Hon. Warren Kaeding: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have two different sets of guests this morning. But seated in your gallery today, I would like to introduce a very distinguished delegation from the Republic of Chile. Leading the delegation is Allan David Najum Litman, the Consul General of Chile in Vancouver. He was appointed in 2022.

His consular jurisdiction includes Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. Throughout his career he has served in a variety of diplomatic and consular roles with Chile’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, bringing extensive experience in international relations and public service.

Joining him is Gabriela Varas, the director of International Relations with Chile’s Agriculture Research Institute, known as INIA, under the Ministry of Agriculture. Ms. Varas is a senior communications and international engagement professional with extensive experience in strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and public affairs. In her current role she supports INIA’s international partnerships and collaboration initiatives, helping strengthen co-operation and knowledge exchange in agriculture and agri-food systems.

Also accompanying the delegation is Dr. Ivan Matus, the wheat improvement leader at INIA’s Quilamapu research centre. Dr. Matus is one of Chile’s leading wheat breeder specialists and has dedicated nearly four decades to agriculture research and crop genetic improvement. His work is focused on developing high-yielding, climate-resilient wheat varieties and advancing innovation that supports sustainable ag production and food security.

Mr. Speaker, Saskatchewan and Chile share a strong interest in agriculture excellence, innovation, and international collaboration. We are pleased to welcome these distinguished guests to Saskatchewan and value the opportunity to strengthen the relationship between our jurisdictions. I would ask all members to join me in welcoming Allan, Gabriela, and Dr. Ivan Matus to our Legislative Assembly.

And, Mr. Speaker, they may not be quite here yet, but I know they’re on their way. I certainly want to introduce the representatives from SARM [Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities] and Saskatchewan Pulse Growers: Darren Steinley, SARM vice-president, a farmer from the RM [rural municipality] of Excelsior; Laurel Feltin, the executive director at SARM — there they are, coming in at just the right time there — and Robyn Henry, director at Sask Pulse Growers and a farmer at Hodgeville.

Mr. Speaker, strong trading relationships do not happen by accident. They require regular engagement and presence in market as well as in Ottawa. And yesterday’s announcement on Canada’s market access to China provides certainty for Saskatchewan producers. And I want to thank SARM for their relentless advocacy for producers and Saskatchewan. Their recent trip to Ottawa with almost 30 meetings in the span of three days demonstrated commitment and focus. In fact they even had an on-the-street meeting with the Prime Minister, I believe.

I also want to thank Saskatchewan Pulse Growers for their continued advocacy and presence in market. And their work doesn’t stop after yesterday’s announcement. Nope. Mr. Speaker, their executive director, Carl Potts, is landing in China literally as we speak. So Saskatchewan’s producers are very well represented by these organizations. And I will certainly have more to talk about with this market access to China in an upcoming ministerial statement.

But I ask all members to join me in welcoming Darren, Laurel, and Robyn to their Legislative Assembly.

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

Jared Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to join with the minister in welcoming these delegations to the Saskatchewan legislature.

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

I’d like to welcome the consular general of Chile, Allan David Najum Litman. Our connection to Chile with Saskatchewan is something we’re very proud of — our connection through agriculture. Agriculture is very important to our province and to your country. And it’s wonderful to have you here sharing expertise and knowledge and learning how we can share those interesting ideas together and grow our economies. We can grow our connections and relations. So I’m joining with the minister, and on behalf of the opposition I want to welcome you to Saskatchewan.

While I’m on my feet, Mr. Speaker, I also want to join with the minister and welcome the folks from SARM. They are an important voice in Saskatchewan and do really, really important work in connecting Saskatchewan municipalities and bringing those voices to the legislature to us as MLAs [Member of the Legislative Assembly]. And I just want to thank them for their continued work in the province and the good work you do. I’m looking forward to the mid-term convention coming up shortly. So I ask all members to join me in welcoming the delegation from SARM as well.

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

Travis Keisig: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, it is my pleasure to introduce a very special guest that is joining us here today. We are joined by Dr. Timothy Russell. He is the Political and Economic Section Chief in the United States Consulate in Calgary. He has had postings around the world, Mr. Speaker, in Abu Dhabi, Jordan, and Barbados. I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Russell this summer in Calgary as we prepared for the Pacific Northwest Economic Region summit that was held in Edmonton. I’m very glad that Tim could join us here today, and great to see him in Saskatchewan now.

Saskatchewan’s largest trading partner is the United States, and trade, Mr. Speaker, is really about relationships. And Canada and the United States have a long and storied history of being allies and neighbours. And you know, in Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker, we are neighbourly. So please join me in welcoming Dr. Russell to the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly.

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

Vicki Mowat: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to join in with the member opposite in welcoming Dr. Tim Russell to our legislature on behalf of the official opposition. I want to thank him for his work. We know that the trade relationship between Canada and the United States is particularly important right now. We look forward to continuing to improve that relationship, and want to thank him for the work that he’s doing in that area. And so, Mr. Speaker, I would ask all members to join me in welcoming Tim Russell to the legislature.

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

Hon. Lori Carr: — Well thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as you are probably aware, I take great joy in serving as Saskatchewan’s Minister of Seniors, representing and advocating for the interests of the seniors in our great province.

Well today we have a wonderful group of older adults joining us here today in your gallery. I’m going to introduce them — if you could just a wave, you don’t have to stand up; that’s great — I’m going to introduce some of them individually, as I knew they were going to be here today. With us today we have Irene Bogdan, Gwen Eddie, Rosalie Needham, John and Wenda Persson, Ron and Ellie Niemcow, Dennis and Karen Pottage.

And seated on the floor of the Assembly, Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to introduce Terry and Brian Fryklund, and Jim and Marian Brown, accompanied by their daughter-in-law Audrey Brown. I have one fun fact about Marian today: she actually used to work in this building, Mr. Speaker, over 65 years ago, working for the then deputy treasurer Al Johnson in 1960.

And finally I’d like to recognize another wonderful group of 50 seniors that gave us a wave a little bit earlier. They are actually joining us here today from the Seniors’ University Group. I’m so pleased to see a group that promotes the value of community and lifelong learning joining us here today as we prepare to introduce Bill 71, the safer homes for seniors Act later this morning.

It’s a pleasure to have all of these older adults joining us today, and I ask that all members join in in welcoming all of them to their Legislative Assembly, Mr. Speaker.

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

Aleana Young: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to join with the minister opposite and welcome the Seniors’ University Group to this, their Legislative Assembly.

And now folks here will know how much I dislike disagreeing with members opposite. However I did hear the minister use the term “older adults.” And when I first got notice that the Seniors’ University Group was going to be coming to the legislature in such numbers, of course the first thing I did was remind myself of what this incredible organization does in providing lifelong learning opportunities to the dynamic residents of our province.

However, Mr. Speaker, while we know politics ages all of us faster than we would like, the Seniors’ University Group is open to adults 50 and up. Now as a millennial approaching a milestone birthday, it was a little haunting to me to realize that I would be likely a member of the Seniors’ University Group in a few short years, Mr. Speaker.

So with that I do want to recognize the incredible work that they do, that they’ve done through their careers and continue to do through their active participation in civil society by being present here in the Legislative Assembly and also through all the work that they continue to do in the community.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to encourage us all to continue to be lifelong learners, whether we are older adults or maybe not quite almost 50. With that, Mr. Speaker, I’d ask all members to join me in welcoming these folks to their Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Well thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, joining us in your gallery today are three individuals from the Saskatchewan Healthcare Recruitment Agency, and I’ll ask them to just give us a wave as I mention their names.

We have Johanna Digal, Danielle Huot, and Tera Maguire. Mr. Speaker, these three individuals are just part of the growing team at the health care recruitment agency doing incredible work, especially under the new branding: Health Careers Saskatchewan. If you haven’t had an opportunity to check out the website, I would encourage all members to do that.

Some really impressive work that these folks — and really the whole team at the recruitment agency — are doing to promote our province and really the excellent opportunities that are available in health care, Mr. Speaker, under the most ambitious health human resources action plan in the country.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank these three individuals, and really the whole team at the Saskatchewan Healthcare Recruitment Agency, for the work that they do each and every day on behalf of patients in this province.

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

Bhajan Brar: — Mr. Speaker, I request leave for an extended introduction.

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Bhajan Brar: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, it is my great pleasure to introduce two incredible guests sitting in the east gallery. Second from right, Mr. Jasvinder Singh Kler, a distinguished senior educator who began his legal career in 1981 and gave service to his clients for more than 40 years.

He gave free service to the poor throughout his life. He has been a passionate sportsperson and accomplished cyclist. He achieved a record in 100 kilometres entering university, and still you’ll find him here in the streets cycling in the summer.

His son Mr. Manveer Singh Kler has also started his career by putting his foot in the footprints of his father and is currently working as a student-at-law with OWZW Lawyers LLP, a Regina-based firm, and progressing towards his call to the Saskatchewan bar.

Both of them supported me during the election, and this is their first visit to the Assembly. So I request all members please join me to give a warm welcome to their Assembly.

[10:15]

Mr. Speaker, beside these guests sitting in the Assembly are my daughter, Kuldeep Sidhu, who is working in the hospital as an LPN [licensed practical nurse] — her birthday coming next week — her father-in-law, Pritam Singh Sidhu; and Bahadur Singh Toor, my friend; and Baldev Singh Bains. All these persons are my volunteers, and they did very hard work than me during the election period.

Today they came to share their happiness with the House for the Diwali function being celebrated on the 8th of November. I ask all members to join me to welcome them in their Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Hon. Michael Weger: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m really excited today to be able to introduce to the legislature the Weyburn Creekside Carwash U15 [under 15] female Goldwings team.

And so seated up in the west gallery we have — and I’ll try to make them blush, Mr. Speaker — we’ve got our goalie Heidi Bell, Paislee Besharah, Josie Cugnet, Abigail Weger, Keira Jackson, Nevaeh Weichel, Kallie Morrice, Reese Gaillard, Brady Nielsen, and Victoria Gill. And seated behind them, Mr. Speaker, also a very important part of the team, we have assistant coaches Janelle Jackson and Karsten Nielsen, Mr. Speaker.

And I’d just say this. In Weyburn and in this House I have the privilege of representing the constituents of Weyburn-Bengough. At the arena I have the privilege of coaching these fine young ladies, Mr. Speaker, and I have these coaches that are such a great support. And you know, winning’s important, but the thing we preach is we work hard, we support our teammates, and we have fun. And that’s the key to success.

So I’d ask all members to join me in welcoming the Creekside Carwash Goldwings to their Legislative Assembly.

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

Meara Conway: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to join with the minister opposite and welcome the health recruitment team that we have with us here today. Recruitment of health care professionals is so crucial, particularly at this very challenging moment we find ourselves in in health care, Mr. Speaker. And I want to recognize and applaud their efforts in this area.

We have been very vocal about the need to also work to retain the hard-working health care professionals that we have. But obviously we recognize that recruitment and retention, they must go hand in hand. And I want to recognize the incredible work that the folks that are seated here today have done in this area at a challenging time. And I want to join with the minister opposite in welcoming them to their Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from White City-Qu’Appelle.

Brad Crassweller: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, it’s my pleasure to introduce to you 50 grade 12 students seated in the west gallery from Balgonie. I might add, we’re just starting a major renovation that’ll address key programming needs, improve performing and visual arts spaces, enhance student support areas, and a new larger gymnasium to better serve students and the surrounding communities.

They’re joined by Amy Opper and their teacher Ms. Marley, who brings her students here to the legislature every year. I look forward to spending some time with them after question period to answer some questions, get to know them a little bit better, and of course to have some ice cream.

