will be foundational in your growth and will help to solidify the importance of this institution and the role you can play in supporting us, the elected members. I want to express my gratitude for coming and taking the time and the interest in what we do.

So welcome to each of you. And I invite all members to make these young men and women feel welcome in this, their Legislative Chamber.

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

Brent Blakley: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Along with the MLA across I would like to welcome the group from Leading Influence and welcome, on behalf of the official opposition, 24 young adults, I’ll call them, not kids. And accompanied again of course by Fred Hill, Tim Schindel from Leading Influence, and Corrie Lewis, who was the principal at Briercrest Academy. In the late ’90s Corrie and I taught together in Moose Jaw at Palliser Heights. So I welcome them all to the Legislative Assembly.

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

Hon. Warren Kaeding: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it’s certainly my pleasure today to introduce two special guests seated on the floor, and that is Darcy and Sylvia Matisho, who are visiting from the Yorkton area today. They are the parents of my comms MA [ministerial assistant], Arlie Matisho. And I certainly hope that they are very proud parents because their son does extraordinary work. He builds very big binders however.

But, Mr. Speaker, this marks their first time that they’ve actually been to their legislature, and I’m pleased to have the opportunity to experience first-hand the proceedings of this really historic institution. So I’d ask all members to join me in welcoming Darcy and Sylvia Matisho to their Legislative Assembly.

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

Trent Wotherspoon: — Mr. Speaker, I want to just show how this legislature can unite and work together to provide a very warm welcome, to join the minister to welcome Darcy and Sylvia to their Assembly. Arlie, he’s loved by all of us. He’s a wonderful guy. Did great work at Access before his work here as well. And on behalf of a grateful opposition and a grateful province, it’s a pleasure to welcome you to your legislature here today.

While on my feet, Mr. Speaker, I want to give just a quick shout-out to Ella McDougall, who’s joined us here today with the youth delegation, part of the prayer breakfast this morning, and they’re going to have a mock parliament here today.

Ella is an absolute inspiration. I know I’ve spoken about her in the past. She’s a CF [cystic fibrosis] Warrior. I’ve known Ella since you’re about 8, 9, 10 years old. And what she’s gone through in her life and what she’s done by way of resilience and making sure she’s had her own health, and then fighting for others and making advancements in coverage of things like Trikafta, has just been remarkable. So I want to give a big shout-out to Ella here and her wonderful parents, Chris and Twyla, as well.

We should have 10 more introductions here, Mr. Speaker. You know, Mr. Speaker, I just want to give a shout-out to an incredible educator that’s seated up there as well, Sharlene Holliday, an incredible educator, a chaplain as well. She provided prayer here on the Throne Speech day. She’s also the chaplain with the Regina Thunder, and we’re all praying this weekend or cheering for them or pulling for them, whatever we each do, because they’re out there to the Canadian Bowl. And go Thunder. Thanks, Mr. Speaker.

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

Hon. Ken Cheveldayoff: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to you and through you I would like to introduce 43 outstanding Grade 7 and 8 students from Dr. John G. Egnatoff School in Saskatoon. They’re seated in the west gallery today. Yeah, let’s give them all a wave and welcome them here. Joining them is their teachers, Heather Reid and Melanie Sydiaha, and chaperones Brynn MacLachlan, Tricia Boutin, and Laurie MacLachlan. Welcome to the students and to the teachers and the chaperones. It’s great to have you here.

Grade 7 and 8 class, that’s when we really get into a deeper understanding of how government works and the role that government plays in shaping their future communities. So I hope they have an excellent day. I look forward to meeting with them after question period and taking a picture and answering their questions. And of course we’ve got ice cream for you as well.

So, colleagues, please help me welcome this outstanding class from John G. Egnatoff School to their Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Energy and Resources.

Hon. Chris Beaudry: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to welcome my children Emily, Sophie, and Lilly. And I’d like to put a focus on my wife, Richelle, today. Because today being our 20th anniversary, Mr. Speaker, I thought I’d give a quick rundown of some of the history of Richelle who at days, I think, could be more qualified to sit here than myself.

Now, Mr. Speaker, she was a councillor in Spalding at 24, the mayor at 27. She’s been on the Rose Valley community club, the Spalding and Saint-Front rec board, the Naicam senior hockey board, the Rose Valley SCC [school community council], Archerwill Minor Ball and Curling Club, the Rose Valley Manor, and she chaired the last Rose Valley homecoming.

Now to my wife of 20 years, I would like to just serenade you as the immortal Sammy Hagar did on our wedding night and say, honey, you’ve got to hear me say that I just can’t stop loving you.

Speaker Goudy: — And I’ll just say you missed a good speech last night. Were you here? You’re not supposed to respond.

Anyways we hopped in my Civic and took a tour from Lloydminster down through the province. So be proud of your husband and your dad and all the members here. If you bring your families, it’s so nice to see them come. With that, we’ll move on to presenting petitions.

PRESENTING PETITIONS

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Cumberland.

Jordan McPhail: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s an honour to rise today and present a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan to implement rent control here in the province.

The undersigned residents of the petition wish to bring to our attention the following: that Saskatchewan leads the nation in average rent increases; Saskatchewan’s average rent continues to increase, rising 4 per cent in the last year; average rent in Regina has gone up 3.9 per cent in the last year; average rent in Saskatoon has gone up 5.4 per cent in the last year; and rent control is to protect tenants from excessive and unreasonable rent increases.

I’ll read the prayer:

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request that the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to immediately protect tenants and implement rent control.

The signatories of this petition, Mr. Speaker, reside right here in Regina. I do so present.

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

Jared Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to present a petition calling on the Government of Saskatchewan to step up for Indigenous students in Saskatchewan.

The undersigned residents would like to bring to our attention the following: that they call on the Government of Saskatchewan to take immediate action to stand up for Indigenous children and all vulnerable students by advocating for the full restoration of funding previously supported by Jordan’s principle; Jordan’s principle was established to ensure that First Nations children have equitable access to the services they need, including supports in schools; that the recent loss of federal funding will leave a significant gap in Saskatchewan classrooms, especially for Indigenous students who rely on inclusive education supports to thrive.

I’ll read the prayer:

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

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

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Cumberland.

Honouring the Memory of Private Shaun Farrell

Jordan McPhail: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today as family, friends, fellow soldiers, and members of the Prince Albert community gather to lay Private Shaun Farrell to rest, I rise on behalf of the official opposition to honour his life and service.

Shaun was just 23 years old when his life was tragically cut short in the training incident at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright on October 17th. Born in South Africa, Shaun moved with his family to Prince Albert in 2017. From the time he was a young boy, he dreamed of becoming a soldier. It was more than a career ambition; it was a calling.

He worked hard to overcome obstacles and was immensely proud to earn the title of Private Shaun Farrell. He served with the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and was preparing to serve his country overseas. His family has spoken about a young man who had found his purpose, who loved his comrades, and who was proud to wear the uniform. As Shaun himself once said, “I’m living my dream.”

Mr. Speaker, today Saskatchewan mourns with the Farrell family, his friends, and his fellow soldiers. To his parents — Patricia, Roland — and his brother Bryan we extend our deepest condolences. Shaun chose a life of service. We will honour that service, remember his sacrifice, and carry his memory with us. Once a Patricia, always a Patricia. May he forever rest in peace.

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

Hudson Bay Teacher Recognized for Service to High School Athletics

Terri Bromm: — Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize a well-respected and well-recognized face around school sporting events throughout the province — Sherry Hayworth. Sherry is a teacher with the Hudson Bay Community School. She taught one year in Kinistino, moving to Hudson Bay in 2000 to pursue her teaching career. This spring Sherry was awarded the North East Service Award by the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association for her 25‑plus years of coaching.

This award recognizes outstanding leadership, service, and commitment to the philosophy of high school athletics. Currently Sherry teaches kindergarten, grade 7 to 9 physical education, grade 8 practical and applied arts, as well as grade 9 wildlife management and foods. She has coached volleyball, basketball, cross-country, and track and field.

Sherry is known around Hudson Bay for promoting life-long physical activity to youth by introducing them to canoeing, skiing, swimming, curling, golf, and other community-based activities.

Mr. Speaker, we all know the importance of teachers in a child’s life. There is little doubt Sherry is one of those teachers that have had and will continue to have a lasting impact on her students. I would ask all members to join with me in congratulating Sherry Hayworth in being awarded the North East Service Award and thank her for her commitment to Hudson Bay youth.

[13:45]

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

Visit to North West College Highlights Need for New Facility

Tajinder Grewal: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On July 21st the member for Saskatoon Nutana and I visited North West College in North Battleford. We met with the executive team, toured the campus, and learned about the college’s programs.

North West College plays an important role in Saskatchewan. It provides people in the Battleford region with access to post-secondary education close to home. The college offers programs in nursing, teacher education, hairstyling, skilled trades, and community services. These programs prepare students for meaningful careers and help address workforce needs in northwestern Saskatchewan.

However our visit highlighted a significant challenge. The Battlefords campus is attached to a local high school, and the existing space is becoming inadequate. The executive team shared its vision for a new, separate campus. This would provide more space for students, support future growth, and create better learning opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, regional colleges are vital to our province. They help students access education closer to home. They strengthen rural and northern communities, and prepare the skilled workforce Saskatchewan needs.

As shadow minister of Advanced Education, I will continue to advocate for accessible post-secondary education and the facilities our institutions need to succeed. I thank North West College’s executive team for welcoming us and sharing its vision for the college’s future. Thank you.

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

Norquay Area Community Comes Together in Flood Recovery

Hon. Sean Wilson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise here today to recognize the resilience, compassion, and community spirit shown by the people of Norquay and surrounding communities following the devastating flooding that struck eastern Saskatchewan. Extraordinary rainfall flooded homes, businesses, and roads, leaving many families facing significant hardship.

In the face of this challenge, volunteers stepped forward in remarkable numbers. Residents spent countless hours pumping water from basements; removing damaged belongings; delivering supplies; bringing pumps, food; and checking on neighbours. More than 50 volunteers answered the call with additional support arriving from nearby communities.

Just as inspiring were the many people who came together to support those volunteers, preparing and serving meals and helping coordinate relief efforts from the local Legion hall, ensuring workers on the ground had a place to gather, rest, and refuel. Their selflessness and dedication demonstrate the very best of Saskatchewan. As flood waters rose, so too did the determination of neighbours to help neighbours.

I ask all members of this Assembly to join me in thanking the volunteers, community organizers, first responders, municipal leaders, and residents who worked tirelessly to support recovery efforts in the community of Norquay. Thank you.

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

Call to Fund Restoration of Historic Claybank Brick Plant

Brent Blakley: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In Saskatchewan we have so many wonderful heritage sites that remind people of our history and the people who made contributions to that history. The Claybank Brick Plant is one of those sites.

