STANDING COMMITTEE ON

CROWN AND CENTRAL AGENCIES

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

MINUTE NO. 6

3:58 p.m. — Legislative Chamber

1.     Present: Doug Steele in the chair and members Chris Beaudry, Terri Bromm, Hon. Lori Carr, Brad Crassweller,* Hugh Gordon,* Jordan McPhail, Erika Ritchie, and Trent Wotherspoon.*

Substituting Members

Brad Crassweller for Hon. Lori Carr (3:58 p.m. – 5:25 p.m.)

Hugh Gordon for Don McBean

Trent Wotherspoon for Jordan McPhail (3:58 p.m. – 6:05 p.m.)

Trent Wotherspoon for Erika Ritchie (6:06 p.m. – 7:07 p.m.)

2.     The committee considered the 2025–26 estimates and 2024–25 supplementary estimates no. 2 for the Ministry of Finance.

The Minister of Finance and the following officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:

Witnesses

Hon. Jim Reiter, Minister

Chris Bayda, Provincial Comptroller

Max Hendricks, Deputy Minister

Brent Hebert, Assistant Deputy Minister

Cullen Stewart, Assistant Deputy Minister

Melanie DeMarni, Executive Director, Corporate Services

Amy Gates, Executive Director, Provincial Treasury Office

Aaron Hamilton, Executive Director, Collections and Investigations

Jeremy Karwandy, Executive Director, Economic and Fiscal Policy

Nathan Kress, Executive Director, Taxation and Intergovernmental Affairs

3.     The committee adjourned consideration of the 2025–26 estimates and 2024–25 supplementary estimates no. 2 for the Ministry of Finance.

4.     The committee considered Bill No. 13, The Income Tax Amendment Act, 2025.

The Minister of Finance and the following officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:

Witnesses

Hon. Jim Reiter, Minister

Chris Bayda, Provincial Comptroller

Max Hendricks, Deputy Minister

Brent Hebert, Assistant Deputy Minister

Cullen Stewart, Assistant Deputy Minister

Melanie DeMarni, Executive Director, Corporate Services

Amy Gates, Executive Director, Provincial Treasury Office

Aaron Hamilton, Executive Director, Collections and Investigations

Jeremy Karwandy, Executive Director, Economic and Fiscal Policy

Nathan Kress, Executive Director, Taxation and Intergovernmental Affairs

5.     The questions being put on clauses 1 to 21, they were agreed to.

6.     It was moved by Terri Bromm:

That the committee report Bill No. 13, The Income Tax Amendment Act, 2025 without amendment.

The question being put, it was agreed to.

7.     The committee considered Bill No. 16, The Provincial Sales Tax Amendment Act, 2025.

The Minister of Finance and the following officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:

Witnesses

Hon. Jim Reiter, Minister

Chris Bayda, Provincial Comptroller

Max Hendricks, Deputy Minister

Brent Hebert, Assistant Deputy Minister

Cullen Stewart, Assistant Deputy Minister

Melanie DeMarni, Executive Director, Corporate Services

Amy Gates, Executive Director, Provincial Treasury Office

Aaron Hamilton, Executive Director, Collections and Investigations

Jeremy Karwandy, Executive Director, Economic and Fiscal Policy

Nathan Kress, Executive Director, Taxation and Intergovernmental Affairs

8.     The questions being put on clauses 1 to 3, they were agreed to.

9.     It was moved by Chris Beaudry:

That the committee report Bill No. 16, The Provincial Sales Tax Amendment Act, 2025 without amendment.

The question being put, it was agreed to.

10. The committee recessed from 6:22 p.m. until 6:31 p.m.

11. The committee considered Bill No. 9, The Traffic Safety Amendment Act, 2024.

The Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Government Insurance and the following officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:

Witnesses

Hon. Jeremy Harrison, Minister

JP Cullen, Chief Operating Officer, Auto Fund

Kim Hambleton, Senior Director, Shareholder Relations

Jamie Poletz, Senior Legal Counsel

12. The questions being put on clauses 1 to 5, they were agreed to.

13. It was moved by the Hon. Lori Carr:

That the committee report Bill No. 9, The Traffic Safety Amendment Act, 2024 without amendment.

The question being put, it was agreed to.