I’d also like to mention Hunter Gronick, a grade 12 student and captain of the Greenall football team that suffered a traumatic injury on September 12th during a football game. He’s doing better; he has a long ways to go. But we’d appreciate prayers for Hunter’s continued recovery. And I’d encourage everyone to check out Hunter’s Headstrong Initiative on Facebook.

I’d ask all members to join me in welcoming these students, and giving Hunter and their teachers a warm welcome to this, their Legislative Assembly.

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

Brittney Senger: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to request leave for an extended introduction.

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Brittney Senger: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today in the east gallery we are joined by union members from SEIU-West [Service Employees International Union-West] and CUPE [Canadian Union of Public Employees] Saskatchewan.

These workers do incredible work in disability group homes, disability support, crisis line support, and supporting child care. They are among the hardest-working people in Saskatchewan. And I will have more to say on this later, but I did want to take a moment to acknowledge that there are 36 locals from CUPE Saskatchewan today. That is an incredible amount to have in the legislature.

I also wanted to take a moment to recognize some of the leadership that’s here today. I want to recognize Sarah McInnis, who is somebody that I know very well, and I would go beyond and even consider her a friend.

I also want to recognize some of the leadership from SEIU-West. We have Lisa Zunti, the president of SEIU-West; Jason Monteith, a VP [vice-president] at SEIU-West; and also Janine Lazaro who is joining us today.

So thank you, guys, so much for being here. And I’d like to ask all members to join me in welcoming these incredible workers to their Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Social Services.

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you this morning, I’d like to join the member opposite to welcome the leadership and the members of the different provider unions within our community-based organization system, specifically to Sarah, Lisa, Jason, and Janine. We recognize the great work that is done within our community-based organization sector, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the disability community, and would like to welcome them all to this, their Legislative Assembly this morning.

Speaker Goudy: — Well I don’t know who makes the rules in this place, but they’re sure restrictive. I would love to be able to ask the Weyburn Creekside Carwash Goldwings if there was any place they’d rather be. But since I can’t, we’ll move on to presenting petitions.

PRESENTING PETITIONS

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

Bhajan Brar: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise here today to present a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan for the acceleration of construction of the new joint-use elementary and high school in east Regina.

We, the undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan, wish to bring to your attention the following: that in September 2024, ahead of the provincial election the Minister of Education promised to build a new joint-use school and high school in east Regina; that there is currently no timeline for the completion and opening of either school; that Jack MacKenzie School in the east end of Regina is dangerously overcrowded; that the school’s library, dance studio, and teachers’ lounge have all been converted into temporary classrooms; that all children have a right to a well-rounded education and a safe environment.

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

This petition has been signed by the residents of Regina, particularly from the Wascana Plains. So I do so present. Thank you.

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

Tajinder Grewal: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to present a petition to adequately fund post-secondary institutions. The undersigned residents wish to bring to your attention the following: that since 2018 tuition has increased by 36 per cent in Saskatchewan, and Saskatchewan has the second-highest tuition across Canada; that post-secondary students are already under financial pressure with the rising cost of living, rising cost of rent and food, and many working multiple jobs and relying on student loans; that in order for Saskatchewan to lead in innovation and economic success, Saskatchewan must prioritize the success of post-secondary students, and that includes properly funding post-secondary institutions.

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

Respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to immediately provide adequate funding to post-secondary institutions to ensure costs are not passed on to students’ tuition.

The petition has been signed by the residents of Saskatoon. I do so present.

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

Erika Ritchie: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to present a petition to cancel livestock operation endangering the water supply of Lac Pelletier. The undersigned residents of the province wish to bring to your attention the following: in 2024 the Ministry of Agriculture granted Monette Farms approval no. 2745 for an intensive livestock operation located in the watershed that feeds into Lac Pelletier and within 210 metres of a residence. The ILO [intensive livestock operation] is estimated to produce and store an annual total of 10 million kilograms of manure and urine effluent.

The effluent poses risk to the lake, the local drinking water, the people residing in the area, and the thousands of visitors in the nearby regional park. And despite the minister requiring Monette Farms to complete a survey and waste management plan before construction, the infrastructure was insufficiently permitted, improperly positioned, and poorly built and maintained. As a result the community is now at risk of manure and urine effluent contaminating the water supply.

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the government to cancel approval no. 2745 for the intensive livestock operation currently endangering the water supply around Lac Pelletier.

This petition is signed by the residents of Lac Pelletier. I do so present.

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

Meara Conway: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to be on my feet to present a petition calling on this government to overhaul standards for eligibility to long-term care in Saskatchewan.

The signatories of this petition, Mr. Speaker, wish to bring to our attention that the criteria for long-term care is becoming more and more restrictive, subjective. It’s getting harder to qualify. Often families have to turn to private options that are well beyond their means — during an affordability crisis — and come with very little oversight, Mr. Speaker. Many older adults are also sent to long-term care placements that are far from the people that love them and want to be close to them.

Mr. Speaker, our population of older adults is increasing. This is a slow-moving train for which we are not preparing. We need to do better: social prescribing, building age-friendly communities, fixing these criteria, as well as working to expand home care options so that older adults can age in place.

We also have to work to keep long-term care accessible and of the highest standard, Mr. Speaker. And part of that is to award a contract to health care workers who are often working understaffed, underpaid, in an increasingly complex environment.

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

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request that the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to work directly with older adults and long-term care homes to improve standards of eligibility for people seeking admittance to long-term care.

The signatories of this petition reside in Saskatoon. I do so present.

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

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

Opening of Weyburn General Hospital

Hon. Michael Weger: — Mr. Speaker, Weyburn is referred to as the Opportunity City, and thanks to the completion of the new Weyburn General Hospital, residents of Weyburn and surrounding area will continue to have the opportunity to receive the health care services they need, when they need them, as close to home as possible.

And it’s true, Mr. Speaker; as the Minister of Health mentioned yesterday, I did wake up early this past Sunday so I could be at the Weyburn General Hospital for 6:00 a.m. when the doors opened to patients for the first time. I wanted to be there for this historic moment for Weyburn. It was a historic moment for our province, Mr. Speaker.

This state-of-the-art facility has been referred to as one of the most well-thought-out and well-designed hospitals in our province. It includes: 25 private acute care rooms; 10 in-patient mental health beds; the largest state-of-the-art operating room in the province; upgraded lab, medical imaging, and pharmacy spaces; and an on-site EMS [emergency medical services] base with a heliport for STARS [Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service].

Throughout the hospital, local artwork and welcoming spaces were designed and thoughtfully incorporated with patients and families in mind.

This new hospital reflects what years of planning, partnership, and community support can achieve. And the completion of this hospital is undeniable proof that when this government says it’s going to build a hospital, it builds a hospital.

[10:30]

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

Celebration of Diwali, Festival of Lights

Bhajan Brar: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Diwali is also known as Dipavali, meaning “row of lamps.” It is a Hindu festival of lights with the variations celebrated in other religions such as Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. It is associated with light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

In Sikhism, it is also known as Bandi Chhor Divas. In 1619, the sixth Guru Hargobind Sahib-ji was released from prison by the Mughal emperor. Guru Hargobind Sahib-ji refused to leave unless the 52 Hindu princes that were imprisoned with him were also set free. Ultimately, the Mughal emperor agreed. When Guru Hargobind Sahib-ji arrived back at the golden temple, the townspeople celebrated his return by lighting oil lamps.

In the Hindu religion, Shri Ramchandra-ji returned to his kingdom in Ayodhya along with his wife, Sita, and his brother Lakshman after defeating the demon king Ravana. Villagers lit oil lamps upon the return.

During this day, every house is cleaned and people illuminate their homes with lamps and candles. Crackers are also burst. People of all walks of life send gifts to their near and dear. We can say it is the biggest festival of all the festivals in India.

I ask that all members please join me in congratulating everyone across our province who are celebrating Dipavali and Bandi Chhor Divas this Sunday. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Recruitment of Health Care Workers

Racquel Hilbert: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our government is continuing to see success in recruiting, retaining, training of new health care workers.

The health and human resource action plan of 2022 has the number of doctors licensed to practise increase by 325 — 100 more family physicians and 225 more specialists. Eighty per cent since 2007, an increase of over 1,300 doctors: 58 per cent increase in family doctors, 106 per cent in specialists, 72 per cent in psychiatrists, 135 per cent in pediatricians and pediatric specialists. Sixty-three nurse practitioner primary care contracts have been signed, providing care for a minimum of 50,000 patients. Medical training seats have expanded to 128 this fall, and 88 per cent of the trainees are from Saskatchewan.

Mr. Speaker, we’re seeing massive success from a strong, steady pharmacy workforce, with new data showing that Saskatchewan leads the nation in both supply and workforce rates. According to the Pharmacists in Canada, 2025 publication, Saskatchewan’s pharmacist supply has increased from 1,558 to 1,816 pharmacists between 2016 and 2025. Nearly 90 per cent of the pharmacists practising in Saskatchewan were trained in Canada.

Mr. Speaker, our recruitment efforts are working. Thank you.

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

Community-Based Organization Worker Appreciation Day

Brittney Senger: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize November 6 as CBO [community-based organization] Worker Appreciation Day. We’re joined by dozens of CUPE and SEIU-West members that work in the CBO sector.

Community-based organization workers are an integral part of ensuring the health, safety, and function of our province. They provide vital services and supports in child care, disability and social supports, shelter programs, mental health, transitional housing, and so much more. They are people who provide child care support, support for the most vulnerable, and help people as they transition in their life.

Mr. Speaker, this work is not easy. Unreliable year-to-year government funding makes the community-based organization sector a particularly challenging one to work in. Yet these workers show up anyway with patience, with skill, and with genuine care for the people that they serve. That deserves our recognition and it deserves our thanks.

I’d like to ask all members to join me in thanking every community-based organization worker in Saskatchewan for their hard work and dedication.

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

Unity Tannery Business Becomes Working Museum

James Thorsteinson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On June 17th Mark Mauthe, 14‑year owner and operator of Maverick Tannery & Leather in Unity, reached a new milestone in business as it joined an elite network of international artisans as a Tanner Économusée, or a working museum.

Mr. Speaker, the tannery processes up to 50 hides per week and supplies businesses throughout Canada with inventory, along with products also being shipped across Europe. Some of the local clientele include the surrounding First Nations, schools, and additional cultural programs within the area.

Mark says preserving this craft is about more than producing leather. It’s about sharing history, educating people about where the materials come from, and ensuring knowledge is passed on to future generations. Tourism Saskatchewan said businesses like Maverick Tannery & Leather play an important role in supporting Saskatchewan’s tourism industry. Mr. Speaker, Maverick Tannery & Leather is the sixth Saskatchewan business to join forces with the Saskatchewan Economic and Co‑operative Council.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to attend the grand opening on June 17th, but I was able to stop in the day before, took a tour of the facility, and had a good discussion with Mark. I’d like to take this opportunity to formally congratulate Mark, Maverick Tannery & Leather on their grand opening, and I wish him all the best on his working museum. Thank you.

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

Call to Establish Alert for Vulnerable Missing Persons

Nicole Sarauer: — Mr. Speaker, a rally calling for the establishment of an indigo alert was held outside the legislature earlier this fall. I was happy to join some of my colleagues at the rally to hear directly from the advocates for this cause.

This advocacy is in response to the tragic death of Parker Wells, an 11‑year-old child with non-verbal autism who went missing from his home in Calgary this summer. It wasn’t until the third day of his disappearance that an exception was made to allow an Amber Alert for Parker. Sadly he was found dead two weeks later.

This tragedy highlights a major gap in our existing emergency alert system. The Amber Alert is only triggered in cases of suspected abduction. So if a vulnerable person wanders off, the current criteria would not trigger a province-wide alert regardless of the risk of harm. Advocates are calling for the addition of an indigo alert to fill this gap, proposing that it would trigger when a vulnerable person goes missing and is believed to be at immediate risk of harm.