The Claybank Brick Plant operated from 1914 to 1989 and was built southwest of Regina on land that held the clay that we used for making fire brick, a brick that could withstand high temperatures. Over 75 years, the plant supplied brick for many historic buildings throughout the province. These bricks went into building locomotives, furnaces, boilers, oil refineries, and power plants. Claybank fire brick was used in protecting the launch pad at Cape Canaveral in Florida for the first-ever crewed mission to the moon in 1965.

But the glory days for this factory have long since passed. With dilapidated structures and roofs falling in, the buildings have been left to deteriorate over time. Claybank Brick Plant is a National Historic Site and a provincial heritage property. Owned by the provincial government, this historic factory is now padlocked with a fence around the property, with no plan for restoration in sight.

In 2025 the National Trust for Canada put the plant on its list of Canada’s most endangered historic sites. A sustainable, long-term funding model is needed to keep these buildings standing, bring them back to some resemblance of their former state, and ensure that future generations can learn from this province’s great heritage. Thanks very much.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Cut Knife-Turtleford.

Regional Fire Departments Unite to Extinguish Steel Plant Fire

James Thorsteinson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In an emergency, Saskatchewan comes together. On September 22nd a fire broke out at Inland Steel Products near Lloydminster. Initially three fire departments within Legacy Regional Protective Services responded to the call. Mr. Speaker, once they arrived on scene, it was clearly evident additional help would be required.

Three departments from the county of Vermilion River — the Maidstone fire department, Manitou Lake Fire & Rescue, Lloydminster fire department, and Wainwright fire department — all came to assist in battling the blazes. All departments were faced with the immense challenge of not just the flames, but also the extremely hot scrap metal — fire so hot it melted steel and left behind large plates nearly a foot thick.

After 12 hours of firefighting, all departments were able to return home to their respective halls. Fire chief Dean Peters with the Legacy Regional Protective Services said, “This will go down in history as one of our largest fires for mutual aid. I think we all did a great job putting it out, working together, and getting everyone home safely.”

Working together and helping your neighbour is what makes Saskatchewan strong and steady. Mr. Speaker, I ask all members to join me in thanking all the responding fire departments that joined together the evening of September 22nd as they worked together as one cohort to extinguish the large fire and keep it from spreading and causing further damage. Thank you.

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

Investments in Education

Barret Kropf: — A strong, steady Saskatchewan continues to attract new people to our province, and our population is doing something that the NDP [New Democratic Party] never thought possible: it’s growing.

To meet this growth, our government has continued to invest more into our education system. Since 2007 this government has announced or completed over 100 new schools and major renovations — 17 new schools in Regina with six more under way, 12 new schools in Saskatoon with another 10 in progress, and there’s currently a total of 24 new schools being built right now across our province.

In last year’s budget, our school system received 3.6 billion in investments. Over the past three years, school operating funding has increased by 20 per cent. Mr. Speaker, we also know that school isn’t just about the work getting done in the classroom. To help our schools have fun and safe places for children to play, we will continue to build on the success of the new school playground grant.

With all the incredible growth that our communities have been seeing, we’ve been seeing other challenges related to classroom capacity. To address this, Mr. Speaker, we have listened to the teachers and rolled out the specialized support model province-wide. This fall over $16 million has been invested to support the launch of 50 new spaces, so we’re on track to meet the goal of 200 spaces by 2028.

Mr. Speaker, we’re supporting the next generation by building a strong, steady Saskatchewan.

QUESTION PERIOD

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

Data Centre and SaskPower Rates

Aleana Young: — Now, Mr. Speaker, this tired and entitled Sask Party government is driving up costs for families, farms, and small businesses. And their data centre that’s going up literally overnight is going to drive power rates through the roof. Everybody knows this, Mr. Speaker, except perhaps for the Minister for SaskPower because he told CBC [Canadian Broadcasting Corporation], and I quote, “This is a massive new revenue source for SaskPower, which is going to put downward pressure on rates.”

Now, Mr. Speaker, everywhere these data centres have been built, they’ve driven power bills through the roof. And just a reminder, this is the same minister who has raised rates in February and is raising them again in four short months. Mr. Speaker, is the minister really guaranteeing to the people of Saskatchewan that their power rates are going to go down?

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

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Well finally a question about power, Mr. Speaker. We actually have not heard these members mention the words of their plan now for three months. And I can tell you exactly why, Mr. Speaker. Because their plan is an absolute catastrophe, which is why they refuse to even mention the words.

I would say though, Mr. Speaker, with regard to the data centre project, broad national support. Both national political parties have thrown their support behind this project. Prime Minister Carney, the Premier made the announcement along with Prime Minister Chrétien and Prime Minister Harper, showing that both national political parties are supportive of this project going forward. It’s going to have enormous benefits.

And I would say as well, Mr. Speaker, I actually mentioned that there were 500 people on the work site yesterday that these members would immediately put out of work. The number, that was actually wrong, Mr. Speaker. There’s 1,125 on the work site today.

Speaker Goudy: — I’ll just remind . . . the connection, questions to answers. Member from Regina South Albert.

Aleana Young: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I guess the people of Saskatchewan can hear it loud and clear: their power bills are not going down, Mr. Speaker. In fact they’re going to go up. And Saskatchewan people, they deserve a real answer, Mr. Speaker.

They deserve respect, because we know that these data centres are going to drive up power bills. How do we know that, Mr. Speaker? We know that because that’s what SaskPower says. Their own filings state, and I quote, “The decision to operate coal beyond its regulated end of life has allowed SaskPower to have supply available to accommodate the Bell data centre load.”

Mr. Speaker, this minister’s $26 billion coal plan, which according to SaskPower is going to double power bills, is what’s powering the data centre. Does the minister really think that Saskatchewan families, farms, and small businesses are going to be okay with this government doubling their bills?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of CIC.

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Well these members demonstrate literally every day why they are taken seriously by nobody, Mr. Speaker. The reality is that our energy security strategy has created the conditions for a $52 billion investment into this province, Mr. Speaker. And the assertions being made by the members opposite are entirely untrue, Mr. Speaker.

The fact that we have the power that is being generated by SaskPower to allocate for a $52 billion investment will be a brand new revenue source for SaskPower, Mr. Speaker, which will allow us to reinvest into our system to attract even more investment as we go forward, Mr. Speaker, something that is completely anathema to the NDP.

Speaker Goudy: — And I’m also going to remind the opposition that when the questions are being answered that we need to sit and listen. I recognize the member from Saskatoon Southeast.

Data Centre Projects

Brittney Senger: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well clearly this isn’t answer period. Mr. Speaker, on August 27th this entitled and out-of-touch government declared it was assessing the application for 30 data centres. That’s all they told us. No information on the location, the size, how they would be cooled, or how they would be powered. Nothing.

Saskatchewan people are tired of secret deals. For the record, will the minister finally tell us how many data centres are being reviewed in Saskatchewan and where they will be located?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of CIC.

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — I addressed this question yesterday, Mr. Speaker. There’s been one data centre approved to go forward, Mr. Speaker. That’s the Bell investment, $52 billion here in the city of Regina, 1,125 people on the work site today, Mr. Speaker. And it seems that the NDP’s position . . . anti-investment, anti-development, anti-jobs.

Let’s be very clear, Mr. Speaker, their entire objective in all of these questions is to shut this project down. That would put over 1,000 people out of work today; that would derail the largest private sector investment in the entire history of this country, Mr. Speaker.

And I would add as well, that the number of private sector Canadian companies that are investing in this, including through some of their additional investments, like the Canada Pension Plan, Mr. Speaker, like the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Mr. Speaker — these are the sort of partners that we look forward to working with in building this project.

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

Brittney Senger: — Yeah, Mr. Speaker, I don’t know where the answer was supposed to be in that, because this just seems like more political games and still no answers. It’s no wonder why the own pollster of this government is telling them to slow down on data centres.

The Sherwood AI [artificial intelligence] hyperscale data centre was just the first. But where are the 29 others? Apparently the minister’s message is, just trust me. Imagine that — the same minister who hid a $26 billion spend on coal refurbishment so that the Sherwood data centre could go ahead.

[14:00]

Does he really expect Saskatchewan people to sit quiet while he rams through 30 data centres?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of CIC.

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — My goodness, Mr. Speaker, we see every day why these members are taken seriously by literally nobody. We have one data centre that is going forward right now. We’ve laid out a very clear plan, Mr. Speaker, for the consideration of further applications, a data centre framework plan that includes the necessity for these companies to be Canadian that we have . . .

Speaker Goudy: — The member from Saskatoon Meewasin, that’s quite loud. We want to hear what the answers are. So I did hear, actually, an answer and I don’t know what we’re . . . But, Minister, please, CIC.

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Yeah, remarkable members with a lot to say from their seat and nothing from their feet, Mr. Speaker, are the ones talking over there. The reality is, Mr. Speaker, is that this is the largest private sector investment in the history of Canada, investment that the NDP are desperate to stop, 1,100 people on the work site today that they are desperate to put out of work, Mr. Speaker, a project with the support of both national political parties announced by the Prime Minister of Canada and the Premier.

Because of the implications for Canadian AI data and compute sovereignty, Mr. Speaker, that’s why we’re moving forward. This is a great project.

Speaker Goudy: — I’m just going to say too, I don’t think we can be saying what they’re desperate to do or not to do. So I’d ask for the tone of the responses to be fair. I recognize the member from Saskatoon Southeast.

Brittney Senger: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The minister referred to their data centre framework. That’s not law; it doesn’t offer any clarity. And frankly, he seems to have no understanding of what actual digital sovereignty is.

So back to the Sherwood hyperscale AI data centre. Thousands and thousands of people have come forward with questions and concerns. They want a say. Yet this entitled and out-of-touch government has denied them a voice over and over for eight months.

Yesterday I brought a motion to release the full deal of the Sherwood hyperscale data centre, and these guys blocked it. Will someone please explain why they have chosen to keep the details of this project from Saskatchewan people?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of CIC.

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have been very transparent. And the fact that we have the support of the mayor of Regina, Mr. Speaker . . . We have the support of the RM [rural municipality] of Sherwood. We have the support of the building trades council, including a number of constituent unions and labour leaders, Mr. Speaker.

IBEW [International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers], the UA [United Association] have spoken in support of this event because they have hundreds of members who are working out on the project, Mr. Speaker, who they know would be put out of work in a second if those members opposite had the opportunity, for no good reason, Mr. Speaker. The reality . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Order, please.