14. The committee considered the 2025–26 estimates for the Ministry of Finance.

15. The committee concluded consideration of the 2025–26 estimates for the Ministry of Finance. On motion of Terri Bromm:

Resolved, that there be granted to His Majesty for the twelve months ending March 31, 2026 the following sum:

For Finance — $343,232,000

16. The committee considered the 2025–26 debt servicing estimates for the Ministry of Finance.

17. The committee concluded consideration of the 2025–26 debt servicing estimates for the Ministry of Finance.

18. The committee considered the 2025–26 estimates for the Public Service Commission.

19. The committee concluded consideration of the 2025–26 estimates for the Public Service Commission. On motion of Chris Beaudry:

Resolved, that there be granted to His Majesty for the twelve months ending March 31, 2026 the following sum:

For Public Service Commission — $48,153,000

20. The committee considered the 2025–26 estimates for the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement.

21. The committee concluded consideration of the 2025–26 estimates for the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement. On motion of the Hon. Lori Carr:

Resolved, that there be granted to His Majesty for the twelve months ending March 31, 2026 the following sum:

For SaskBuilds and Procurement — $155,339,000

22. The committee considered the 2025–26 estimates for SaskBuilds Corporation.

23. The committee concluded consideration of the 2025–26 estimates for SaskBuilds Corporation. On motion of the Hon. Lori Carr:

Resolved, that there be granted to His Majesty for the twelve months ending March 31, 2026 the following sum:

For SaskBuilds Corporation — $25,000,000

24. The committee considered the 2025–26 lending and investing activities estimates for Municipal Financing Corporation of Saskatchewan.

25. The committee concluded consideration of the 2025–26 lending and investing activities estimates for Municipal Financing Corporation of Saskatchewan.

26. The committee considered the 2025–26 lending and investing activities estimates for Saskatchewan Power Corporation.

27. The committee concluded consideration of the 2025–26 lending and investing activities estimates for Saskatchewan Power Corporation.

28. The committee considered the 2025–26 lending and investing activities estimates for Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corporation.

29. The committee concluded consideration of the 2025–26 lending and investing activities estimates for Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corporation.

30. The committee considered the 2025–26 lending and investing activities estimates for Saskatchewan Water Corporation.

31. The committee concluded consideration of the 2025–26 lending and investing activities estimates for Saskatchewan Water Corporation.

32. The committee considered the 2025–26 lending and investing activities estimates for SaskEnergy Incorporated.

33. The committee concluded consideration of the 2025–26 lending and investing activities estimates for SaskEnergy Incorporated.

34. The committee considered the 2025–26 estimates for debt redemption.

35. The committee concluded consideration of the 2025–26 estimates for debt redemption.

36. The committee considered the 2025–26 estimates for sinking fund payments, government share.

37. The committee concluded consideration of the 2025–26 estimates for sinking fund payments, government share.

38. The committee considered the 2025–26 estimates for interest on gross debt, Crown enterprise share.

39. The committee concluded consideration of the 2025–26 estimates for interest on gross debt, Crown enterprise share.

40. The committee considered the 2024–25 supplementary estimates no. 2 for the Ministry of Finance.

41. The committee concluded consideration of the 2024–25 supplementary estimates no. 2 for the Ministry of Finance. On motion of Terri Bromm:

Resolved, that there be granted to His Majesty for the twelve months ending March 31, 2025 the following sum:

For Finance — $19,221,000

42. The committee considered the 2024–25 debt servicing supplementary estimates no. 2 for the Ministry of Finance.

43. The committee concluded consideration of the 2024–25 debt servicing supplementary estimates no. 2. for the Ministry of Finance.

44. The committee considered the 2024–25 supplementary estimates no. 2 for the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement.

45. The committee concluded consideration of the 2024–25 supplementary estimates no. 2 for the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement. On motion of Chris Beaudry:

Resolved, that there be granted to His Majesty for the twelve months ending March 31, 2025 the following sum:

For SaskBuilds and Procurement — $3,731,000

46. The committee considered the 2024–25 supplementary lending and investing activities estimates no. 2 for Municipal Financing Corporation of Saskatchewan.

47. The committee concluded consideration of the 2024–25 supplementary lending and investing activities estimates no. 2 for Municipal Financing Corporation of Saskatchewan.

48. The committee considered the 2024–25 supplementary lending and investing activities estimates no. 2 for Saskatchewan Power Corporation.

49. The committee concluded consideration of the 2024–25 supplementary lending and investing activities estimates no. 2 for Saskatchewan Power Corporation.

50. The committee considered the 2024–25 supplementary estimates no. 2 for debt redemption.

51. The committee concluded consideration of the 2024–25 supplementary estimates no. 2 for debt redemption.

52. It was moved by Chris Beaudry:

That the second report of the Standing Committee on Crown and Central Agencies for the thirtieth legislature be adopted and presented to the Assembly.

The question being put, it was agreed to.

53. It was moved by Chris Beaudry:

That this committee do now adjourn.

The question being put, it was agreed to.

54. The committee adjourned at 7:07 p.m. to the call of the Chair.

 

 

 

Doug Steele, Chair

Anne Drake, Committee Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

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