Mr. Speaker, the momentum of this movement is undeniable. What began as a change.org petition has quickly grown into a nationwide call to action, thanks to advocates like Jennifer Ball, Katie Emde, Abby Firlotte, and Alysha Rapinchuk, among many others across the country.

Mr. Speaker, we will never know if a quicker alert would have saved Parker’s life, but when it comes to finding a vulnerable person every minute counts.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Lloydminster.

Saskatchewan Industries are Fuelling the Future

Colleen Young: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With this year’s Throne Speech, we’re building on the momentum of Saskatchewan’s success and unlocking our economic potential in a time of geopolitical uncertainty. Two new uranium mines have been approved in our province, the first mines in over a decade. We have the nuclear power production goal of at least 2600 megawatts by 2050, fuelled entirely by Saskatchewan uranium. This power generation will ensure that we have the reliable, affordable, and secure electricity needed to support a growing province.

Mr. Speaker, it’s not just Saskatchewan that is planning for a nuclear future. More than 35 countries are looking at nuclear power for the first time. Eighty nuclear reactors are being built around the world, and 120 more reactors are in planning stages. Saskatchewan can help power the world. NexGen Energy’s new Rook I mine alone can meet 20 per cent of current global demand. These new mines will create jobs and bring private investment to communities, to our North.

Mr. Speaker, it’s not just uranium that is fuelling Saskatchewan’s future. Helium, copper, zinc, lithium, potash, oil, tech, and more industries are all experiencing major booms. Mr. Speaker, we have the food, fuel, and fertilizer the world needs, and an economy that creates a strong, steady Saskatchewan. Thank you.

QUESTION PERIOD

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

Data Centre and Power Rates

Aleana Young: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Now this Premier’s reliably overwrought and run-amok SaskPower minister, who is clearly the power and personality behind this tired and out-of-touch government, has tried to claim not once but twice that his hyperscale AI [artificial intelligence] data centre is going to lower power bills. Simple question to the minister: can he give one single example of a place where data centres have lowered power bills?

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

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Well thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would say this: our energy security strategy has enabled us to actually be in a position to provide power to the Bell data centre, a brand new client, a significant new source of revenue for SaskPower which uniquely positions us, I think, in the entire country. Which is in stark contrast to the members opposite, who refuse now to talk about their power plan at all, Mr. Speaker, at all. Refuse to talk about it because it would put 1,400 people out of work, Mr. Speaker, shut down two communities, and be a catastrophe for this province and not allow us to attract any new investment.

Mr. Speaker, our energy security strategy is the reason why we are able to attract this investment. It’s the reason we have two new uranium mines going forward. It’s the reason we have a new potash mine, Mr. Speaker. And I can tell you this: there’s more good news to come.

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

Aleana Young: — Mr. Speaker, I guess the answer is zero. Zero examples, Mr. Speaker, and this is because the cost of data centres to ratepayers is staggering.

Let’s look at the US [United States], Mr. Speaker, where that minister’s MAGA [Make America Great Again] buddies just got the boot. Ratepayers in the United States are on the hook for a staggering $7.3 billion in additional power costs directly due to data centres. Bloomberg pegs the increase in electricity wholesale prices at 267 per cent. Mr. Speaker, this is insanity.

Will the minister admit right now that power rates will rise because of his hyperscale AI data centre?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of CIC.

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Well I would just say this: the premise of the member’s question is entirely, 100 per cent wrong, Mr. Speaker. We are in a fantastic position in this province, Mr. Speaker. With our energy . . . Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are in a fantastic position in this province because of the decisions that this government has made with regard to energy security. Prioritizing using Saskatchewan resources today, not taking a single megawatt of power off the grid, Mr. Speaker, which is being demanded by the members opposite — this has put us in a unique position to attract new investment.

The project that we are discussing, Mr. Speaker, is one of them. Two brand new uranium mines going forward, Mr. Speaker. A brand new potash mine, investment that is over $100 billion in the works right now, Mr. Speaker — none of which would be possible under their plan.

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

Aleana Young: — Mr. Speaker, why can’t that minister just answer the people of Saskatchewan? This is the same minister who’s claiming he’s going to attract investment with the most expensive power grid in North America. The same minister who hid $26 billion of public money from not only the ratepayers of Saskatchewan but apparently his own colleagues, Mr. Speaker.

So to the backbench: just so you know, that $26 billion plan is deeply unpopular, just like that minister’s AI data centre. It’s the same lack of respect and nonsense in this Chamber, Mr. Speaker, with those answers day after day.

So I’m going to throw it open here, Mr. Speaker. Is there a single member on that side who will find their backbone, rise to their feet, and admit that their AI data centre is going to raise people’s power bills?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of CIC.

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Well we see another example of it today, Mr. Speaker, why literally nobody in this province takes that member and the NDP [New Democratic Party] seriously, Mr. Speaker. The . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Minister.

[10:45]

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Well thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. We see it demonstrated every day on the floor of this Assembly why literally nobody takes those members seriously, Mr. Speaker.

They have put forward a power plan which they refuse now to talk about. That member refuses to even say the words, Mr. Speaker, because their power plan was a complete catastrophe that would have shut down 1400 megawatts of our power grid, Mr. Speaker.

And in fact our energy security strategy of moving to nuclear power . . . which I guarantee, by the way, I guarantee this — the NDP will oppose nuclear power generation, Mr. Speaker. I guarantee it that they will.

The reality is, Mr. Speaker, our energy security strategy has allowed for $100 billion of investment coming into this province, the hottest economy in the entire country, creating thousands of jobs, Mr. Speaker, creating opportunities for our young people to stay in this province — something that never happened under the members opposite.

Speaker Goudy: — I will remind the government members that we need to connect the answers to the questions.

I recognize the member from Saskatoon Nutana.

Sherwood Rural Municipality Council Appointments and Data Centre Approval Process

Erika Ritchie: — Well thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve got some serious questions looking for some serious answers. Today councillors in the RM of Sherwood will debate massive zoning changes to pave the way for a massive hyperscale data centre. Not one shred of public consultation has occurred. Many of these councillors were hand-picked by this entitled and out-of-touch government.

Should these councillors really be making these major changes without an election being held first?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of CIC.

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Honestly, Mr. Speaker, I don’t actually remember a situation in this House where I’ve . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Minister.

Hon. Jeremy Harrison: — Lots to say from their seat, Mr. Speaker; very little from their feet.

I don’t think I ever remember a case, Mr. Speaker, hearing such an egregious attack on distinguished Saskatchewan residents agreeing to serve on a municipal council. This is outrageous behaviour from the members opposite. And again they wonder why they’re not taken seriously.

Personal attacks on council members who have served in the most senior positions in municipal government in this entire province, Mr. Speaker, who in good . . . Outrageous attacks, Mr. Speaker, on distinguished Saskatchewan residents who have agreed to step up and serve their community. This is ridiculous.

These folks are in good faith working through questions before their council, are doing so in accordance with all of the regulatory and statutory framework that is existing, Mr. Speaker. And what they’re doing is disgraceful, attacking these people.

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

Erika Ritchie: — Mr. Speaker, I will remind the member opposite that those members of council were hand-picked by your government.

The plot thickens. It turns out there actually is an election in the RM of Sherwood. There’s just one problem, and that’s that it’s on Monday.

But the changes to make way for this data centre will be debated today. Will the minister admit that he’s put his thumb on the scales to fast-track this data centre through shady backroom deals?

Speaker Goudy: — Before we move on to the next question, we’ll ask for an apology on that one.

Erika Ritchie: — I’ll apologize, Mr. Speaker. Does the minister think this is all above board?

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

Hon. Eric Schmalz: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As has been laid out in front of this House time and time again, from time to time in this province councils lose quorum. They lose quorum for varying reasons: personal reasons, business reasons, any of those, Mr. Speaker. In those instances, government under . . . Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As has been laid out in front of this House before, councils lose quorum across this province from time to time. It happens, Mr. Speaker.

In those instances, the government, under the Act, is required to place individuals, caretakers in those places in order to continue the business of that council and ensure residents have the services they require, Mr. Speaker.

Another thing, Mr. Speaker: the individuals who have been chosen to fill these roles, we’re talking about the former president of SARM Ray Orb. We’re talking about reeves from municipalities in this province, across this province — administrators who have done this job, Mr. Speaker. These people are more than capable of doing it, Mr. Speaker. In fact back in 2007 in this very RM, it was Harry Van Mulligen who appointed a council to that RM in order to continue the business of the day, Mr. Speaker.

I look forward to the continued work of those councillors, the appointed councillors, until the election coming up very shortly.

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

Erika Ritchie: — I’m so glad that the minister has found his feet to answer these questions, but I will point out to him that this is not that. This entitled and out-of-touch government has refused to consult the public on this hyperscale data centre. The hand-picked councillors in the RM of Sherwood have refused to consult the public on this hyperscale data centre.

Will the minister admit he appointed these councillors for the sole purpose of ramming through this data centre without due process?

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

Hon. Eric Schmalz: — Mr. Speaker, not only is this process above board; it’s following the letter of the law. Mr. Speaker, the council in place in the RM of Sherwood right now are following the processes outlined within the Act in order to do consultation. They will do it again tonight, Mr. Speaker, and it will continue until such time that there can be an election in that RM. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Provision of Seniors’ Care

Keith Jorgenson: — This entitled and out-of-touch Sask Party government has all the time in the world for AI data centres, but they’re failing the seniors of our province, Mr. Speaker. Today we’re joined by Maureen Huotte. Her 99‑year-old father, Marcel, was attacked and assaulted by a patient with dementia in his care home where he lives right here in Regina.

Maureen wants to see changes so this never happens again, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister of Seniors meet with Maureen and hear her concerns later today?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Seniors.

Hon. Lori Carr: — Well thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I do thank the member opposite for the question and welcome Maureen to their Legislative Assembly here today. Of course I would be more than happy to meet with them after proceedings today, Mr. Speaker.

There is no room for abuse in our system. And as you can see I am introducing a bill on the floor today that will help strengthen some of those policies and regulations that are in place to ensure that stuff like this doesn’t happen again, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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

Keith Jorgenson: — But, Mr. Speaker, the reason why this happened is because this government and that minister cut 181 long-term care beds right here in Saskatchewan.

So I’m glad that she’s willing to meet with Maureen today. What happened to her father should never happen to anyone. He was attacked by another resident with dementia in his room. He was knocked to the floor and hit his head. And when Maureen saw him after the attack, his face was swollen and his eyes were bloodshot.

Why did her government cut those 181 long-term care beds? And will she apologize for that today in this legislature?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Seniors.

Hon. Lori Carr: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are several reasons why a long-term care bed may close in this province. Those members opposite should be fully aware of that; they closed hundreds and hundreds of beds when they had the opportunity to serve, Mr. Speaker.

But what I can say that is right in this community of Regina, the biggest long-term care facility ever built is 30 per cent done, Mr. Speaker. 240 specialized long-term care spaces are being built right here in this city, Mr. Speaker.

We’re building facilities. We have upcoming projects in Estevan and Watson. We have facilities in La Ronge that are ongoing, Mr. Speaker; Grenfell, Mr. Speaker. We are adding beds of capacity as well as increasing home care services so that people can age in their homes longer, Mr. Speaker. That’s the work that this government is doing. Thank you.

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

Keith Jorgenson: — Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker. Maureen knows the other man, the man that assaulted her father. And you know, this entitled, out-of-touch Sask Party government has failed to deliver safe and reliable care for seniors in this province. This is what Maureen had to say about the man who attacked her father:

He is not the bad guy in all of this. Cutbacks to our health care system are. There is no place to move this man where he can get the care that he needs away from my father. I don’t want this to come off as complaining about the staff. They are the victims in this too. They’re expected to do more and more with less and less.