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — The reality is, Mr. Speaker, there are over 1,000 people on the work site today. There are going to be that number of workers on that work site, because this is one of the largest construction projects in the entire country, Mr. Speaker, because it is the largest single investment in the history of Canada. And, Mr. Speaker, these members have made very clear that they want to shut it all down.

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

Farm Land Used for Data Centre Project

Trent Wotherspoon: — Mr. Speaker, predictably, that’s a pile of nonsense from that minister, Mr. Speaker, you know, a minister who presides with a premier who has the second-worst economic record of any province in Canada under his tenure, Mr. Speaker. So grasping at straws.

But I think there’s something we can all agree on. Saskatchewan feeds the world, and we have the world’s best producers as well as the best farm land in the world, Mr. Speaker. So building off that, a question to the Minister of Agriculture. A simple yes or no to the question. Prime agricultural farm land should be used by Saskatchewan producers for farming. Correct?

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

Hon. Warren Kaeding: — Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our ag producers here are second to none. We know that they’re known around the world for the productivity, what they produce, the food security that they’re providing for around the world, Mr. Speaker.

And again this government on this side is doing everything they possibly can to be supporting our ag sector. Whether it’s providing support through some of the difficult situations they’ve had in producing crops this year, some of the difficult conditions they’ve been through, certainly about supporting AgriStability as we look forward to again putting a crop in for next year, Mr. Speaker.

These are a number of the things that this government on this side is doing to ensure that our agriculture producers have the best foot forward every time they put a crop or certainly bring livestock in, mister producer.

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

Trent Wotherspoon: — A simple yes or no was the question, Mr. Speaker. But that government has been asleep at the switch when it comes to protecting Saskatchewan farm land for the interests of producers . . . well for a long time on many fronts. This government is now taking over 1,000 acres of prime, productive farm land just outside the city of Regina out of production — some of the best land in the world.

Now the Farm Land Security Board on this front has stated concerns saying, “The board is concerned that granting this exemption will permanently remove highly productive farm land from agricultural production forever.”

Mr. Speaker, despite having much less productive land and industrial land options, can the Minister of Agriculture explain why he thinks Saskatchewan farmers should be shut out of over a thousand acres of the best farm land in the world?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of CIC.

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — I would say another proof point in this question period of why nobody takes those members seriously, Mr. Speaker. This was actually asked to the reeve of the RM of Sherwood, Mr. Speaker, a very similar question, when we made the original announcement. And his answer was to the effect that a $52 billion investment is a very, very good bargain for the province, Mr. Speaker . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — It’s not hard to sit quiet. So I’d ask when the answers are being given, please . . .

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — I would say, Mr. Speaker, a $52 billion investment is going to be in that location. That is a very, very good long-term investment for this province, Mr. Speaker. That makes sense. And I think anybody out there looking at this in good faith understands that 1,000 acres put to use for a $52 billion capital investment with 1,000 people on the work site every single day is a good investment, other than those members opposite.

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

Trent Wotherspoon: — That government’s Farm Land Security Board stated their very clear concern. We know there was other options, less productive land, that was more suited to industrial use.

Now this government, of course, has ignored producers’ concerns about illegal foreign farm-landownership for years, and they failed, of course, to provide the Farm Land Security Board with the teeth and the tools they need to step up and enforce the law. But now we see here in the application of the data centre to seek an exemption, the second application, they told the board that they decided to put the data centre on this prime, highly productive farm land “in collaboration with the province of Saskatchewan.”

Now was it the Minister of Agriculture that worked collaboratively on this front to put this farm land into production? Or who over there is responsible?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of CIC.

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Again, Mr. Speaker, why nobody takes them seriously. This question period is exhibit A for why they are not taken seriously.

I think everybody, Mr. Speaker, can look at a $52 billion investment and understand that putting that on a piece of property with 1,000 people working on that site is a good long-term investment for the people of this province, Mr. Speaker. It’s a good long-term investment for the workers that are working there, and we agree with that, Mr. Speaker.

There’s a process. The Farm Land Security Board will go through that process, undertake their work with due diligence, Mr. Speaker. But our view is that this is a very, very good long-term investment, and the return on that is a net benefit for the people of this province.

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

Long-Term Care Centre in Lloydminster

Keith Jorgenson: — Mr. Speaker, take a look at how quickly they’re building that data centre. An absolutely massive structure that was fast-tracked and going up in record time. Meanwhile back in 2013, the government received a needs assessment on long-term care needs in the Lloydminster area. It said that the Jubilee lodge should be replaced within 15 years. You know, that deadline’s coming up fast, Mr. Speaker.

A simple question for the minister opposite: will the replacement for Jubilee Home be ready and operational in 2028?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Well thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, like with communities right across the province, we have an opportunity to engage directly with the city of Lloydminster and local stakeholders, Mr. Speaker. In regards to concerns that they may have around health care services available in their community, Mr. Speaker, we’ve done the needs assessment in 2013 and another needs assessment completed just recently, Mr. Speaker.

Again, like with Jubilee and investments right across the province, Mr. Speaker, we’ll continue to engage with those communities directly and then evaluate those priorities right across the province. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Keith Jorgenson: — Honestly, Mr. Speaker, if this government was actually engaged with the citizens around the Lloydminster area, they would have received the 2,700 letters of concerned people that want this facility replaced.

As the minister mentioned, there was a second needs assessment done in 2025. And it said that the Lloydminster area seniors’ population was going to grow by 79 per cent by 2040. It said that this new long-term care facility was desperately needed for the area. And we only know that, Mr. Speaker, because a reporter appealed to the Privacy Commissioner.

This entitled and out-of-touch government tried to block the release of this critically important report and the situation of health care in Lloydminster. Why did the minister try to block this report from being released?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — You know, Mr. Speaker, Lloydminster is actually represented on this side of the House, Mr. Speaker. This government understands, Mr. Speaker, the uniquenesses of . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Order please.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Well thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government understands well the uniquenesses of Lloydminster and how we work with the Government of Alberta as a unique border city in our province to make investments that will benefit the people of Saskatchewan.

We do this in the field of education, Mr. Speaker. New schools in Lloydminster are cost-shared, for example, between the Government of Saskatchewan and the Government of Alberta, Mr. Speaker.

The report that the member opposite references is available on the Government of Saskatchewan and the Government of Alberta websites for all Lloydminster residents to see publicly, Mr. Speaker. We encourage the residents to read that report.

And we will continue as a government — through our local MLA, and through myself, and the Minister of Rural and Remote Health, and the Minister of SaskBuilds — continue engaging with Mayor Aalbers and his council and local residents to understand what are the next investments to make in the city of Lloydminster.

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

Keith Jorgenson: — Mr. Speaker, the Alberta government has added capacity for long-term care on the Alberta side of the border. Saskatchewan has not.

You know, advocate Darrell Dunn is in the gallery. He’s brought 2,700 letters from concerned members of the Lloydminster community, demanding that this facility be built. I’m going to quote Darrell Dunn here. He says, “Anybody that looked into the demographics could see that this was coming, that the government had years — years — to plan for an aging population.”

I’ve toured that facility with the member from Lloydminster. Surely this government must understand that this facility needs to be replaced. Again, when will the replacement for Jubilee Home be complete and ready to use?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Well thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now seems like a good time again to contrast the track record of members opposite when they had the chance of forming government in this province — closing facilities, in contrast to a government that’s building facilities. The largest long-term care investment in the history of the province being built not too far from here, Mr. Speaker, 240 beds. Not to mention other long-term care projects under construction in Grenfell and La Ronge and other communities, Mr. Speaker.

We’re going to have more announcements coming very soon on how we’re continuing to add long-term care capacity across the province to make sure that seniors in this province have a dignified place to live. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Construction of New Yorkton Hospital

Jared Clarke: — Mr. Speaker, I’ll remind the Health minister there has been a thousand hospital closures in rural Saskatchewan emergency rooms since their fourth edition of the patients-first plan came out seven months ago.

Now, Mr. Speaker, that entitled and out-of-touch Saskatchewan Party government is failing on health care. We see it every day. In last week’s Throne Speech, they said that they’re making “continued progress on the Yorkton Hospital.”

[14:15]

Well it’s been 20 years of continued progress, and maybe, maybe we’ll see shovels in the ground in 20 more years. I’ll give the Health minister an opportunity to prove me wrong here though. On behalf of the people of Yorkton, will the minister commit to a firm and specific timeline for finishing the Yorkton hospital?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, Mr. Speaker, we’ve been engaging directly with the city of Yorkton as well as our MLA for Yorkton; the Minister of SaskBuilds who also represents the good constituency of Canora-Pelly, Mr. Speaker. We’re going to have more to say on the Yorkton hospital very soon, Mr. Speaker.

But again, this is another important contrast, Mr. Speaker. You know, we can ask the people of Preeceville, ask the people of Humboldt. We can ask the people waiting for a replacement of Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford, Mr. Speaker, who had news release after news release after news release from the NDP, Mr. Speaker . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Member from Meewasin. It’s hard, but sitting quiet while we’re listening to an answer is important.

Please, minister.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Well thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it’s this government that gets hospitals built. Weyburn just opened this last week. Humboldt, Mr. Speaker. Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital, Mr. Speaker. This is a government that’s going to build that Yorkton hospital. We’re going to build a facility in Esterhazy, in Rosthern, Mr. Speaker. A government that’s going to continue building to put patients first in this province.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the minister from Cumberland.

Acquisition of Emergency Response Aircraft

Jordan McPhail: — Well thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’ll remind the Health minister that question was about timelines. I don’t know what it is about this government, but they just can’t give us a timeline, straight facts. They couldn’t give us a straight timeline when it came to the MNP report. They received it March 25th; they said May 22nd. These guys don’t know what’s going on over there.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the minister for public safety held a press conference on the new Dash 8 Q400MRE firefighting aircraft. The only problem? This plane was supposed to arrive in August.

Once again we see this entitled and out-of-touch government throwing themselves a parade after showing up late. This plane was announced in 2024 and was supposed to be here in the summer. It was supposed to be ready to fight wildfires, protect communities and first responders. Why is it showing up at the start of winter? And why can’t this government deliver on its promises to the people of the North?

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

Hon. Michael Weger: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was very happy to attend YQR yesterday for the announcement of delivery of the second Q400 to our fleet in Saskatchewan. And if I could have, Mr. Speaker, we would have landed on the north parking lot so all could see.

Mr. Speaker, this is part of $187 million investment put forward into four Q400s to revitalize our aircraft fleet. And, Mr. Speaker, this is all due to the foresight of our Premier and the ministers that have sat in this seat before me, Mr. Premier. Because if we were like Manitoba right now, we’d be putting an $80 million down payment on three aircrafts that wouldn’t start showing up until 2031.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

Bill No. 68 — The Enforcement of Maintenance Orders Amendment Act, 2026/Loi modificative de 2026 sur l’exécution des ordonnances alimentaires

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Justice.