Mr. Speaker, I couldn’t agree with that more. What does the minister have to say to Maureen?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Seniors.

Hon. Lori Carr: — Mr. Speaker, as I already mentioned, there is absolutely no room for violence within our system, Mr. Speaker. And I’m more than happy to meet with Maureen after proceedings.

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

Supports for Disability Workers

Brittney Senger: — Mr. Speaker, we’re joined by dozens of community-based organization workers. One year ago they came forward with serious concerns about underfunding, staffing shortages, and more. They’re back today. And surprise — it’s not because they’re happy.

Why has the Minister of Social Services ignored the concerns of these workers?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Social Services.

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Well thank you, Mr. Speaker. And before I begin my answer, I’d just like to say, on the eve of CBO Worker Appreciation Day tomorrow, a genuine thank you for everything that they do for the people within our disability sector, Mr. Speaker.

Our government partners with third-party providers, service providers, to support people with disabilities right around this province. We support approximately 6,700 individuals with intellectual disabilities through 454 group homes in this province, Mr. Speaker. My ministry is having ongoing discussions all the time with our service providers, with our union partners, as well as with the families and individuals in those group homes as well, Mr. Speaker.

This is work that we’ll continue. And you know, we’re also increasing funds each and every year, and I’ll be happy to list some of those increases in the next answer.

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

Brittney Senger: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Maybe the Minister of Social Services can thank these workers tomorrow by providing them with the supports that they need. These are incredible individuals. They work so hard and are among the very best of us.

This government has a common theme with this entitled . . . They are entitled and out-of-touch. Workers came forward with serious concerns, but they’re patted on the head and sent away with nothing.

Why doesn’t the minister see the value in these community-based organization workers?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Social Services.

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I was saying in my previous answer, Mr. Speaker, this is a ministry and a government that takes the care and support of people in our disability sector extremely seriously as well as the individuals that are working that sector.

Our government, Mr. Speaker, has increased CBO funding by 13 per cent since 2022, including 2 per cent in this year’s budget. Also included in this year’s budget are increased investments — 11.79 million for the evolving needs of current clients and to provide residential and day programs for new clients, $7.6 million to continue delivering on the 2024‑25 commitment to build 10 new group homes, as well as $7.4 million directly to CBO partner wages, in terms of increases.

You know, Mr. Speaker, we’re going to continue working with SARC [Saskatchewan Association of Rehabilitation Centres] as well as our union partners in the disability service sector to support their needs and the needs of the clients that they collectively serve right across this province. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — I want to clarify too, saying it’s an entitled government or saying that they are entitled are two different things. And I would ask, if you’re calling this government entitled, I’d ask you to apologize for that. It’s two different things, and if that’s . . . So please, next question.

[11:00]

I recognize the member from Saskatoon Southeast.

Brittney Senger: — I apologize, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, last week, 1,000 front-line health care workers rallied on the steps of this legislature, and this week, it’s workers in the community-based organization sector. We know public services in this province are collapsing because of the inaction of this government. These workers are begging for help and getting nothing from the members on that side.

Simple question: how does the minister defend this record?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Social Services.

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Well thank you, Mr. Speaker. And again on the eve of CBO Worker Appreciation Day in Saskatchewan, I just want to say again a thank you with genuine gratitude for all the work that they do to keep individuals with intellectual disabilities around this province safe and supported.

You know what, Mr. Speaker, we recognize that there are challenges in the sector and there’s inflationary pressures that are affecting each and every one of us, Mr. Speaker. This is why we continue to have the important dialogue between the ministry, the ministry officials, union leadership, as well as SARC. SARC, I’ve had numerous meetings this summer with, this fall.

We’ll continue to have that collaboration, that dialogue, so that we can get to a place where we have something that is sustainable not only for the workers but also for the government, and most importantly that reflects the commitment that the workers are making towards people with intellectual disabilities in this province, Mr. Speaker.

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

Addressing Homelessness

Kim Breckner: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Every day we hear members of this government talk about how supposedly strong and steady Saskatchewan is. But I find that hard to believe because homelessness isn’t steady, it’s skyrocketing. I see this every day in my constituency of Saskatoon Riversdale.

But how can this government be so out of touch with that reality? Which makes me wonder, Mr. Speaker, how many members of the Sask Party cabinet have actually been to one of those encampments that popped up this fall and talked to the people living there.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Social Services.

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The issue of homelessness — and I’ve said this before in this House — it’s a very complex issue, Mr. Speaker. And it’s not one that just affects Saskatchewan. It’s also affecting other jurisdictions around Canada, and I would also say North America.

When it comes to the encampments, Mr. Speaker, the member might have been following me on social media — she might not have been — but I did go with sawêyihtotân outreach, operated by Saskatoon Tribal Council, about three weeks ago to walk through some of the encampments and talk to some of those individuals personally about their individual circumstances, Mr. Speaker.

The work that sawêyihtotân is doing in terms of outreach in Saskatoon is immeasurable, Mr. Speaker. They have built relationships with those individuals. They are offering those individuals solutions, whether it’s treatment, whether it’s detox, housing opportunities, Mr. Speaker. They are doing some great work. I’ve seen it on the ground myself, and that work will be something that does continue. Thank you.

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

Kim Breckner: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m glad that he finally went after months and after encampments have been torn down.

Mr. Speaker, both landlords and housing advocates have told this government that their decision to end direct payments to landlords would lead to mass evictions. Do you know how wrong you have to be about a policy to have both landlords and housing advocates tell you you’re wrong? And if he was like me and talked to people in those encampments, they even said that they would welcome direct payment to landlords back as a default. And they don’t have the time to spend time on the phone trying to get a hold of Social Services to sign up for a trustee.

So tell me, can this government finally admit that it’s their own policies that are creating these encampments?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Social Services.

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In terms of direct payment to landlords, that’s something that the Ministry of Social Services does in certain circumstances in addition to the trusteeships that we have that are provided by different community-based organizations, Mr. Speaker. Trusteeship can come in the form of a friend; it can come in the form of a family member, depending on the circumstances, Mr. Speaker. We provide solid services for individuals, and we tailor those services to best reflect that individual’s needs, Mr. Speaker.

Again when it comes to supporting individuals that are vulnerable in terms of being able to stay housed, the ministry will definitely work with that client and that landlord to ensure that rent is paid either through direct pay or through a trusteeship. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

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

Extension of Trade Deal with China Provides Tariff Relief

Hon. Warren Kaeding: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to share some great news for Saskatchewan’s ag producers, our rural communities, and our provincial economy. Canada and China have negotiated an extension of the tariff relief for Canadian canola meal and peas through the end of 2028.

Mr. Speaker, this is a very significant development that provides Saskatchewan producers with greater certainty as they continue to finish harvest and certainly begin planning for both the ’27 and the 2028 growing season. Mr. Speaker, China is Saskatchewan’s second-largest export market, and since 2007 our province has exported more than $58 billion in goods to China.

And this demonstrates just how important that strong and reliable international trading relationships are to our province. But these relationships do not just happen by accident. They require leadership, consistent engagement, and a government willing to show up and advocate for Saskatchewan’s interests.

And our Premier has demonstrated that commitment through two visits to China over the past year, including his participation alongside Prime Minister Carney this past January when this historic agreement was first announced. And our international trade office in Shanghai has also played a very important role in maintaining relationships and advancing Saskatchewan’s interests.

Mr. Speaker, while the NDP continues to question the value of trade missions and international trade offices, our government has remained focused — focused on delivering results. And we understand that Saskatchewan farmers cannot sell their products to markets that they cannot access. And we know that opening doors internationally creates opportunities here at home. And this extension means greater predictability for our producers, stronger opportunities for our value-added processing sector, and continued economic benefits for communities across the province.

Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, SaskOilseeds, Canola Council of Canada, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, and the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan have been integral in advocating the federal government on this issue as well. And our province’s producers are very well represented by these organizations.

Our government’s strong, steady approach is prioritizing trade relationships and advocating for producers. And our government will continue working to reduce trade barriers, expand market access, and ensure that Saskatchewan products remain competitive around the world. Because when Saskatchewan producers succeed, our entire province succeeds. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Kim Breckner: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’re pleased to see the two-year extension of tariff relief from China on Canadian agricultural and food products. Canola meal and peas are cornerstone commodities of Saskatchewan’s agricultural sector, supporting farmers, producers, and rural communities across this province.

We know the last two years have been challenging for many Saskatchewan producers with rising fuel prices, high production costs, and uncertainty in global markets. Maintaining access to this important export market will provide Saskatchewan producers with much-needed certainty. While challenges remain, this is a step in the right direction for Saskatchewan farmers and agri-food businesses.

It is incumbent on this government to continue working towards creating the conditions for producers in Saskatchewan to succeed. That includes keeping costs like power and fuel low and showing good value for taxpayer money. That’s why we’ve been supportive of the auditor’s calls to establish key performance metrics and enhance public reporting for our international trade offices.

We have some of the best producers and farm land in this world. This announcement brings even more certainty to our ability to succeed as an agricultural exporting province. So let’s not give away any prime agricultural land forever for short-term gains when we export billions in agricultural goods to China alone every year.

The official opposition also joins with the minister in thanking the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, SaskOilseeds, the Canola Council of Canada, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, and the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan for their advocacy on this matter. We look forward to protecting and championing Saskatchewan’s producers as they work to feed the world.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

Bill No. 72 — The Opioid Damages Amendment Act, 2026

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Well thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move that Bill No. 72, The Opioid Damages Amendment Act, 2026 be now introduced and read for a first time.

Speaker Goudy: — It’s been introduced by the Minister of Health that Bill No. 72, The Opioid Damages 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 shall this bill be read a second time?

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Next sitting of the Assembly, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — Next sitting.

Bill No. 71 — The Personal Care Homes (Safer Homes for Seniors) Amendment Act, 2026

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

Hon. Lori Carr: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move that Bill No. 71, The Personal Care Homes (Safer Homes for Seniors) Amendment Act, 2026 be now introduced and read the first time.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the Minister of Remote and Rural Health and Minister of Seniors that Bill No. 71, The Personal Care Homes (Safer Homes for Seniors) 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 shall this bill be read a second time?

Hon. Lori Carr: — Next sitting of the Assembly, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — Next sitting.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

WRITTEN QUESTIONS

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Government Whip.

Brad Crassweller: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to order questions no. 1 through 18.

Speaker Goudy: — Questions no. 1 through 18 are ordered.

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 Leader of the Opposition.

Carla Beck: — Thanks, Mr. Speaker. It is indeed an honour, as it always is, to be able to rise, to get on my feet in this Assembly, and to enter some remarks into the record, responses to the Throne Speech that opened this third session of the thirtieth legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan.

This is the 10th time I’ve been able to stand and listen to a Throne Speech and offer some remarks about that Throne Speech, Mr. Speaker. And certainly, you know, the pace of change over those 10 years, the things that we’ve seen in this Assembly over those 10 years, it seems like the world has just become more volatile and more complex with every passing year.

I think the pace of change right now certainly is beyond what any of us, probably what anyone on this planet any other time in history, has experienced, and it is an important time to be leaders in this Assembly but leaderships at all levels right now. In fact there’s been a lot of change even since we first heard this Speech from the Throne — a bit of a sea change to the south of us — and I think there’s more change to come.

[11:15]

Now I also note that this Throne Speech comes at the halfway point between the last election and the next election in Saskatchewan. And I’ve said before and I will say again, I don’t think that there’s a lot of utility in spending too much time looking in the rear-view mirror when you’re trying to drive ahead. But I did do something that I haven’t done since that election two years ago, and I went back and I watched the Premier’s response that night, and painfully watched my own as well.