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move that Bill No. 68, The Enforcement of Maintenance Orders Amendment Act, 2026, bilingual, be now introduced and read a first time.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the Minister of . . . [inaudible interjection] . . . Okay, hello. It has been moved by the Minister of Justice that Bill No. 68, The Enforcement of Maintenance Orders Amendment Act, 2026, bilingual, be now introduced and read a first time. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Deputy Clerk: — First reading of this bill.

Speaker Goudy: — When shall this bill be read a second time?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Next sitting of the Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — Next sitting.

Bill No. 69 — The Legal Profession Amendment Act, 2026

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Justice.

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move that Bill No. 69, The Legal Profession Amendment Act, 2026 be now introduced and read for a first time.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the Minister of Justice that Bill No. 69, The Legal Profession Amendment Act, 2026 be now introduced and read a first time. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Deputy Clerk: — First reading of this bill.

Speaker Goudy: — When will this bill be read a second time?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Next sitting of the Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — Next sitting.

Bill No. 70 — The Legal Profession Consequential Amendment Act, 2026/Loi de 2026 corrélative de la loi intitulée The Legal Profession Amendment Act, 2026

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Justice.

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you again, Mr. Speaker. I move that Bill No. 70, The Legal Profession Consequential Amendment Act, 2026, bilingual, be now introduced and read a first time.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the Minister of Justice that Bill No. 70, The Legal Profession Consequential Amendment Act, 2026, bilingual, be now introduced and read a first time. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

Deputy Clerk: — First reading of this bill.

Speaker Goudy: — When shall this bill be read a second time?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Next sitting of the Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — Next sitting.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

SPECIAL ORDER

ADJOURNED DEBATES

ADDRESS IN REPLY

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the address in reply which was moved by Brad Crassweller, seconded by Travis Keisig and the proposed amendment to the main motion moved by Vicki Mowat.]

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

Joan Pratchler: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too have many people to thank for the work that we get to do here in the House. I’d like to thank the fine folks of Rochdale that I represent, the stakeholders that trust me with their information and their concerns, my family and friends, and my constituency assistant, Candace. What a wonderful team member she is in serving this constituency and the many stakeholders in child care and education.

I’d also like to give a shout-out to our NDP team, the ones in the House, my colleagues as well as those in the back of the House. I’d also like to thank our leader who fosters, by example, a culture of respect and inspiring hope for us and the people of Saskatchewan.

Since last being in the House I’ve had the privilege to criss-cross the province — north, south, east, west, central — listening to a myriad of child care providers big and small, meeting school divisions and teachers and nurses and community groups, cultural groups, and of course my constituents.

Now to the Throne Speech. I’d also like to thank the members opposite, or whoever came up with that three-word phrase. You know, we use those a lot in education to teach children different kinds of things. And I thought this one was especially nice because it dovetails right into ours because it’s “strong, steady, ready,” and ours is “ready for a change.” So you just put that together, it just flows: strong, steady, ready for a change, you know.

And it’s got a bit of a lilt in it. It just inspired me to come up with another one. Not strong, not steady, ready for a change. Not strong, not steady, ready for a change. And it’s got that lilt and it’s like an earworm; it just sticks there, you know. And we do that so children can learn things like, you know, when two vowels go walking the first one does the talking. And then they remember it for years. So thank you for that. And I think that earworm is going to be in my whole speech.

So let’s begin and go through this résumé of a worn-out Sask Party government who starts it by saying the world is uncertain, but Saskatchewan isn’t. Oh, that’s not what the people are saying. Saskatchewan is very uncertain. Yeah. Hoping to get a family doctor, that’s uncertain. Having an open urgent care centre, that’s uncertain. Getting care in an ER [emergency room] is uncertain, I know. And housing is uncertain for the homeless. Child care is uncertain for families. Making ends meet is uncertain in this affordability crisis. Health care workers who are struggling to make ends meet feel uncertain. Teachers, nurses are uncertain. They’re in a constant state of moral distress, and that means knowing what should be happening in schools and in health care, but just having a sense of helplessness to do anything about it when these systems are so broken. They’re uncertain. There’s a lot of them.

School divisions are uncertain. This government is so excited to tout a strong and steady economy. Yeah, well that’s your job. We pay taxes for you to do your job. Business in all the sectors pay their taxes so they can have an educated workforce and health care. They get that. Governments are supposed to have a strong economy to serve the people, especially in health care and education, not rack up onerous piles of debt to leave to future generations.

They say in there that Canada’s a nation of builders. Well yes, it is. But is Saskatchewan building a robust education system? No. Is it building a robust child care system? No, no, no. This Sask Party government is not investing in the most important resource in our province, our children. And there right on page 5 it says they’re standing with the workers. Well which ones? The teachers? I don’t think so. Health care workers? No. Child care workers?

Oh, and then they have an ambitious health care plan, plan, plan, plan. Right care, right place, right time. Right care, really? With long wait lists to see a provider or a specialist? No. Right place? Well what place? Closed ERs, four days and four nights in hallways — that’s not the right place even when you get there. Right time? Huh, right time for a change.

This Sask Party government says that LPNs [licensed practical nurse], psych nurses, and registered nurses are going to be able to practise to their full scope. Well what’s new about that? We always could.

What I want to know is, when will the speed of expanding the scope for RNs [registered nurse] match the speed with which this government expanded the scope of pharmacists? You know that RNs practising to our full scope and beyond would be able to keep half the challenges presented in ERs if this government would just tap this army of health care workers.

And let’s talk about mental health and addictions, shall we? This too follows a common theme that I see through the entire speech, which is a lack of vision and a lack of engaging in upstream thinking. Upstream thinking is when you do something here to prevent something that’s going to happen down here.

What if we did things to prevent mental health and addictions challenges, like really address the social determinants of health? There’s an inordinate focus with this Sask Party government on recovery, with little, if any, focus with the mounting evidence of harm reduction.

Addiction comes with a web of serious medical challenges. I know. I worked in mental health for a long time. One example is this. Saskatchewan has the highest rate of HIV [human immunodeficiency virus] infection in Canada — three times the national rate. For the sake of a 17‑cent syringe, a clean needle, for the sake of ideology, this government will pass up on preventing a lifetime HIV infection costing $1.5 million for each person. It costs $1.5 million for each person infected with HIV.

Do the math. We have 20 out of 100,000, or 255 infections per year alone in this province. That’s $383 million coming at you for years and years, and the rate keeps growing every year. A 17‑cent needle, 17‑cent investment versus a compounding expenditure of $1.5 million. What kind of health care management is that?

Let’s talk, ready or not, let’s talk AI. It’s 2026. Where has this government been for the last five or so years? I’ll tell you where. Well they weren’t getting ready by ensuring that we have in this province regulations and guardrails and legislation about the parameters for the ethical use of AI.

Was this government getting ready for an AI strategy for education or health care across the ministries? Were they getting ready for anything to ensure that AI can actually serve people in a good way and not the other way around? This past few months is proof that this Sask Party government was absolutely not ready for AI, and they still aren’t.

[14:30]

Well let’s move into education. This government says that schools are the heart of our communities. Well then get ready and prove it. With teaching, let me tell you the number one purpose of schools is learning, with teaching to support, that prepares our most precious resource in our province — our children — for a prosperous future. Are we getting ready for that? I think not.

Do you know what wasn’t mentioned in this Throne Speech? The heart of learning — curriculum. Preparing our children for better life chances with skills and knowledge for a rich, rewarding future, that’s what curriculum is. It’s also not just the content. It’s also informed by the latest research on learning— and teaching it well — in order for us to offer the best we can to our students.

Well how ready is it then, when the last time the math elementary curriculum was renewed was in 2007, 2009? That’s nearly 20 years ago, and you’ll want to add another five years on there. Why? Because of all the research, the piloting, the in-service. So 25 years ago we looked at math. Well I can tell you a few things have changed in 25 years.

And how’s that getting our children ready? How is it getting our children ready for the future to have strong literacy skills when the elementary language arts curriculum hasn’t been updated in 20 years? Kids have invented new words since then, I can tell you.

When the science curriculum — science curriculum in the world of innovation — hasn’t been looked at in 15 years. And when high school math foundation and English hasn’t been touched since 2009. Or our social studies curriculum in grade 9, grade 10, grade 11, grade 12 hasn’t been reviewed since 1992 — that’s 34 years — ’94 and 1997 respectively.

Et les écoles fransaskoises ont des mêmes défis. Elles ont dû des soutiens excellents aussi. When French immersion curriculum en élémentaire et des mathématiques et les sciences humaines et les histoires depuis 20 ans . . . Et au niveau secondaire, l’histoire n’a pas eu une révision depuis ’93, ’95 — that’s 1993 and 1995 — for social studies. Comment, monsieur le Président, est-ce que ça c’est forte? Ça c’est prête? Non, monsieur le Président, non.

[Translation: And Fransaskois schools face the same challenges. They also needed excellent support. When French immersion curriculum in elementary and mathematics and social studies and history in the last 20 years . . . And at the secondary level, history has not had a revision since ’93, ’95 — that’s 1993 and 1995 — for social studies. How is that strong, Mr. Speaker? Is that ready? No, Mr. Speaker, no.]

How, Mr. Speaker, is that even close to being strong and ready? Well let’s talk reading literacy, shall we? To echo my colleague from Chief Mistawasis and our other educators in our team and all the educators resounding in the classrooms around the province, not only have teachers known about the reading mastery data, teachers and schools have actually acted on it for the past 30 years in K to 3 [kindergarten to grade 3] literacy, and just now this minister’s getting it?

I can tell you that grade 1 teachers, over the many years that I’ve worked with them, have been doing that for years and years. In fact most grade 1 teachers can tell by the way a student walks whether they know their short vowels or long vowels or their initial and final consonants.

You know what real ready would look like, Mr. Speaker? If the Sask Party government would help with literacy supports for students who can’t read beyond grade 3 — you know, the ones that are in 4 to 8 now that missed that jagged edge of attendance during COVID — those are the ones I’m worried about. Nothing for them. And none at the high school that’s moving, that whole cohort that’s moving through. They’re at great risk. Nothing for them. We’re going to pile on more testing for elementary when we already have testing for elementary. We already have testing and supports.

And what kind of strong is it when this province’s students who once excelled in the PISA [Programme for International Student Assessment] scores for grade 9 now have the lowest scores. These scores are a measure of the leading skills and knowledge that students will need to thrive within the next 5 to 10 years. It’s a global, global assessment.

What kind of ready is that? Ready for the past. Ready to leave our students behind while the rest of the world eats their future lunch. And this Sask Party has steadily done that, all of this, with their chronic underfunding and lack of vision for education. After a thing like COVID you have to put more into the system.

When we talk about disrespect for the teaching profession, for education, this is what we’re talking about. We’re talking about the perseveration, the micromanagement of the experts and school boards. We’re talking about the disrespect of teachers’ professional autonomy, experts who are highly trained in their field. All teachers and administrators have degrees. Many have their masters and Ph.D.s [Doctor of Philosophy] and they have lengthy internships and years of experience honing the art and craft of teaching and administration, and so do their senior administrators like superintendents and consultants.

Odd how the Sask Party lets them teach the children, but can’t trust them to run the schools. This Sask Party government acts as if just because they went to school they’re now experts and everybody knows about education. Well you’re not. You would never micromanage health care like that, so why education? You’re not even ready for that. Having simply gone to school doesn’t make you qualified to be a teacher, any more than being able to draw a valentine’s heart on a piece of paper makes you ready to be a cardiologist. Who would think like that?

Good governance, excellence in governance, means nose in, fingers out. Hire the best people and let them do their job. Step out of the way and take Bill 63 with you, and let school divisions and highly trained educational experts do their work. They’re the ones who know education, who know their communities of learning, who live education, who have the commitment of learning and teaching of our precious children for the long term, well into the future. Leave it in the hands of the local level and not in the fingers of a minister.

What kind of strong is a province that has the highest childhood poverty rate? What kind of strong is a province where children need to go to the food bank to fill those empty tummies, where this government pays only 3 cents a day per student for nutrition? What kind of strong is the lowest literacy rates, the lowest learning outcome scores?

What kind of strong is the highest rates of domestic violence, where little ones live that hell of seeing daddy beat up mommy and remembering it for a very long time? Where children go to school, a place that at least be safer and to get something to eat, or to sleep. How many children did I put on our staff room couch with a blanket to just get some sleep? No, at that time, learning’s not on the top of their minds, but they know at school they’ll find a place where there’ll be people there who love them, in spite of their behaviour — teachers and staff. How’s that strong? Oh, it’s not. It’s sad.

The Sask Party government is so proud because it built major and done major renovations over the past 20 years and provides maintenance funding for the schools. You’re supposed to do that. It’s your job. You know what that actually works out to Regina and Saskatoon? Well it works out, in the past 20 years, eight schools. They’re joint schools so they’re not two schools, six in Saskatoon.

But you know what this government doesn’t talk about? How much it’s dragging its feet for all the other much-needed schools. And they know the demographics. And the Sask Party can approve, in the blink of an eye, a massive AI data centre, but they can’t get schools built or hospitals built or roads built up north — the very things that good, honest, long-time, hard-working people of Saskatchewan need.

And the maintenance formula is a mere pittance of what’s required and far, far less than industry standards. That’s not steady. That’s shady. And children are learning in these buildings, or trying to, maybe after an hour-and-a-half bus ride both ways because there’s not enough funding for school divisions to shorten routes.

Let me talk about up north. This lack of respect for education and child care is exponentially worse. This Sask Party isn’t ready to deal with that and they never have been. I went. I listened. I saw. Because you can’t unsee that. You can’t unsee that systemic poverty that a lack of a northern allowance for child care could support. You can’t unsee that a loaf of bread is $7. You can’t unsee that a gallon of milk is $18 and a head of cauliflower is $12.

And rural areas can’t unsee and certainly won’t forget that this agreement that was signed gives them $200 less per child either. How ready and steady is that, that this Sask Party has failed our little ones? Their big claim to fame with child care is that they signed the thing. By the way, we were telling them for a year and a half to do it.

And using the federal money, which the minister knows full well is only two-thirds of the money it takes to implement the full system but is yet to put a fair share — or any provincial money — into making the system a success for the children and the families across the province, is unacceptable.

They aren’t ready to take on child care seriously. Because after five years there’s still no equitable funding formula, no wage or salary grid, no pension and benefits program, and no retention and recruitment supports. And they have the nerve to go on and imply that the NDP doesn’t know how to run things, that we don’t understand building an economy. Look who ballooned the deficit and racked up the debt. It wasn’t us. The Sask Party.

And they ask us where we’ll find the money. I’ll tell you where. We’ll stop the waste and mismanagement. Look at the auditor reports that we go through with a fine-tooth comb in the Public Accounts Committee. Tell me what good management of taxpayers’ money is it when their massive, disastrous IT [information technology] projects go through or not?

Tell me what kind of oversight management is it when AIMS [administrative information management system] is $195 million over budget, five years past the deadline? EBMP [enterprise business modernization project], which has morphed into GEM [government enterprise management] — I guess that made it better — is $130 million over budget and 2.5 years past the deadline. And the waste when these programs don’t work and not even used in some of the ministries — like how we pay our CAs [constituency assistant] — that’s still a gong show.

That’s $325 million above what the projects actually should have cost, wasted. And the NDP wouldn’t let that happen. That $325 million, well that could get you 3,250 teachers in one year to reduce class size from 30 to 20 children in a classroom. Or that wasted money could have bought an additional 325 teachers for over 10 years. Imagine. Imagine how ready our children and our future would be with that. Or they could put some of that money to get the best child care system in the province and make us an envy of Canada.

But no, this unready, unsteady, and uncertain Sask Party government clings to three-word phrases. After 20 years this government will be known as having built a legacy, goes down in the books with these three words. This is a Sask Party government that should’ve, could’ve, didn’t, and can’t.

No, Mr. Speaker, I won’t be supporting the motion presented. Rather I’ll support the amendment put forward by the member from Saskatoon Fairview and seconded by my colleague from Regina Walsh Acres. Merci, monsieur le Président; thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Hon. Darlene Rowden: — Strong. Steady. Saskatchewan. Delivering for Batoche. There is an earworm for everyone to remember. Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise in this Assembly today to speak to the Speech from the Throne and to reflect on the direction our government is taking Saskatchewan.

I want to begin by recognizing the people of Batoche, from the communities of Wakaw, Cudworth, Birch Hills, Duck Lake, Aberdeen, Middle Lake, St. Louis, and the many smaller communities and rural municipalities in between. Our constituency is built on hard work, generous families, and a deep connection to the land. These are communities where people look out for their neighbours; where farmers and ranchers work long hours to put food on tables around the world; where volunteers keep the rinks open, community halls operating, and local events going; and where people understand that a strong Saskatchewan starts in rural communities.

The Throne Speech message is straightforward: the world may be uncertain, but Saskatchewan is strong, steady, and ready for what comes next. We are living in a time of international conflict, trade disputes, economic uncertainty, and changing markets. These challenges affect our families, our businesses, and our producers.

[14:45]

But Saskatchewan is in a position of strength because of decisions we have made, the industries we have built, and the people who continue to work hard every day. Our government has focused on creating an environment where businesses can invest, industries can grow, and people can build a future here at home.

There are more than 60 major projects valued at over $100 billion in the provincial investment pipeline, and we’ve got our eye on the next 100 billion. Saskatchewan’s GDP [gross domestic product] reached a record high of more than 85 billion in 2025, and our exports are approaching 50 billion annually. That is not just a bunch of numbers. It means jobs for Saskatchewan people, opportunities for local businesses, and more economic activity in communities throughout the province.

For Batoche that matters. When a mine expands, when a processing facility invests in new equipment, when an energy company increases production, or when a business opens its doors, the benefits reach beyond the project site. They create work for contractors, truckers, mechanics, suppliers, restaurants, and small businesses.

Our government understands that Saskatchewan’s economy is built on the industries that have always been important to us, while also creating opportunities in new sectors. We are the world’s leading potash jurisdiction, a major supplier of uranium, a significant oil producer, and a global agricultural powerhouse. We are also attracting investment in critical minerals, lithium, copper, rare earth elements, and technology.

The recently announced Bell Canada data centre investment, which has grown to more than 50 billion, is another example of Saskatchewan attracting investment — private investment on a scale that would have been difficult to imagine 20 years ago. Mr. Speaker, these are the kinds of opportunities that create a stronger future for our children and grandchildren.

And while we welcome new industries, we must never forget the industry that built this province. Mr. Speaker, agriculture is at the heart of the constituency of Batoche. You do not have to travel far in Batoche constituency to see a grain truck on the road, a cattle operation, or a farmer working late trying to get the crop off before the weather changes. In 2025 Saskatchewan’s international agricultural exports reached approximately 18 billion. That represents 41 per cent of our total provincial exports. Nearly half of what Saskatchewan sells internationally comes from agriculture — 41 per cent.

We all know that farming isn’t easy. Producers deal with fluctuating commodity prices, rising input costs, unpredictable weather, transportation challenges, and changing international trade relationships. That is why practical support and reliable risk management programs are so important.

Our government continues to strengthen programs like crop insurance and AgriStability. The recent AgriStability enhancements are important for livestock producers. Allowing reasonable pasture rental and lease expenses to be recognized, increasing interim payments, improving feed inventory pricing, and expanding access through late participation are meaningful changes. These are not just administrative changes. They recognize the realities of operating a livestock operation.

We are also taking action to protect Saskatchewan farm land and Canadian ownership. The review of The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act is an important opportunity to ensure our legislation continues to reflect the needs of today’s agriculture industry and protects the long-term interests of Saskatchewan producers.

Mr. Speaker, we can’t talk about agriculture without talking about trade. Saskatchewan producers depend on access to international markets. We need reliable transportation, strong trade relationships, and a government that stands up for our industries. That is why maintaining and expanding international trade relationships is so important.

The NDP has suggested reducing Saskatchewan’s international presence at a time when we should be doing the opposite. Closing trade offices or stepping back from international engagement is not a strategy for growth. Our producers need more markets, not fewer. They need more customers, not fewer. Our government will continue working to ensure Saskatchewan products have a place on the world stage.

Mr. Speaker, if there is one issue that comes up time and time again when I speak with people throughout Batoche, it’s roads and highways. Our highways are the lifelines of rural Saskatchewan. They connect communities, get children to school, allow families to access health care, and ensure farmers move grain, livestock, and equipment safely and efficiently. For the people who travel Highway 11, Highway 2, and the many secondary highways and grid roads throughout our constituency, road conditions are a part of everyday life.

We know there’s always more work to do, and anyone who drives Saskatchewan highways understands that. Our province is large. The transportation network is extensive. And our roads experience tremendous wear and tear, particularly with the heavy equipment and commercial traffic associated with agriculture and resource development.

But our government continues to make substantial investments. This year’s work will improve more than 850 kilometres of provincial highways. For the residents of Batoche, we are happy . . . I can’t express that enough. We are happy to see construction on Highway 2 between Cudworth and Wakaw, and resurfacing through Wakaw and heading north of there, construction work on 302 east of Prince Albert, and eagerly look forward to passing lanes on 41 and 3 coming soon.