You know, one of the things that struck me was the number of times the Premier mentioned the word “change” and understanding that the message had been received, that there was a need for change in Saskatchewan, that they had heard the lessons that were sent by the people of this province — a much more even Assembly that we sit in today — and centred a lot of that around the cost of living and accessibility to health care, a lot around education. And you know, it’s not mine to suggest or to . . . You know, there seemed to be sincerity, I will say, Mr. Speaker, in that.

But a lot has changed in two years, and the Throne Speech that we heard delivered here this year was one that certainly didn’t talk a lot about that humility that we saw on election night. And it was a Throne Speech that simply misses the mark for the challenges that are facing the people of this province right now.

You know, I sincerely do find it interesting to listen to the responses — the longer form speeches, budget speech and Throne Speech — that members in this Assembly stand on their feet and they take a lot of time preparing. I find it interesting listening to those speeches. I sincerely do. I usually learn something. Sometimes I laugh. Sometimes I shout at the radio, or shout at the radio in the car, when I’m listening to them. But I do find them interesting.

I think it helps us understand how people in this Assembly — even though we are all elected members in Saskatchewan — how we view the world, a little bit about what’s going on at home. And I certainly did hear differences, but I heard a lot that was really the same as well. I heard a lot of talk about the potential that people see in this province certainly in mining, agriculture, critical minerals, potential in communities and small businesses, large businesses. I heard that from members on both sides.

And I heard a lot about the love of this province. All members talked about that, how much we love this province no matter how long it’s been since our ancestors were first here, how long we or our families have called this place home. That was a consistent theme. We all love this province, we all love our families, and we all take pride in the communities and the people that we serve. And I think that’s a good thing, Mr. Speaker.

Everyone in this Assembly talked about economic growth and the importance of economic growth. Of course that is important. That is how we fund the things that we value and need. That’s how people ensure that bills are paid at home. I think that’s something we all want.

I also heard everyone talking about the importance of quality health care and safe communities and opportunities for the next generation. That’s something I think you won’t find much disagreement on in this province. More importantly, Mr. Speaker, I think that’s what people right across this province want and expect. But those items will be the focus of the people who are making decisions here in this Assembly.

But in life we’re not just measured on our hopes, on our dreams, what we want; we’re measured on our actions. That’s how we’re judged and rightfully so. And as leaders, and particularly as government who actually gets to make those decisions, it is right that the government will be judged not only on their vision, not only on the Throne Speech, the words in that Throne Speech, but in the results that we see for people in this province. And I think that’s where, on many fronts, we see this government failing.

I’m not going to spend a lot of time here but I think it is important that I spend some time here, Mr. Speaker, the places where I see this government falling short of those goals, those shared goals, responsibilities that we see in this province.

Let’s look at health care. Wait times for surgeries in this province have gone from best to worst under this government. The number of people in this province without access to a family doctor or primary care is somewhere around 6 out of 10 — more than half of the people in this province. And we see thousands and thousands of health care workers in this province, those who are actually providing the care and who have been holding the system together, especially since COVID, they’ve been without a pay raise in a cost-of-living crisis for going on five years in some cases, Mr. Speaker.

In fact some of those health care workers, who are often working double shifts, often working short, providing the care that we all have agreed that we want and need for our families, they’re stopping at the food bank when they’re done their shift, and in some cases actually selling their blood plasma. So that’s one important place where I see this government missing the mark.

And the cost of living, that’s been rising for some time. The price of diesel. The price of gas, in particular this year, Mr. Speaker. This is something we’ve been calling on this government to provide some relief to the people of this province for years. It has become absolutely urgent, not only at the household level but because those businesses, those producers, everything that is distributed by truck in this province — Mr. Speaker, which is almost everything — it is also increasing the cost of those items because this government has failed to offer any relief to the people of this province, despite the fact that we’ve seen this from governments across the country.

We see mortgages in arrears at an alarming rate in this province, rising credit card debt, default, seniors who are slipping into poverty, and rents that keep rising and rising and rising, Mr. Speaker. Good intentions are not going to pay those bills for Saskatchewan people.

So we see a government that is, time and time again, bringing forward promises to the people of this province, holding hand over heart and saying how much they care about these things. But they’re not delivering for the people of this province. And the unwillingness to acknowledge or take responsibility for that, Mr. Speaker, is why so many people were looking for change in that last election, and why that number has only continued to grow.

Mr. Speaker, I mentioned looking back to that last election and the take-away that I think — I’m going to look at them — I think this whole team took away was, yes, people in this province are looking for change. But we still had work to do building trust with the people of this province. And most importantly people told us clearly, we know things are bad; we want to know what you are going to do about it.

People have learned not to trust the words in throne speeches, not to trust promises at election time. I understand that. That’s why this team has been working so incredibly hard since that election, not only to hold this government to account — and you better believe we are going to continue to do that — but also building the solutions, building the alternatives, showing people in this province that they really do indeed have a choice, a positive choice when it comes to who is making the decisions in this province. And that’s work that I, as the leader of this team, am incredibly proud of.

This is a team that does not fear hard work, does not fear getting on the highway, driving to where they need to go — although do be cautious everyone; it’s very foggy out there right now. This is the team that trusts the people of this province and the expertise that they bring forward.

So what are we going to do about it? That’s what I want to talk about for the next little bit here, Mr. Speaker. We are going to focus on actually delivering relief for the cost of living for people in this province, and have already brought forward nine bills to address that on this, the floor of this Assembly. Suspending that gas tax. Bringing in rent control to curb the rising costs of rent that are forcing young people, seniors on fixed income, working people in this province to the brink, or sometimes over the brink, of homelessness. Bills to end AI price gouging on groceries. The list goes on and on and on.

Grid and Growth. Mr. Speaker, now some members opposite seem to think I don’t want to talk about Grid and Growth. I’m happy to talk about it, Mr. Speaker. Maybe not quite as happy as the member from Regina South Albert, who did a fantastic job bringing this plan forward. Pretty ambitious for an opposition, Mr. Speaker, a plan that was built with independent experts and a whole lot of input from folks here in Saskatchewan. Twenty-one pages available on the internet that lays out a path to minimize power rate increases, an affordability measure for sure, Mr. Speaker, and to maintain a steady power supply — something that is crucial for all of the opportunity, to make good on the opportunity that we see in this province, Mr. Speaker.

And it also lays out a clear alternative to the government’s plan, a plan that would at least double power bills in this province. Mr. Speaker, this is another place where Saskatchewan people have a clear choice, and we’re presenting that to them well ahead of the next election.

On health care, Mr. Speaker, there is no magic wand. I think we can all agree on that when it comes to health care. But there is a need that has become critical to bring change to our health care system. The government — and I will do some contrast here — brought forward in 2007, 20 years ago, they announced their plans to do a patients-first review and have since come out with four, at least four different plans based on that same theme. Dusted off the cover, moved some things around, updated the numbers. Mr. Speaker, the results have taken us from first to worst. In fact since the latest version of that plan, we’ve actually seen over 1,000 health care outages in this province. Just the latest plan. Clearly the status quo, even with a new cover, is not working.

So we took a different approach. And I want to give full credit to the member from Regina Elphinstone-Centre, the member from Regina Walsh Acres, the member from Saskatoon Wildwood, and our whole health care team on this one. We took a different approach. They undertook the largest health care consultation in the history of this province, with the first report coming out this spring and our first major announcement this fall.

Again, Mr. Speaker, there’s a lot of detail here. I’m going to go quickly through it because it is available on the internet. We are continuing to talk to people about it. We’ve talked with health care workers about this, Mr. Speaker. But it puts forth a real plan to actually deliver health care, starting with primary care to the people of this province, ensuring that people have access to a primary care team, connecting those teams, and bringing in finally one patient health record, electronic record, for all patients in this province. And there’s more to come, Mr. Speaker. And I’m going to go quickly because I know we are all anxious here, Mr. Speaker, to go see those families that we love.

[11:30]

The second part of that plan is to bring back local voice in health care, something that we’ve heard in every community, particularly outside of the major centres. This was a concern that was brought forward when the announcement 10 years ago was made to move to the SHA [Saskatchewan Health Authority], one health region. And rightfully so. A lot of local communities worried about so many decisions being centred in small rooms in Regina, far away from the realities at the front lines.

That was promised 10 years ago, those community advisory networks, Mr. Speaker. We promise that we will bring them back within 100 days, should we have the honour to form government.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I’m going to remark on one thing. I try not to be too defensive about these things because I understand, you know, the spirit in which they’re thrown across the aisle.

Of course this was not a plan that was made with artificial intelligence. It was made with good old Saskatchewan intelligence, some of the best health researchers as well as input from, as I said, the largest health care consultation in the history of this province. The response that we heard from members’ offices was curious about that. But I heard something from the Health minister yesterday, worried that we weren’t talking enough about the health care plan either.

I will say this government has shown remarkable message discipline over 20 years, repeating the same line, even dusting off the same report four or five times, Mr. Speaker. And I will give them, they do it with a lot of confidence. But the reality is it is not improving or providing the kind of health care we need for people in this province. We need something ambitious. I know this plan is ambitious, but that is exactly what the moment calls for: ambition and a bit of courage.

Mr. Speaker, there’s a whole lot more to come. We will be bringing other plans forward, built by the people, with the people of this province. Plans on interpersonal violence. Investing in food programs for kids, Mr. Speaker. Our province, that is known and rightfully proud of the fact that we feed the world, and we have the highest rates of child poverty and the highest rates of kids going hungry in the entire country. It’s not acceptable.

Mr. Speaker, it goes without saying but I’m going to say it again: I love this province. We all love this province. We all see the potential. We all see the need out there. We all understand the need for change. That’s what we are going to continue to focus on. I don’t fear the debate. I welcome it. I trust Saskatchewan people to look at what’s on offer and to make the decision that is best for them and for their communities.

The only thing I really fear is apathy, people believing that what we do in here, what we decide, what we focus on, what we don’t focus on, that it doesn’t matter; it doesn’t impact their life. Because it does, Mr. Speaker. I fear apathy. I fear the division that sometimes is sown to distract from the shortcomings. I think people are seeing through that as well.

But what really, really I find frustrating — and this is what I’m hearing from a lot of people in this province — is a government that after 20 years says, you know, someone else’s fault. Or they say, you know what; it’s bad everywhere.

Mr. Speaker, this isn’t everywhere. This is Saskatchewan. We’ve done big things before, and we can do them again.

But we are not going to get them done with the same tired lines that we have seen this government bring forward over the last . . . well I’ll speak for the last 10 years, Mr. Speaker. That’s why I will not be supporting the motion in the Throne Speech, and I will be supporting the amendment put forward by the members on this side. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And let me just say at the outset, thank you to all the members that participated in debating this year’s Speech from the Throne, the government’s legislative agenda over the course of this legislative session, Mr. Speaker, which is, I would say, a rung in the ladder or steps towards our ultimate goal of ensuring that we are improving the outcomes in our health care system in this province on behalf of families and patients across the province, Mr. Speaker, and ensuring that our communities are safer for those very families wherever they might live.

Investing in our education system, Mr. Speaker, and the regulatory framework around how our education system is improving, in particular when it comes to improving our K to 3 [kindergarten to grade 3] outcomes so that our students can learn to read so that they can ultimately read to learn throughout their life, Mr. Speaker.

Ensuring that Saskatchewan remains the most affordable province in the nation, and utilizing one of the strongest, if not the strongest, and fastest growing economy in the nation to make the investments in all of those other sectors, all of those other important priorities of the people and families that we ultimately collectively represent on the floor of this Assembly. Mr. Speaker, make those investments real, concrete, and long term.