We also need to recognize the importance of rural roads. Rural municipalities carry a tremendous responsibility for maintaining the roads that connect farms, ranches, grain terminals, and small communities. That is why programs such as the rural integrated roads for growth are important. They help rural municipalities make the improvements needed to keep goods and people moving.

Mr. Speaker, I would challenge the members opposite to explain how they can criticize our highways investments while simultaneously proposing measures that would reduce revenue available for highway infrastructure. The NDP called for a reduction in the gas tax while also criticizing the government for not spending enough on roads. They cannot have it both ways. In fact highways were not even identified as a specific priority in their ’24 election platform. Our government has chosen to invest, build, and keep moving forward. And we will continue to work with rural municipalities because we understand that rural infrastructure is economic infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, another issue that matters to rural residents is community safety. For people living in smaller communities and on farms and acreages, crime can feel personal. When someone steals fuel, tools, equipment, livestock, or machinery, it is not just a financial loss. It can disrupt an entire operation. It can affect a family’s livelihood and leave people feeling vulnerable in their own homes and communities. People want to know that when they call for help, someone will respond. They want to know that repeat offenders are being dealt with and that police have the resources they need.

Our government recognizes these concerns. This year’s budget includes substantial support for the RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] and First Nations policing, along with investments in municipal policing programs and the new small-town and rural police services grant program. I want to highlight that STAR [small-town and rural police services grant program] program because it is relevant to rural Saskatchewan.

We are also seeing results from the Saskatchewan Marshals Service. Between June ’25 and June ’26, the service made 187 warrant apprehensions, including more than 100 fugitives arrested in Prince Albert area alone this year. Every time an outstanding warrant is executed and a dangerous individual is taken off the street, it gives other police officers more time to focus on their own communities and responsibilities. The NDP want to scrap the Saskatchewan Marshals Service and redirect that funding elsewhere. I think it was doorbell cameras. Mr. Speaker, rural Saskatchewan deserves more tools to fight crime, not fewer.

Our government is also taking a broader approach to community safety by recognizing the connection between addiction and crime. There is no question that drugs and addiction have caused enormous harm in Saskatchewan communities. Families are struggling, businesses are being affected, and police officers are dealing with increasingly complex situations. We need enforcement, but we also need treatment and recovery.

Our government has committed to 500 new addiction treatment spaces, with 412 already completed and operating. A further 250 spaces are planned, bringing the total commitment to 1,250 spaces. The planned complex-needs facility in North Battleford and Prince Albert will also help address some of the most challenging situations. We need to meet people where they are, but we cannot leave them there. We need to give people a genuine opportunity to recover, rebuild their lives, and become contributing members of their communities. That is what a balanced approach to public safety looks like.

Mr. Speaker, when we talk about the environment in rural Saskatchewan, we should remember that the people who have the greatest connection to the land are often the people who work it every day. Farmers, ranchers, and First Nations depend on healthy soil, clean water, productive pasture, and healthy ecosystems. They have a vested interest in protecting those resources because their livelihoods and their families’ futures depend on them.

The past several years have reminded us how quickly wildfires, flooding, and other emergencies can affect Saskatchewan communities. Our government has responded by expanding PDAP [provincial disaster assistance program] and supporting better emergency preparedness. The community wildfire resilience team pilot program and expanded FireSmart initiatives will help communities improve their preparedness and reduce wildfire risk.

I also want to recognize the partnership established between the SPSA [Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency], Prince Albert Grand Council, and Meadow Lake Tribal Council. Bringing First Nations leadership and knowledge into wildfire planning is an important step towards stronger emergency management. For rural communities, that preparation matters.

We also need to recognize the importance of maintaining our water infrastructure, protecting agricultural land, and managing wildlife populations responsibly. The decision to provide producers experiencing significant stacked feed damage from excessive elk populations with up to eight depredation tags is one example of responding to real concern on the ground.

Environmental policy must be practical. It must recognize the realities of rural life, protect our natural resources, and allow Saskatchewan industries to continue creating jobs and economic opportunities. Our government believes we can do both.

Mr. Speaker, at the end of the day all of these investments and initiatives need to translate into something meaningful for Saskatchewan families. People want to be able to afford their homes, pay their bills, raise their kids, and have a little left over. We know that affordability remains a challenge. Groceries, fuel, insurance, housing, and everyday expenses have all put pressure on household budgets.

Our government has taken action to help families to keep more of their hard-earned money. Saskatchewan now has the highest provincial income tax-free threshold in Canada. We also have some of the lowest overall utility costs in the country and the lowest average residential rental costs. Our government has committed to another reduction in personal income taxes in the ’27 budget, continuing the four-year affordability plan. For families in Batoche, these measures matter.

[15:00]

Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I didn’t speak about health care and education. These are two services that are important to rural Saskatchewan, where access can sometimes mean travelling considerable distances. We want families to have confidence that when they need medical care they can access it without unnecessary delays or having to travel farther than necessary.

Our government has made significant investments in recruiting and retaining health care professionals; 7,500 doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals have joined Saskatchewan’s health care system in the last four years. We have also added more than 1,000 medical nursing specialists and allied health training seats. The addition of 54 nurse practitioner primary care contracts is another important step.

We are also making progress on our commitment to perform 450,000 surgeries over four years, with more than 100,000 surgeries and procedures completed in ’25‑26. And while these are encouraging developments, we know there’s more work to do. Recruiting health care professionals, improving access to primary care, and reducing waiting times must remain priorities.

The Prince Albert Victoria Hospital expansion is important for the region surrounding Batoche. With construction now more than 50 per cent complete, this project will provide important health care capacity closer to home for many residents. The planned Prince Albert urgent care centre is another important development.

Mr. Speaker, we also recognize that strong rural communities need strong schools. Schools are often the centre of our communities. They are places where children learn and communities come together. Our government has invested a historic 3.6 billion in education, including 2.5 billion in operating funding for the current school year.

We are also investing in early literacy, specialized classroom supports, and new school construction. We are also expanding specialized support spaces for students with additional needs, with a goal of reaching 200 classrooms by 2028. These investments demonstrate that our government understands the importance of giving every child an opportunity to succeed.

Mr. Speaker, one of the things that I appreciate most about representing Batoche is the incredible community spirit throughout my constituency. We have communities that take pride in their local rates, local rec facilities, community halls, and local events. These facilities do not always make the headlines, but they are essential to the quality of life in rural Saskatchewan.

Our government doubled the community rink affordability grant, and the active families benefit was also doubled. These are practical measures that help families participate in sports, recreation, and artistic activities without placing the entire financial burden on parents.

We also need to recognize the importance of municipal revenue sharing and continued partnerships with municipalities. Local governments know their communities best. They understand which roads need attention, which rec facilities need improvements, and where infrastructure investments will make the greatest difference. A strong relationship between provincial and municipal governments is essential to keeping Saskatchewan moving forward.

Mr. Speaker, Saskatchewan people are practical. They understand that government has to make choices. They understand that every dollar spent must come from somewhere. They also understand that there is a difference between making promises and delivering results.

We know there are challenges. We know that rural roads need continued attention, that health care access must improve, that families are feeling financial pressure, and that crime remains a concern. But we are addressing those challenges with investments, programs, and practical action. We have a plan to keep Saskatchewan growing while protecting the affordability and opportunities that make this province such a great place to live.

Mr. Speaker, I want to finish by returning to the people of Batoche. Our constituency is full of people who do not wait around for someone else to solve their problems. They understand the value of hard work, personal responsibility, and looking after their neighbours. They deserve a government that recognizes their contributions, listens to their concerns, and works to create opportunities for them to succeed.

The Speech from the Throne sets out a direction that builds on our strengths, supports our industries, invests in our communities, and prepares Saskatchewan for the future. We have a strong economy, a world-class ag sector, tremendous natural resources, and people who are willing to work hard and take on new opportunities. We should never take those advantages for granted. Our responsibility is to keep making progress, and that is exactly what our government is doing.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support the motion from the White City-Qu’Appelle member and seconded by the member from Last Mountain-Touchwood and will not be supporting the amendment. God bless Saskatchewan.

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

Kim Breckner: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to start off by thanking the people who make it possible for me to do this work: my husband, Paul, who is an amazing father to our son Ian and a great partner; and to my constituency assistant, Emma Kellen-York.

Mr. Speaker, this fall there was an encampment in my riding that was dismantled. And if any of the ministers or members on the opposite side had the opportunity to go to that encampment and talk to the people living there, the adults and the children living in the encampment, they would know that those people don’t feel that Saskatchewan is strong and steady. Actually, far from steady.

Homelessness is skyrocketing. It’s tripled in Saskatoon over the last 3 years alone, but it can be fixed. And that’s the most frustrating part; the government knows the answer. It knows the steps it needs to take to fix it. It’s hard work, but it can be done. And I’ll go over those steps just in case they have any doubts.

And first, SIS [Saskatchewan income support] and SAID [Saskatchewan assured income for disability] need to be enough to live on. SAID, the people on the Saskatchewan assured income disability supports, they get in total — this is everything they get — just under $1,300 a month. And the average one-bedroom apartment in Saskatoon, just under $1,300 a month. They can’t even afford a simple one-bedroom apartment and eat.

And people on SIS, $675 for shelter in Saskatoon. Tell me, where can you find an apartment for $675? No wonder these people are ending up unhoused. They know they need to revert back to paying rent directly to landlords as a default. It’s not enough to say, well certain people on certain programs can maybe qualify to have a trustee. Have any of you tried calling social services lately? Because I tell you, I’ve heard from dozens — I’m sure the member for Saskatoon Nutana has heard from hundreds — of people who have tried calling and just can’t get through. It’s so busy.

Now try taking somebody on disability and have them continue to call back and call back to try and get through, to try and get this trusteeship set up. You have told the people of Saskatchewan when you’re on these programs, we will provide you shelter. Do it. Pay the landlord. It’s as simple as that.

We know we need mental health supports when and where people need it. And I emphasize “when.” Imagine the courage it takes to decide that you have a problem and that you’re going to get help. And now imagine calling and being told, well it’ll be at least six weeks and, by the way, you have to keep calling back to hold your spot.

I mean, many of these people, they don’t even have phones. But can you imagine how demoralizing it is to finally get that courage and be told, there’s no help for you today. There’s no help for you tomorrow. There’s no help for you next week. It could be months.

No wonder the rates of mental health and addictions are going up in this province and more and more people are ending up unhoused. We need supportive housing for the people who come out of those programs. It doesn’t mean that suddenly their life is all rainbows and sunshine. Many of these people still need supports to live a regular life. You can’t just kick them out from hospital to street again. You need the proper housing so that they have a chance at success and rent control keeping people in their homes in the first place. Predictable rent amounts.