And so I want to thank all members on both sides of the House that have participated in this debate. There may be some slightly differing views on the effectiveness of this legislative agenda, but the fact of the matter is this, Mr. Speaker: it is again steps, rungs in the ladder, steps towards improving the services for Saskatchewan families wherever they might live across this great province.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to, as is customary, say just a couple of short thank yous to the folks that work in the Premier’s office here in Regina, all the folks in this building and this Legislative Assembly, Mr. Speaker, that allow us to do the important work on behalf of people across this province that we do each and every day, whether it be in this Assembly or whether it be in our respective constituencies across this province, Mr. Speaker. I think the people of Saskatchewan can certainly feel that they are well served in a large part by the debate that happens, Mr. Speaker — the political debate, yes, but debating important issues that are relevant to those very families and individuals that we serve.

I also want to say thank you to my constituency assistant back home who runs our office in the Rosthern-Shellbrook constituency and certainly liaisons with the minister’s office on behalf of those that may have concerns or have to, you know, navigate or troubleshoot an issue that their family or their loved ones have run into, Mr. Speaker. Sally Jacobson has been with me since 2011. We work together in that office, Mr. Speaker; I would say maybe the last few years it’s been more her working in that office than myself. But I’m forever grateful for the very competent work that she does on behalf of the people of Rosthern-Shellbrook, and together we serve them on the floor of this Assembly.

Family. Thanks to mine, Mr. Speaker. And I would say, through members of this Assembly on the floor here today, serving today, thank you through you to your family that I know supports you in the work that you do on behalf of the constituents that elected you.

Mr. Speaker, as I said, the Speech from the Throne really sets out the legislative agenda. We’re seeing a federal budget today setting out the investment priorities of the federal government, Mr. Speaker. You’ll see that provincial budget come in the spring which will set out the investment priorities of this government, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the folks that we serve, as we did last spring with a budget that very much invested in those core areas that I had mentioned. Mr. Speaker, those core areas of what we are hearing are the priority of people across this province. And I would say nowhere more important than the investment that we’re seeing in health care in Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker.

And what you are seeing with respect to the investment in health care in Saskatchewan is unlike what we are seeing virtually in any other area of the nation of Canada, Mr. Speaker, an investment in a patients-first health care plan, a very focused investment in expanding and increasing access to primary health care providers in this province so that everyone in Saskatchewan can be connected to a health care professional, Mr. Speaker, by 2028.

And secondary, but equally as important to that, is investing in diagnostics and surgical capacity to ensure that each and every person in this province, should they require a surgery, has a path to acquiring that surgery in what would be a reasonable amount of time, Mr. Speaker.

Those are two areas that are challenged, not just in the Saskatchewan health care system in our Saskatchewan communities, but two areas I would say that have significant challenges across Canada.

We are taking a very focused approach to the policy and to the investment in that space, Mr. Speaker. And I would say a significant portion of that investment is to support our health care professionals, whatever designation they may be trained for and working in a community or health care facility across this province, is investing directly in supporting those health care professionals so that they can improve access and improve the quality of the health care experience that Saskatchewan people are having.

Since 2022, about four years ago, what we have seen is an increase of about 7,500 health care professionals working in our facilities across the province. That has come in part due to that financial investment, yes. But it has also come through changes in how we are offering those services in our health care facilities, Mr. Speaker, really taking in today’s innovation and today’s technology and making provisions so that our health care professionals can use that innovation, use that technology to increase the outcomes in a positive way, the outcomes that we are seeing in our health care experiences, Mr. Speaker.

And I would just say this. There is more to do in this space when it comes to expanding the scope of all of our health care workers to ensure that they can work at the full capacity that they were trained to do, Mr. Speaker.

But there are examples of steps that are really starting to have an impact on families and individuals, patients’ access to health care professionals. And I would point to the change, Mr. Speaker, the option that we have provided as a government. The ministers of Health collectively had worked with organizations across the province and listened to patients and health care workers to change and open up opportunities for nurse practitioners to sign contracts directly with the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

Through that contract process, 54 nurse practitioners have signed an operational contract with the Saskatchewan Health Authority. And through those 54 contracts we are seeing now 43,000 additional patients — people — people that are connected to a primary health care provider in this province. Taking in new ways to deliver health care with existing professionals, Mr. Speaker, expanding the scope of what those professionals can do to provide an elevated health care experience, a more improved health care experience for Saskatchewan folks, Mr. Speaker.

Bringing in virtual care to ensure that people can have some of their health care appointments actually online, on their iPad. Which in many cases, not for all, but in many cases might actually be more convenient than driving to a neighbouring community or wherever that primary health care provision is today, Mr. Speaker. Not to replace all health care visits by any stretch, but to add to the complement and to add to the suite of services that Saskatchewan people can access so that they have a greater degree of access to a primary health care provider: which may be a physician, which may be a nurse practitioner, may be a pharmacist, may be a speech pathologist, may be an occupational therapist, Mr. Speaker. Whatever professional is required, we are making changes so that that is the professional that people are able to get in front of in a more expedient way, Mr. Speaker. That is true access to health care.

There is more work to do in this space, but we have to also acknowledge that much work has been done and we are going to continue to replicate those changes that are making a difference for people that we serve, Mr. Speaker. And in the case that we may move in a space where it is not expanding in a significant way our access to health care, we will pull back, Mr. Speaker, and divert those investments to areas that certainly are working.

[11:45]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to that connectivity to a health care provider, I right up front want to say there is more work to do here. There is more work to do across Canada, Mr. Speaker. But I do need to correct the record, with respect to some comments that were made on this floor of this Assembly, that 6 out of 10 people in this province are not connected to a health care provider.

CIHI [Canadian Institute for Health Information] data actually says something significantly different. It’s over 80 per cent, I think about 83 per cent of individuals in this province are connected to a health care provider, Mr. Speaker. And we do need to bring factual information, in particular to the floor of this Assembly, on behalf of the Saskatchewan residents that we represent, Mr. Speaker.

That also brings me to a number of other comments, and then I want to get into some of the other . . . Maybe I’ll stick to some of the other investments that are being made.

We talked about the patients-first health care initiative. Prior to that coming forward just this past year, Mr. Speaker — which is a very focused plan, a very focused plan that includes investment, includes changing how we deliver health care to support our health care professionals to deliver a higher level of health care experience for people in this province — but prior to that was the most ambitious health human resource plan in the nation of Canada, Mr. Speaker.

That plan included, yes, investment in rural and recruitment incentives for hard-to-recruit places, Mr. Speaker. It included as well over 1,000 health care training seats across our post-secondary institutes, Mr. Speaker. What those training seats are providing is a young person, or any person in this province, the opportunity to upgrade their discipline, or the opportunity to go into a rewarding career in health care, Mr. Speaker.

And we know what the members opposite have said on the floor of this very Assembly with respect to their advice to young people that are considering entering a career in health care, Mr. Speaker. And we disagree. We disagree.

And we are providing opportunities for an additional 1,000 people — whether it be physicians, nurse practitioners, RNs [registered nurse], LPNs, CCAs [continuing care assistant], Mr. Speaker, whether it be speech pathologists, occupational therapists. We encourage, encourage young people and all people, if they are interested in a rewarding career in health care in the province of Saskatchewan, we are providing them with an opportunity to access that training.

Mr. Speaker, I talked earlier about the 7,500 additional health care professionals that are offering services in communities across the province today. A number of those individuals are part of the out-build of 400 acute-care beds in this province, Mr. Speaker, of which we had the opportunity with Health ministers and the Minister of Advanced Education at City Hospital in Saskatoon to announce an additional 80 beds in that space, Mr. Speaker. Part of, I believe, 180‑plus out-build that has occurred already, Mr. Speaker, going beyond 2 to 300 and ultimately 400 with the opening of the Prince Albert hospital, now the Weyburn hospital. And we get into Rosthern, Yorkton, and Esterhazy as well, Mr. Speaker.

Four hundred acute care beds are going to provide a great opportunity, Mr. Speaker, for us, in a much more seamless way, for our health care providers to support them. Having a bed when we have individuals in an emergency department, Mr. Speaker. Having a bed when an individual has had, is having, or scheduled to have or having a surgery in this province, they will have an acute care bed, Mr. Speaker, with this expansion.

Four hundred beds would be the equivalent of roughly two pretty significant-sized hospitals in the province as well, Mr. Speaker. And a credit to the leadership of the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the Ministry of Health, the ministers, but also all those that have advised them — health care workers included, Mr. Speaker — on the opportunities that we have to use existing infrastructure to complement that with additional staff to really expand our health care system, our acute care bed capacity, Mr. Speaker.

This is going to in turn really enhance some of the challenging areas that we have in health care, the challenging areas that individuals, patients, and families are experiencing when they may be in an emergency room, to accelerate the number of surgeries that we are able to perform in this province because we have an available bed for that individual to recover in after a surgery, Mr. Speaker.

Which brings me to that surgical initiative target. Step two of the patients-first health care plan, Mr. Speaker, is to increase the surgeries to a number of 450,000 over four years. We’re well into our second year achieving that number, Mr. Speaker. It would be over 100,000 surgeries in a year, definitely another record number like last year was, like the year before was, Mr. Speaker.

And herein lies . . . Well maybe one more point before I get to the contrast of health care policy, and in particular the formation of that health care policy. But first and foremost, Mr. Speaker, in order to expand those acute care beds . . . And I mentioned Prince Albert, I mentioned Rosthern, I mentioned Esterhazy, I mentioned Yorkton, Mr. Speaker. You can add to that Weyburn. You can add to that the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital. Eighteen hospitals are in the planning stages, Mr. Speaker, are currently being built, or are already open across this province. That’s the record of this government when it comes to health care infrastructure.

And the only way that we’re able to expand the number of beds, Mr. Speaker, and to expand the number of staff by 7,500 since 2022 is by continuing to invest in additional and replacement infrastructure in this province at a rate I would say is unlike any time in this province’s history.

Mr. Speaker, from there we go to the choice, I guess you would say, that Saskatchewan people have to make, as we on this side of the House are not looking back at the last election but are very much looking ahead to how do we serve the people of Saskatchewan in the lead-up to the next election. The first difference between the parties that are on this respective floor today.

We talked a little bit, Mr. Speaker, with respect to the policy development and how the patients-first health care initiative, how the health human resource plan, the most ambitious in Canada, came about by listening to Saskatchewan families, listening to health care workers across this province versus what we see across the way, Mr. Speaker.

First we heard rumblings of a significant opposition health care plan a number of months ago. And the first run of that, well it didn’t work out very well, Mr. Speaker. They hired an American consultant. Obviously he had come forward with not very much of anything, Mr. Speaker. And then quietly, that first iteration of the opposition’s — I think it was named after the president of the United States’ phrases — big, bold, beautiful health care plan. Mr. Speaker, it didn’t work out with their American consultant.

So what have we seen since then, Mr. Speaker, is actually the opposition using AI technology to craft their next iteration of their presidential big, bold health care plan, Mr. Speaker. We’ve often said, and I’ve been told by many, that it appears that the chat NDP are actually using ChatGPT in their health care policy, Mr. Speaker.

Now helpfully, and again to some of the debate on the floor of this Legislative Assembly, we’re going to ensure that that policy can actually be made right in Saskatchewan as we head towards the next election through the Bell AI data centre being built just south here of Regina.

Mr. Speaker, I actually, unlike I think many members opposite, had a pretty good read of the most recent two iterations of, as many are saying, the opposition chat NDP’s health care plan. They have the original version, and then they have the updated version once it was noticed in the original version a couple of things.

The first was they had left their AI data prompts in the actual plan that they had released, Mr. Speaker. I would point to page 27, point no. 4, under the key recommendations, “cost every health care platform commitment against this return-on-investment logic so the platform’s affordability story survives scrutiny from the press and the opposition alike.” It’s a great policy to ask AI, Mr. Speaker. They go on. On point no. 5, “to publish a plain language explainer of this note’s numbers alongside the platform costing.” Mr. Speaker, these are AI prompts. This is asking AI to develop you a health care policy.

I would say, just to go on, there is on page 21 when it comes to the precedent for health data systems, Mr. Speaker, what AI has helpfully helped, as many would say, the chat NDP opposition with is to adopt the data system from Finland.

Mr. Speaker, the data system in Finland . . . Well first let’s start. Finland has a little less than 6 million people in the country of Finland. Their data system has about 4 billion patients on it, Mr. Speaker. That’s equal to about half of the world’s population, and I’m not sure why we would adopt a data system like that in Finland when it has half of the global population on it. There’s likely names, patient names, from the floor of this Assembly that are on Finland’s patient data system, Mr. Speaker.

As I said earlier, we want to adopt things that are working. Maybe stay away from things that are not working. And when we think of data systems, Mr. Speaker, Finland is definitely not one that I think we want to adopt at this time and place.

So as I say, I read the opposition’s health care plan, Mr. Speaker, and I’ve come to the summation that the NDP actually has a different meaning today. And what it means is that no one over there actually does any proofreading. NDP: no one does proofreading, Mr. Speaker.

Again, Mr. Speaker, despite what I will say is a flawed digital policy on health care coming from the members opposite after they realized they had a flawed American consultant providing that policy, we look forward to the next iteration. We very much look forward to the next iteration, Mr. Speaker, and I’m sure we’ll have more to say when we get to that point in time.

When it comes to the very focused approach that this government is taking, I think there is no more effort being made, with the exception of health care, Mr. Speaker, on keeping our community safe. And really that is an effort that is focused in two areas.

One is on recovery and providing recovery opportunities for Saskatchewan people that unfortunately have been living with challenges in mental health and, all too often, subsequent addictions challenges in their life, Mr. Speaker. And as long as I have the opportunity to serve in government, we need to be advocates in enabling and in enacting policy to provide those individuals a recovery opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, second to that is to increase not only our investment in enforcement to keep our communities, our parks, where we live in this province safe, but to make every effort — as the Minister of Justice has been making — to change laws that are within the provincial purview, to make the work that our enforcement officers do more effective and so that they can be present in our communities with that presence, Mr. Speaker. Because ultimately presence does equal prevention when it comes to law enforcement.

And so those investments are very, very clear and they’re very, very focused. We had in this province just under 500 recovery beds present a few years ago. We have made a commitment a number of years ago to go to 500 additional recovery beds. We’re at 412 as we sit today, and we will have and meet that 500‑bed target by the end of this fiscal year, Mr. Speaker.

That is why you see this fall a renewed target being put out by the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. And I thank her for her efforts and the consultation and the collaboration that she takes with everyone in this space to ensure that we are continuing to build that recovery capacity.

And not stopping there, but building those access points so that people, unfortunately, that are living a life of addictions have an option to access that recovery capacity, Mr. Speaker. Whether that be through an urgent care centre, whether that be through our complex-needs facilities, Mr. Speaker, of which there are some remarkable stats coming through those complex-needs facilities, and I would just share a couple.

First operating in Saskatoon and Regina, and very shortly operating in Prince Albert, what we are seeing, Mr. Speaker, is coming through those complex-needs facilities thus far is about 8,000 people. Less than 200 of them are repeat visitors, Mr. Speaker. Less than 200 of them are finding their way back into incarceration. These are providing support to individuals on what may very well be the lowest day of their life. And they’re providing an access point to a recovery journey, to a recovery lifestyle, and, Mr. Speaker, I would hope in many ways to a much better life than they may be currently living.

In addition to that, of those 8,000 folks that unfortunately have found their way into a complex-needs shelter, which is by arrest, Mr. Speaker, there are three ways at the 23‑hour mark to find your way out of that shelter. One is to have a family member pick you up. Two is, Mr. Speaker, for you to be released to the local enforcement agency and they would release you in the same way they normally do. And three is to self-refer to addictions services.

[12:00]

And we are in the neighbourhood of 90 per cent of those individuals within 24 hours of being arrested and placed in a complex-needs facility that has, Mr. Speaker, health supports to ensure that they are taken care of from a health perspective, has guidance supports and liaisoning or supports to addictions services. We’re seeing in the neighbourhood of 90 per cent of folks are self-referring in less than 24 hours after arrest — self-referring to addictions services, Mr. Speaker. That is a number that I think we can collectively, across this province, be proud of.

And we need to continue to do more by expanding the capacity of our complex-needs facilities to other communities and providing the very opportunity for individuals that unfortunately are living a life of addictions, the opportunity to a recovery lifestyle. As the former minister had said and the current Minister of Mental Health and Addictions has said many times, we need to meet people where they are, but we can’t leave them there. We cannot leave them there, Mr. Speaker. We need to provide them hope and opportunity. And that is exactly what this government is trying to do day in, day out, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to supporting our enforcement agencies, whether it be the investment in 500 additional officers in our communities, RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] officers, municipal officers — might I say municipal officers that are entirely provincially funded and invested in, unlike again what historically happens across this province — the formation and investment in our Saskatchewan Marshals Service as well as CSOs [community safety officer], and working with a number of Indigenous communities across the province, as well as to see how we can move forward in ensuring that our communities, whether they be Indigenous communities, non-Indigenous communities, have enforcement capacity and are safe moving forward.

Mr. Speaker, the Criminal Code of Canada is just that. It is not the criminal code of Saskatchewan, and this is an area of clear federal jurisdiction. However what we have as a government when we listen to people in rural and urban Saskatchewan about how we can make our communities safer, we have a Minister of Justice, a minister of Corrections and Policing that is working very hard together through those conversations to control what we can control and change legislation in the provincial realm to enhance and streamline the efforts that our enforcement offices are making so that they are more present in our community and so that many of the charges that they may be laying are immediate, Mr. Speaker, as opposed to going through a lengthy court process.

And what we are finding through these consultations — whether it be with police chiefs, whether it be with individuals, Mr. Speaker, and families, community leaders — is there is some space for us to manoeuvre in this place from the provincial perspective. And I would point to the street weapons Act, the prevention of deceptive AI Act, The Protection from Human Trafficking Act, all in this legislative agenda, some of those particular Acts, Mr. Speaker.

And so the effort that this government is making is twofold. It’s enforcement and it’s supporting those enforcement authorities and individuals that are keeping our communities safe and opening up a path to recovery, Mr. Speaker, for those individuals that unfortunately may be supporting a life of addictions with whatever lifestyle they are. We want to provide that opportunity for them to enter that life of recovery and have a much greater lifestyle.

What we see as a different policy, Mr. Speaker, from the members opposite and what we’ve seen from NDP governments across this province is talk and actual action in British Columbia, for example, of the decriminalization of poisonous drugs, Mr. Speaker.

What we are seeing in other jurisdictions, Mr. Speaker, is the mass handout of drug paraphernalia — needles and crack pipes and things of that nature. And we even saw from the member from Regina Rochdale in her reply to the Speech from the Throne yesterday that they still feel that that handing out of needles, Mr. Speaker, in our communities is a policy that the government should consider investing, I think, a million to a million and a half dollars in annually.

Mr. Speaker, we are taking those dollars. We are investing them in recovery beds, Mr. Speaker, recovery opportunities for people. It’s a significant difference that the people of Saskatchewan have as we head towards the next election in this province.

Mr. Speaker, I would say that when it comes to education . . . And much talk about education over the last number of months and continue to talk about each and every day as it is so very, very important in particular as we provide with training opportunities, opportunities to learn to read so that you can read to learn, Mr. Speaker, for our children and our grandchildren and the next generations. It’ll be on the very floor of this Assembly.

That’s why under this Minister of Education’s watchful eyes, Mr. Speaker, we have increased operational funding in our education system by some 20 per cent over the last three years, a significant increase in operational funding given a time of significant increase in inflationary pressures for our school divisions across this province.

We are investing in infrastructure and investing in the very people that are offering that education in that infrastructure in those schools across the province — over 100 new schools and major renovations across the province today, Mr. Speaker, in the neighbourhood of 20 to 30 in Saskatoon and Regina, 20 to 30 new schools in each of those communities, as well as schools in communities right across the province.

New schools because we do have a growing and a vibrant population, but also replacement of schools that have been around and have utilized the lifespan of that particular infrastructure, Mr. Speaker. That again is unlike any investment that we are seeing across the nation today, and it’s one collectively we, in this province, can be very, very proud of.

Mr. Speaker, when we look around the world at just how uncertain this world is today — and it is, Mr. Speaker — we can most assuredly know that Saskatchewan is not. Saskatchewan is one of the most certain places that you could possibly live, in particular when it comes to understanding and knowing that it is the most affordable place in the nation of Canada to live.

Now in no way am I saying it is free, or no way am I saying that we are not experiencing cost-of-living pressures, inflationary pressures in our household budgets with our families, Mr. Speaker, in the businesses that we see that are employing families across this province, the industries ultimately that are driving our economy.

But I want to just point out a couple of points that were in the media recently, over the course of the last week or two. First is in the National Post where it said, “Regina is the most affordable city in Canada to buy a home.” Second is in The Globe and Mail: “Regina is the most affordable city in Canada for renters.”

That was backed up by Rentals.ca. Their monthly report for October said that Saskatchewan had the lowest rental rates in the nation. In fact, Mr. Speaker, they just came out with some updated information this morning of where Saskatchewan rent this past month was down 1.8 per cent. In fact rental costs in the province of Saskatchewan have dropped three out of the last four months.

And what we hear is a call for rent control. Well in the cities of Toronto and Vancouver, two areas in this nation that have rent control, Vancouver was up 0.6 per cent. That’s already about $1,000 more a month, on average, than Saskatchewan. Up another 0.6 per cent; we were down 1.8. Toronto: rent there is about $2,593, up 1.3 per cent, Mr. Speaker. Again in Saskatchewan, rental rates were down 1.8, about 1,463, as of this morning’s Rentals.ca report, Mr. Speaker.

Each and every year — and you’ll hear this again in the spring budget — we have a Minister of Finance that will deliver a budget on the very floor of this Assembly. And each and every year what we see is two and a half billion dollars of affordability measures that are included in that budget, Mr. Speaker. Affordability measures for students, for seniors, for families, for first-time homebuyers. Affordability measures for everyone across this province, Mr. Speaker.

And I would say too, have a quick look back at the last election, Mr. Speaker. What we saw was a campaign that was put forward by the Saskatchewan Party, who ultimately was successful in that campaign in a majority government of which we are eternally humbled to serve on behalf of the people of the province of Saskatchewan. But what we saw was a campaign largely focused on affordability. Many commitments made in that campaign, Mr. Speaker, to benefit people from an affordability perspective in this province. We kept every single one of those, Mr. Speaker, and you’ll see those continuing to be kept in this spring’s budget.

What we saw, Mr. Speaker, in other areas of Canada . . . And in particular I would point to an election that happened at about the same time by the calendar in 2024, was in British Columbia, where we saw a party there as well that was successful in gaining, I think, a one-seat majority in their government there — the NDP party, Mr. Speaker.

I don’t know if they use AI for their campaign platforms or whatnot, so I won’t refer to them as a chat NDP, Mr. Speaker. That’s more for local policy development here, Mr. Speaker, with the opposition party.

But what we saw was a number of affordability campaign commitments by the NDP in British Columbia as well. They very quickly after the election started backing those commitments up. They didn’t keep the promises that they had made to British Columbians, in the name of the president of the United States. “Trump did this; we can’t keep this promise. Trump did this; we can’t keep this promise,” Mr. Speaker.