It also keeps kids in the same schools. It preserves a family’s connection to the community and that community support that they’ve built up. It’s more than just a dollar figure; it’s preserving those connections, stability for kids, more social housing because we know that not everybody who’s living on the street is an addict.

There’s people working full-time using food banks. We know that to be a fact. And these are the people that need affordable housing that we can provide. It’s within our mandate as the provincial government, but we’ve neglected this part of the social contract that we have taken on that we said we would provide for our people.

The auditor’s report provides some really good feedback about having that right mix of housing units and no more vacant units. Most of these units that need repair, the auditor tells us it can be done in less than 30 days. Why are they sitting empty when there’s people living on the streets?

You can build data centres in months, but you can’t build more social housing or get these units back into repair to be rented out? Actually the data centre, I think it epitomizes why this government thinks that things are so great while other people struggle. And it’s because the benefits you get from this province, it depends on your financial circumstances.

If you’re a tech bro or a CEO [chief executive officer], no problem. They’ll build you a data centre immediately. If the Farm Land Security Board has issues, well the Sask Party government, they’ll find a way to change their minds. The Minister of Environment will even waive an environmental assessment. They will hand-pick the RM councillors to approve the development plan.

You can go from registering your lobbyists to shovels in the ground in less than a year in this province if you’re the right kind of person, but people relying on public schools, on affordable housing, on the hospitals . . . Well I’ll tell you what’s happening in my riding. The city centre school that was promised in 2020, supposed to be done in 2024, it’s still under construction. The Prince Albert complex-needs facility — we talked about the need for mental health supports to deal with this homelessness crisis — it was announced 15 months ago. It was supposed to be operational by now. The government can’t even give us a timeline for finishing that. And the Yorkton hospital? Progress has been continuing for 20 years.

Mr. Speaker, to the people of Saskatoon Riversdale I say to you, this government has shown where their priorities are. And it’s not with everyday people like you or me. Despite this lack of services, we’re still showing record debt. How do we have record debt and record homelessness and record food bank use and our schools are falling apart and our wait times for surgeries are last in the nation?

This government has squandered a surplus that we built up through hard work after their predecessor almost bankrupted this province. And this debt, it’s not steady. It’s not strong. It’s ballooning. It’s doubled under Premier Moe. This is a rate of spending we cannot sustain. We cannot afford this Sask Party government much longer.

They can point to other provinces and say, oh, our GDP per capita, you know, it’s not as bad as those provinces. Well you can’t point to other provinces when your province is last in health care and education. This money, what has it gotten us and where has it gone?

It’s been spent on things like hundreds of millions in cost overruns for projects like AIMS. This government has wasted money on poor procurement practices, like overspending $100 million on water bombers. We all know about the Regina bypass and the Global Transportation Hub. Paying inflated room rates to hotels owned by former members. $300,000 to help with the Premier’s social media posts to a Czech company, as if we don’t have people in Saskatchewan that could do it for a quarter . . . well a fraction I would hope of the cost. And $41,000 for hats for the Marshals Service. How many marshals do you have right now? Like 27? That’s a lot of money per hat per marshal.

[15:15]

And we are bleeding out on health care spending, putting band-aids over bullet wounds. You’ll pay 10 times the salary of an average nurse for travel nurses, but you won’t cut a deal with our local workers. You’ll send people for mammograms in Calgary.

How did we get to such a broken health care system? Well maybe it’s because this government values toeing the party line over front-line experience. Tell me, how can you have a health authority board that has the right mix of skills and experience if none of those board members have front-line experience? How can you say you have an independent board willing to make the right decisions for the people of the province, when half those board members have either donated or worked for the government’s Sask Party?

It’s poor financial management. I mean what other party can bankrupt a monopoly? We’re looking at record spending for SaskPower to do the most expensive power generation option. And don’t just take it from me. We’ve heard from the experts.

An independent analysis conducted by the Pembina Institute confirms Saskatchewan’s plan to extend coal-fired power to 2050 is one of the most expensive electricity options, costing tens of billions more than modern and viable alternatives. I quote from the report:

Delaying the coal phase-out from 2030 to 2050 would cost more than twice as much as generating electricity from renewable energy, locking in higher prices at a time when households, businesses, and industries can least afford them.

That’s one expert. We have another. Brett Dolter of the C.D. Howe Institute has this to say:

The Saskatchewan coal to SMR plan is the highest cost option for SaskPower to pursue. This conclusion is robust under different costs and natural gas prices and whether carbon pricing is applied to coal-fired and gas-fired electricity. SaskPower could achieve lower cost power and reduce Saskatchewan’s cumulative CO₂ emissions by adhering to the federal coal-fired regulations and phasing out coal before 2030. A gas plus renewables scenario would provide a cost-effective, cleaner bridge to a net-zero electricity in the future.

You have experts telling you this is the most expensive power generation plan, but you won’t change course. You will not listen to experts, just like you won’t listen to them when they told you changing direct payments to landlords would lead to a homelessness crisis. I don’t know what it is about hunters but you’ll listen to them, but not economists or homelessness advocacy experts.

And businesses are going to suffer. You’re going to double our energy rates. It’s going to kill businesses, Mr. Speaker. And small and medium-sized businesses, they’re the backbone of our economy. They are really struggling.

Businesses in my constituency of Saskatoon Riversdale, they’re constantly replacing their windows. Their insurance rates are going up. The increasing crime and social disorder that this government is allowing to thrive is hurting these small and medium-sized businesses. And Saskatoon isn’t even the hardest hit with the growing crime problem. I was talking to a business in North Battleford. She had two locations. She actually had to shut down one location even though it was profitable because it wasn’t safe for her staff.

It’s great that we’re travelling around and we’re getting these great photos and signing these memorandums of understanding. But we need to deal with the problems here at home too. We’re a landlocked province. We need trade-enabling infrastructure to get our products to market. And the northern roads, they’re in disrepair. And that is one of our greatest risks to developing the mining sector here, but it’s being ignored.

Shortline rail has been largely neglected by this government. They’re finally getting a decent amount of funding. And thank goodness, because you won’t take the PST [provincial sales tax] off diesel for them. And we know how expensive that’s getting.

There’s good policy that we can implement, like tax credit programs. Why haven’t we harmonized trucking regulations yet? And beef? We should be the leaders on this. We have the second-largest beef herd in Canada in Saskatchewan, and we only process 1 per cent of that meat here in the province. This is an amazing opportunity for Saskatchewan, to process our own beef. Why aren’t we working with the federal government to harmonize the inspection regulations?

It’s insane that we cannot sell our meats, that we process here, beyond our borders. That is the work that this Trade minister should be doing. We have failed to attract and retain major beef processing investment, despite the substantial cattle industry. That is unacceptable for this province and the producers of this province. We know what can happen. We’ve seen it in Lloyd. It was successful there. There’s no reason it can’t be successful across this company if we put in the work.

Mr. Speaker, there’s too much work for this government to sit on their laurels. They might say we’re negative, but I’m standing up for the potential that this province has. I’m speaking out for those people, those adults and the children living in tents. And on their behalf I will say that I will not be supporting the government Throne Speech motion. And I will be supporting the amendments by the member from Saskatoon Fairview, seconded by the member from Regina Walsh Acres.

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

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s always good to rise and have an opportunity to speak to what I think is another really strong Throne Speech talking about the positivity in this province. Not only what we recognize here as Saskatchewan residents, or at least some of us do, Mr. Speaker, but really I think how folks around the world recognize what’s happening in this province and really quite frankly have an interest in being here — being here, investing in this province, creating economic opportunity for our generation and the generations to follow.

Before I get too into the meat of what I’d like to say today, I do want to thank some people who support me in being here each and every single day, both as the MLA for The Battlefords and also serving . . . Really quite the honour I have, serving as the Minister of Health in our province.

I want to thank my staff, both here in Regina in our ministerial office as well as my constituency staff back in The Battlefords. Both of the offices that support me just do an incredible job engaging with the various people who call or email or walk in and looking for help, Mr. Speaker, and I so appreciate the work that they do.

I’d like to thank my colleagues. You know, when you serve as Minister of Health you get to know what’s going on in a lot of different constituencies. And so you have an opportunity to engage in what’s happening in Lloydminster or Central Butte for example, Mr. Speaker, in your community and many other communities right around the province. And let me just say I so appreciate the support that I get from my colleagues, not only in bringing concerns forward, but then also communicating what we are doing as a government through our patients-first health care plan.

Finally I’d like to just finish by thanking my family. Meagan and I, we’ve got two beautiful kids at home. And I couldn’t do this job without them. And I’ve said it before: the Thursday drive home is often the best part of the week. And now at this time of the year it’s kind of dark when you get home to The Battlefords, Mr. Speaker. But if you can make it home before bedtime on Thursday, that’s the goal so we can tuck the kids in together.

Turning to the Throne Speech, you know, this is again I think what has been . . . There’s so much uncertainty in the world. We’ve talked about that, whether it’s wars, whether it’s elections, whether it’s regime changes around the world, trade disputes. And, Mr. Speaker, Saskatchewan is finding its way through that uncertainty.

You know, even today some of the trade treatments to many of the products that Saskatchewan produces with China extended to 2028. That’s positive news for our producers. That doesn’t happen, Mr. Speaker, without our Premier engaging directly alongside the Prime Minister in the country of China. I’ll maybe come back to trade in a little bit, Mr. Speaker, because there’s some good things to say on that.

You know, I want to say my colleagues have done a fantastic job canvassing what’s in the Throne Speech, and really communicating how as a government, as we have a strong and steady economy, we can make investments in areas that are important to people in this province, whether that be building schools, whether that be adding specialized support classrooms in divisions right across the province, Mr. Speaker, or whether that be increasing the different medical training programs that we have in the province, adding to the College of Medicine.

My colleague from Dakota-Arm River, the way he talked about the expansion of the College of Medicine seats, three new doctors coming from the Dakota-Arm River constituency in this upcoming class, Mr. Speaker, that’s positive news for that part of the province. And we look forward to them completing their education one day and getting them into a Saskatchewan family medicine residency seat, and then having the right incentives in place to make sure that they’re practising in Saskatchewan, serving Saskatchewan patients.

So as I said, the colleagues on this side of the House have done an absolute fantastic job about talking what our plans are: strong, steady Saskatchewan; a patients-first health care plan, Mr. Speaker. I find it interesting though. What are the plans that aren’t being talked about in the House, Mr. Speaker? You know, the Minister for Crown Investments Corporation talked about it in question period today. I can’t remember how long ago it was, but the members opposite released some sort of power plan several months ago, Mr. Speaker. And it was a big deal.