Well, Mr. Speaker, two years later what we saw was an election in that very same jurisdiction that started off with that very same language: Trump is this. Trump is this. Trump is this. Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump. Mr. Speaker, we’ve seen that same language from the opposition on the floor of this Assembly, and I would just provide some guidance that it didn’t work out very good for the NDP in British Columbia and the members opposite.

Not for me to provide them policy, that policy advice. That they can get from artificial intelligence any day, and they do, Mr. Speaker. But they might want to look at the outcome of that election and, as I said earlier, not adopt policies that aren’t working, like not keeping your commitments with the very people that you want to represent, Mr. Speaker.

We’re going to see that type of a referendum on governance and policy much closer to home in the not-too-distant future, Mr. Speaker. As we know, each of these members is a card-carrying federal NDP party. They are one and the same, Mr. Speaker. We are going to see a by-election in the Yorkton constituency, and we’ll be looking with great interest, as a referendum on NDP policies in that particular constituency, Mr. Speaker. And we’ll be looking at the results because that will be — I am going to predict — an astounding rejection of NDP policies and NDP consulting AI for their policies, Mr. Speaker.

And they’re policies that are not conducive to a growing, vibrant economy so that concrete, credible investments can be made in health care, Mr. Speaker. Concrete, credible investments can be made in ensuring that we are providing recovery opportunities and safer communities, in education, and affordability. The very affordability, Mr. Speaker, in preserving the opportunity that we have in this province to remain the most affordable province in the nation of Canada.

You will see that referendum, Mr. Speaker, I believe, on December the 6th here at Yorkton, very much a referendum on the NDP policies from provincial right through to the federal government, as we know they are one and the same. They are going to reject state-owned grocery stores. They’re going to reject the removal of the very industries that are providing jobs and careers and opportunities for Saskatchewan people, Mr. Speaker. And they’re going to reject their policies about when it comes to community safety and making poisonous drugs ultimately more accessible, Mr. Speaker, and the paraphernalia that is available to administer those. Very, very different.

All too often what we’re seeing when we listen to the members opposite talk about how terrible the economy is in this province, Mr. Speaker, when nothing could be further from the truth. We are seeing over $100 billion of investment in over 60 major projects, Mr. Speaker, that are providing jobs and opportunity for people today. Over 1,000 of them at the project just south of Regina as we speak, Mr. Speaker. Many more at the multiple mine sites that are being built. Cargill just opened up and is operating just outside the city of Regina as well.

We see time and time again the members opposite really running down the economy of the province of Saskatchewan and running down what the very people of this province are trying to achieve. It’s like some alternate reality universe that they are speaking about, but it’s not surprising. It’s not surprising, Mr. Speaker, because their perception — and again what I’m being told from many — is that what the NDP want Saskatchewan to be is actually a banana republic, where banana stands for “build absolutely nothing anywhere near anyone,” Mr. Speaker.

What’s really happening in the great province where we live is, just this morning Stats Canada revised its economic growth numbers across the nation, and our GDP [gross domestic product] was even stronger than we thought, Mr. Speaker. Our economy grew by 3.1 per cent in this last year, in 2025. And even with all of the Trump-Trump-Trump tariffs that we see in place, the economic headwinds that the world is facing today, our economy grew 3.1 per cent. That is a strong, steady economy, Mr. Speaker — Saskatchewan’s economy growing by in excess of 3 per cent just this past year.

So how are we building that economy, Mr. Speaker? How are Saskatchewan residents building that economy that the opposition is so quick to run down? By expanding our export markets abroad and attracting new investment right here at home. And I would say it’s working because we are in those markets, Mr. Speaker. I myself have been in many of those markets, alongside a new Prime Minister that is much more focused on expanding our opportunities to those global markets.

[12:15]

Remember, this is a province of 1.2 million people that exports to over 160 countries around the world. Mr. Speaker, I have been on the ground while the NDP’s policy is you shouldn’t have those trade offices. They campaigned on shutting down those trade offices and told us to engage from a Zoom call in our basement, Mr. Speaker. That simply will not work. Can you imagine doing a Zoom call from your basement, Mr. Speaker, as the president of the United States comes in, and not even going and engaging with that administration? If your largest trading partner today and, dare I venture a guess, will continue to be Saskatchewan and Canada’s largest trading partner in the days and years ahead.

That same StatsCan report, Mr. Speaker, reported that our agricultural sector grew by about 18 per cent in 2025. Eighteen per cent and credit to all of the ag producers across this province. I know they had a grindy, tough harvest. I know in our area we had nine inches of rain in September, Mr. Speaker, and it was those ag producers and everybody that’s involved in that industry that brought that crop off and most certainly is going to be every bit as big and likely even bigger than this 18 per cent growth that we saw in 2025.

Saskatchewan produces the food that the world needs and we do a tremendous job together, alongside those ag producers, alongside all of the businesses that are buying and selling that grain globally. Again I mention Cargill just outside of town; AGT [Alliance Grain Terminal Ltd.], the largest grain-marketing company based right here in Saskatchewan.

And what would we ask ourselves would the NDP do given the chance? They would shut down those trade offices I spoke of. They would tell us to go do those Zoom calls in our basement, Mr. Speaker, and that simply won’t work. What we would find is our GDP would start shrinking like it did, Mr. Speaker. What we would find is that we would have less jobs in our communities. And what we would find, Mr. Speaker, is if we went to a Calgary Stampeders game, is even more Saskatchewan Roughriders fans in the stands. That’s the legacy of the members opposite, Mr. Speaker.

Last year in the construction economy in this province it grew again by 10 per cent, Mr. Speaker. That is people, families building homes in community after community. Homes like Harbour Landing, a community that didn’t exist over a decade ago, Mr. Speaker. Brighton in Saskatoon, a community that simply wasn’t there a number of years ago. In fact I think the MLA from Brighton talked about how his constituency has been pushed out so many times that the people that he represents today . . . It was a field when he was first elected. Now given he was elected a number of years ago, Mr. Speaker, but the people of Saskatoon have re-elected him time and time again because of his representation.

And what do we see the members opposite want to do with that construction sector, that investment that is landing here, Mr. Speaker? All of those related jobs, 1,000 of them on-site just south of the city as we speak, all the revenue that it generates for our province and the families that live here, all of the opportunity that we have as a municipal government or a provincial government to reinvest those revenues back into our communities? They’d shut it all down. In a hot minute, Mr. Speaker, they would shut it all down. They’d send all of that investment, and consequently your data, to a job somewhere else on the other side of the world, Mr. Speaker. That is nothing short of bananas. Nothing short of bananas.

Well, Mr. Speaker, I did catch the member from Regina Rochdale’s Throne Speech yesterday, and she talked about the new math in the province. And she said she would sum up what’s happening in Saskatchewan in three words: should’ve, could’ve, didn’t, and can’t. It’s four words. It’s not three words, Mr. Speaker.

And earlier in that speech the member talked about, you know, how math has changed in this province. Well it certainly has. But more importantly I think those words — should’ve, could’ve, didn’t, can’t — that is a glimpse of how the NDP view the hard work and effort the people of Saskatchewan are making to make our province, to make our communities better today and into the future, Mr. Speaker. Fortunately we don’t live in that dystopian NDP banana republic. We live in the best province in the nation of Canada, in one of the best places we can find on earth, Mr. Speaker.

We live in a province, Mr. Speaker, that has one of the fastest-growing economies in the nation of Canada: $100 billion; 60 projects under way. Another $100 billion is a line of sight, Mr. Speaker, that we have. That is unlike any time in our provincial history.

Mr. Speaker, we have a patients-first plan, again unlike any other jurisdiction across the nation of Canada. We have a plan to ensure that individuals that are struggling with addictions in this province have a path to recovery. We have a plan to continue investing in policy and real dollars, Mr. Speaker, and our enforcement officers and communities to ensure that they are safe for our children. A plan to continue to invest in education 20 per cent over the course of the last three years. And we have a plan to ensure that Saskatchewan remains the most affordable province in the nation of Canada.

And so I would end with a question, Mr. Speaker. I would end with a question for members on the floor of this Assembly and all of the people that live in this great province. With all that is going on in the world, with all of the uncertainty that we see globally when you turn the news on each and every morning, is there anywhere else in the world that you would rather live? Anywhere else outside of strong, steady Saskatchewan?

Mr. Speaker, that is what this year’s Speech from the Throne is about — continuing with a strong, steady province and supporting families and community after community on all of the priorities that they bring forward.

And with that, Mr. Speaker, I will not be supporting the opposition’s amendment, but I will be supporting the Throne Speech put forward by the Government of Saskatchewan.

Speaker Goudy: — The question before the Assembly is the proposed amendment moved by the member for Saskatoon Fairview and seconded by the member for Regina Walsh Acres:

That the motion be amended by adding:

And that the Assembly does not support the agenda outlined in the Speech from the Throne because it does not include any new measures to address the urgent challenges Saskatchewan people face regarding health care, the cost of living, and public safety; and further,

That the Assembly has lost confidence in the government.

Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the amendment?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Some Hon. Members: — No.

Speaker Goudy: — Call in the members.

[The division bells rang from 12:22 until 12:29.]

Speaker Goudy: — All those in favour of the amendment please stand.

[Yeas — 21]

Beck

Ritchie

Burki

Clarke

Mowat

Love

Teed

McPhail

Conway

Sarauer

Breckner

Blakley

Grewal

Jorgenson

Brar

McBean

Warrington

Pratchler

Housser

Senger

Roy

[12:30]

Speaker Goudy: — All of those opposed to the amendment please stand.

[Nays — 32]

Moe

Gartner

Kaeding

Cockrill

Reiter

Hindley

Harrison, J.

Cheveldayoff

Schmalz

Jenson

Weger

Keisig

Martens

Wilson

Beaudry

Rowden

Ross

McLeod, T.

Carr

Crassweller

Steele

Young, C.

Harrison, D.

Weedmark

Kropf

McLeod, B.

Patterson

Bromm

Hilbert

Chan

Thorsteinson

Kasun

Clerk Assistant: — Mr. Speaker, those in favour of the amendment, 21; those opposed to the amendment, 32.

Speaker Goudy: — I declare the amendment lost. The question before the Assembly is the main motion moved by the member from White City-Qu’Appelle and seconded by the member for Last Mountain-Touchwood:

That an humble address be presented to Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor as follows:

To Her Honour the Honourable Bernadette McIntyre, Lieutenant Governor of the province of Saskatchewan.

May it please Your Honour:

We, His Majesty’s dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of the province of Saskatchewan in session assembled, humbly thank Your Honour for the gracious speech with which Your Honour has been pleased to address to us at the opening of the present session.

Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Yes.

Some Hon. Members: — No.

Speaker Goudy: — Call in the members.

[The division bells rang from 12:33 until 12:34.]

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

[Yeas — 32]

Moe

Gartner

Kaeding

Cockrill

Reiter

Hindley

Harrison, J.

Cheveldayoff

Schmalz

Jenson

Weger

Keisig

Martens

Wilson

Beaudry

Rowden

Ross

McLeod, T.

Carr

Crassweller

Steele

Young, C.

Harrison, D.

Weedmark

Kropf

McLeod, B.

Patterson

Bromm

Hilbert

Chan

Thorsteinson

Kasun

Speaker Goudy: — All of those opposed to the motion please stand.

[Nays — 21]

Beck

Ritchie

Burki

Clarke

Mowat

Love

Teed

McPhail

Conway

Sarauer

Breckner

Blakley

Grewal

Jorgenson

Brar

McBean

Warrington

Pratchler

Housser

Senger

Roy

Clerk Assistant: — Mr. Speaker, those in favour of the motion, 32; those opposed to the motion, 21.

Speaker Goudy: — I declare the motion carried. I recognize the Government House Leader.

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

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the Government House Leader that this Assembly does now adjourn. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

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

[The Assembly adjourned at 12:37.]

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

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