It was a big deal, and then it wasn’t. And then we’ve never actually heard about the plan before. I don’t know. It must be . . . I don’t know if they were handing them out at Halloween, Mr. Speaker, because they just can’t get rid of them. No third parties have endorsed this plan, you know. And in town halls, where they can barely collect a couple of handfuls of people and half of them are staffers, Mr. Speaker, nobody wants to hear about this plan. It’s no wonder that we haven’t heard anything about it since the week it was released, Mr. Speaker.

You know, Mr. Speaker, the other plan that we don’t hear a lot about is this health care plan. This big, bold health care plan from the members opposite . . .

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — A very significant contrast between the last person, the member from Saskatoon Riversdale, who spoke and now the Minister of Health speaking. The chatter and the catcalls need to stop. Let the minister speak and be quiet in your seats. That’s what we expect. Thank you. Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If there’s any catcalls on this side of the House, Mr. Speaker, let me know. We’ll deal with that afterwards I guess.

Mr. Speaker, so we’ve talked about the power plan. The other plan that we haven’t heard about is this big, bold health care plan, Mr. Speaker. A big deal, you know. A lot of energy, clearly a lot of late nights spent on ChatGPT because, Mr. Speaker, they clearly forgot to take out the AI prompts. We all know that, Mr. Speaker. Take the AI prompts out before you deliver a document or deliver a speech.

But I want to get into actually the content of that plan. And I’m going to talk more about a specific promise later on as I close my comments, Mr. Speaker. But I want to draw attention to a number that was quoted by the members opposite in their health care plan, where they claim 6 in 10 Saskatchewan people do not have access to primary care.

An Hon. Member: — That’s in Angus Reid.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — That’s in Angus Reid. You’re right. Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is correct. That’s an Angus Reid number. I’ll talk more about other Angus Reid numbers that the members opposite may want to pay attention to in a minute.

But, Mr. Speaker, it’s interesting because the CIHI [Canadian Institute for Health Information] numbers released just this last week indicate that 83 per cent of Saskatchewan residents have access to a primary care provider. And I take a little bit of issue . . . Mr. Speaker, we know well in this province that primary care is increasingly being delivered not only by family physicians but also by nurse practitioners and definitely other professionals as we increase scope. I think about pharmacists as an example. Very positive numbers out of the CIHI report just this week on the workforce supply of pharmacists that we have in this province, Mr. Speaker.

[15:30]

So the members opposite claim 6 in 10 Saskatchewan people don’t have access to primary care. What they don’t understand though is that the Angus Reid question didn’t even ask about nurse practitioners, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, all of a sudden the members opposite are totally leaving a very important group of professionals right out of the picture when we talk about delivering primary care in Saskatchewan.

I mentioned Angus Reid numbers. If they’re going to rely on Angus Reid numbers, I would point them to the numbers released by that same pollster last week that show the Saskatchewan Party with an 11‑point lead over the members opposite, Mr. Speaker.

Now when it comes to nurse practitioners, Mr. Speaker, I have been so encouraged by the progress that we’ve seen in really a short amount of time, and really thanks due to the work of the Ministry of Health combined with the Saskatchewan Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Just yesterday, Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to join the Deputy Premier at the Conexus Arts Centre honouring recipients of the Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Public Service. And I can’t tell you how proud I was that many of the folks that I get to work with in the ministry on a daily basis were awarded and recognized for the incredible work that they’ve done in creating the new nurse practitioner contract model that we have in this province, Mr. Speaker.

Over 60 contracts are now signed, Mr. Speaker. And if you think about that, that’s a minimum of 800 patients attached across the province. That is 48,000 patients attached thanks to those over‑60 contracts, Mr. Speaker. The members opposite want to continue to chirp from their seats, but they can’t recognize the progress that has been made in several communities, thanks to these nurse practitioner contracts ensuring that patients are attached, Mr. Speaker.

So here we have the members opposite running down the contract model, running down really the good work that not only the nurse practitioners have done by seeking a contract, Mr. Speaker, but in many cases communities and health care foundations that have supported those nurse practitioners by paying for clinic space, helping those nurse practitioners be attracted to those communities.

I think of the RM of Enniskillen as one example, Mr. Speaker. We have a nurse practitioner, Sarah Taylor, starting there very soon, supported by a rural municipality. That’s local Saskatchewan residents stepping up and ensuring that they can have services in their community.

Mr. Speaker, I’ve heard from several members opposite, you know, who don’t want to talk about their health care plan, spend a lot of time questioning why there wasn’t a mention of the Yorkton hospital in the Throne Speech. Well, Mr. Speaker, I’m just going to draw their attention, I believe, to — yes, there it is — page 7, second paragraph: “continued progress on the Yorkton Hospital.”

And you know, the member for Canora-Pelly, the Minister of SaskBuilds and Procurement, talked really well about the NDP’s approach to procurement. And I can’t remember verbatim what he said today, Mr. Speaker, but it was really important. It talked about how there’s a process to building significant capital. And I will use this time to emphasize, Mr. Speaker, when this government commits to building a hospital, we get the job done.

Weyburn is obviously the most recent example of that, Mr. Speaker. You know, $134 million investment into that community making a significant difference. I want to thank the member from Weyburn-Bengough for waking up so early on Sunday, being there at opening, welcoming some of the staff into the new facility, Mr. Speaker. We are very excited about that, Mr. Speaker.

You know, Mr. Speaker, I’ve mentioned Preeceville and Humboldt before. All the residents of those communities got from those members opposite were news release after news release after news release, Mr. Speaker. News releases don’t serve patients, Mr. Speaker. And that is the reality, is that this government actually builds hospitals and ensures that patients will have access to care.

So, Mr. Speaker, you know, my time here is limited, and I do want to just start to wrap up here with really, I think again, another important contrast. And I’d like to start this part by just quoting part of the Throne Speech, if you’ll humour me, Mr. Speaker. It comes from page 16 in the conclusion:

In today’s uncertain world, Saskatchewan faces many challenges that are beyond our control.

By focusing on what we can control — building our economy, protecting our sovereignty, expanding our export markets, keeping life affordable and providing high quality services to Saskatchewan people — we will keep Saskatchewan strong and steady, no matter what is happening beyond our borders.

I want to talk about what I appreciate about Saskatchewan people. I appreciate many things, but Saskatchewan people are pretty practical. I think most people understand — maybe not the 61 in here — but most people who, you know, open up the tractor door in the morning, open up the shop door in the morning, they understand. They have to focus on what they can control.

Small-business people around the province, they can’t worry about what is going on on the other side of the world. They’re there. They have to make sure that they keep their staff paid and there’s work to do, Mr. Speaker. And I think that’s really what this Throne Speech is about, focusing on what we can control in the midst of all that uncertainty.

But, Mr. Speaker, I see members opposite so focused and intent on trying to control things that we cannot control, this government can’t necessarily control, those members certainly can’t control. And they’re spending so much time focusing on things that they have no control over, Mr. Speaker.

The first one, and maybe there’s just a wordplay here — and the member opposite just talked about this — but rent control. So the members opposite want to control what rents cost in the province, Mr. Speaker. There has been recent studies show that we continue to have some of the most affordable rents right across the province, Mr. Speaker. But I’ll quote the Regina and Saskatoon home builders’ associations: “Rent control is a misguided approach.” That’s the quote directly from the home builders’ association.

This rent control policy brought forward by the members opposite has been panned by the landlords in Saskatchewan. It’s been panned by the realtors, Mr. Speaker. These are the people who actually own rental properties. These are the people who build rental properties, Mr. Speaker, and these are the people who help Saskatchewan residents buy or sell real estate. They all agree this is a misguided approach. Again, members opposite trying to control what they cannot control, Mr. Speaker.

You know, Mr. Speaker, I think about trade relationships. It’s as seen all summer long. We’ve heard from the members opposite. They seem to think that we can control international relationships by controlling which brands of alcohol Saskatchewan residents can buy. To think that that’s going to have any bearing on international trade relationships, Mr. Speaker, I think that’s another misguided approach. We want to let Saskatchewan people make those decisions for themselves.

Again not surprising, Mr. Speaker, coming from the members opposite who also want to close down trade offices and do international trade engagement from their basement via Zoom. Well I’ll tell you what. In the Speaker’s gallery just this week we had guests from Germany and Ireland, and every week we seem to have another international delegation or multiple in this province, Mr. Speaker. They’re coming to this province, Mr. Speaker, because we go and see them. We engage internationally through our international trade offices.

You know, Mr. Speaker, the other piece around control is now under this health care plan, again, that the members don’t even want to talk about. They’ve been going to all this work through AI to create their health care plan and then they don’t even want to talk about it, Mr. Speaker. Now as part of it they want to control access to primary care providers based on your postal code.

Mr. Speaker, we think that patients should have choice. That’s why we have nurse practitioner contracts. That’s why we’re increasing physician training seats and residency opportunities and, again, working with doctors across the province to find models of care that will work for them. That’s why we’ve made investments in the Innovation Fund, Mr. Speaker, patient medical homes, again, to build out the unique models that patients are able to choose where they access care.

And just this week, Mr. Speaker, it’s been a really interesting contrast — again, members opposite trying to control what they cannot control. So now they want to control who invests in this province based on who is investing in publicly traded companies, Mr. Speaker. Remarkable. Actually remarkable, Mr. Speaker. So publicly traded companies that are not even governed by Saskatchewan law, now we have to limit investment based on who may be buying shares in a publicly traded company in Toronto or New York, Mr. Speaker.

I don’t think that’s a winning strategy to attract investment to this province and create jobs, Mr. Speaker. The Minister for Crown Investments Corporation just today, Mr. Speaker, talked about how there’s over 1,100 people working on that job site that would be put out of work by the members’ opposite misguided approach to this project, Mr. Speaker. Incredibly disappointing.

Mr. Speaker, again I think this contrast is really important. This government is going to focus on what we can control. There are challenges in this province — no doubt about it, Mr. Speaker, we understand that — as there are challenges across the world. But as we continue to have a strong, steady, and ready approach, stay focused on what we control, we’re going to continue attracting that investment and keeping Saskatchewan strong for generations to come, Mr. Speaker.

I will be supporting the Speech from the Throne. I look forward to voting for it. And I move now that we adjourn debate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Hon. Tim McLeod: — I believe we’re calling the question on the motion, Mr. Speaker.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — We’re calling the question on the motion. I may need some help here. I’m sorry. My apologies. The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — Agreed. Thank you. Carried. Obviously I’m a little rusty. I recognize the Government House Leader.

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

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Deputy Speaker B. McLeod: — Carried. This Assembly now stands adjourned until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.

[The Assembly adjourned at 15:41.]

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.