CONTENTS
ROYAL APPROBATION AND CLAIM TO PRIVILEGES
TABLING THE RETURN TO
THE WRIT
TABLING THE SPEECH FROM
THE THRONE
Consideration of Speech
from the Throne
FIRST
SESSION — THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE
of
the
Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
DEBATES
AND PROCEEDINGS
(HANSARD)
N.S. Vol. 66 No. 1B Monday, November
25, 2024, 14:00
[The
Assembly met at 14:00.]
Speaker Goudy:
— Members of the Legislative Assembly, guests, please remain standing for the entrance
of the Lieutenant Governor and the Vice-Regal party.
[At
14:02 His Honour the Lieutenant Governor entered the Chamber and took his seat
upon the Throne.]
His
Honour: — Pray be seated.
ROYAL APPROBATION AND CLAIM TO
PRIVILEGES
Speaker Goudy:
— May it please Your Honour, the Legislative Assembly has elected me to the
office of Speaker. If, in the performance of my duties, I should at any time
fall into error I pray that the fault may be imputed to me and not to the
Assembly, whose servant I am.
On
behalf of the Assembly and its members, it is my duty to claim all their
traditional rights and privileges, especially that they may have freedom of
speech in their debates, access to your person at all reasonable times, and
that their proceedings may receive from you your most favourable consideration.
Hon. Jamie Martens: — Mr. Speaker, I am
commanded by His Honour the Lieutenant Governor to declare to you that he
freely confides in the duty and attachment of the Assembly to His Majesty’s
person and government. His Honour is confident that the Assembly’s proceedings
will be conducted with wisdom and prudence, and grants the Assembly’s claim to
its traditional rights and privileges.
I
am commanded also to assure you that the Assembly shall have ready access to
His Honour upon all reasonable occasions and that their proceedings, as well as
your words and actions, will constantly receive from him the most favourable
construction.
[His
Honour then opened the session with the following speech.]
SPEECH FROM THE THRONE
His
Honour: — Pray be seated.
Mr.
Speaker, Members of the Legislative Assembly, honoured guests, people of
Saskatchewan.
Welcome
to the opening of the First Session of the Thirtieth Legislature of the
Province of Saskatchewan.
Four
weeks ago today, the people of Saskatchewan voted to choose the 61 Members of
this new Legislative Assembly.
We
should never take for granted the tremendous privilege that we have in our
province and our country to freely choose our representatives and our
government.
This
is a new Assembly and just over half of its Members — 31 of 61 — are taking
their seats here for the first time today.
To
those new Members, and to all the returning Members, congratulations, and
welcome to your Legislative Assembly.
You
have earned the right to be here by earning the trust and support of your
constituents.
I
know you will work every day to be worthy of their trust.
A
NEW BEGINNING
This
first day of the Thirtieth Legislature marks a new beginning for my government.
In
every election, voters deliver a message.
In
this recent election, Saskatchewan voters delivered two messages.
Many
Saskatchewan people voted to re-elect my government to ensure a strong economy
and a bright future for our province.
At
the same time, many other Saskatchewan people voted for change.
My
government will deliver both.
My
government will keep our economy strong and work to achieve the targets set in
the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth.
A
strong and growing economy enables my government to deliver on all the
commitments it made during the recent election campaign, including making life
more affordable for Saskatchewan people.
My
government must also do more to address the challenges of growth — challenges
like crowded classrooms and access to health care services.
Voters
told us we must do better in these areas, and we will.
A
CHANGING SASKATCHEWAN
Saskatchewan
has undergone remarkable change since 2007.
Our
population and communities are growing and changing.
There
are 250,000 more people living in our province.
In
2007, neither Warman nor Martensville were cities.
Today
they are, and they are growing.
Since
the 2006 Census, Warman has grown by over 160 per cent and Martensville has
grown by more than 112 per cent.
Those
are just two examples of many growing Saskatchewan communities.
Saskatchewan
is on track to achieve many of my government’s Growth Plan goals, including:
· 1.4 million people living in
Saskatchewan by 2030;
· $16 billion in annual private
capital investment by 2030;
· Increasing agricultural value-added
revenue to $10 billion a year by 2030; and
·
Doubling
forestry sales to $2.2 billion by 2030.
Saskatchewan
has already achieved and exceeded many of my government’s Growth Plan goals,
including:
· Increasing total export value by 50 per
cent compared to 2018;
· Increasing manufacturing value by 50 per
cent compared to 2018;
· Increasing Saskatchewan’s agri-food
exports to $20 billion a year; and
·
Increasing
the annual value of potash sales to $9 billion.
Growth
is good for our province, but it also means more people who require access to
health care services and growing student enrollment.
It
is the responsibility of my government to ensure it too is changing to meet the
priorities of a changing province.
Today
marks a new beginning — a new opportunity to act on what my government heard
during the election campaign.
An
opportunity to bring a new focus to my government and deliver the changes that
will improve the lives of Saskatchewan people.
On
the doorsteps, candidates who are now Members on both sides of this Assembly
listened to voters.
Those
voters said they want their government to:
· Improve access to health care services;
· Provide better support to our children
in their classrooms; and
·
Better
represent them by being more responsive to their concerns.
That
message has been heard and my government will act on it.
A
new beginning starts with a clear-eyed appraisal of what is working and what is
not working.
My
government will build on what is working.
In
those areas where it must do better, my government will do better.
My
government will focus on ensuring that its investments produce results.
That
focus will ensure that Saskatchewan people:
· Will be able to find a primary health
care provider;
· Will be able to access surgery in a
timely manner;
· Will have access to mental health and
addiction recovery supports when they are needed; and
·
Will
feel safe where they live.
That
work starts today.
HEALTH
CARE
My
government will do better to support patients and the health care needs of
Saskatchewan people.
My
government will continue to accelerate the hiring of health care professionals
and will expand urgent care centres to ensure more people have better access to
a doctor, nurse practitioner and other health care professionals.
The
first urgent care centre in Regina is up and running, and one in Saskatoon is
under construction in a partnership with Ahtahkakoop Cree Developments.
Since
it opened in July of this year, the Regina Urgent Care Centre has served the
needs of 14,000 patients, providing timely access to medical care and to mental
health services, and assisting in addressing pressures on the emergency rooms
in Regina hospitals.
The
urgent care centre is working here in Regina, and that is why my government
will open additional urgent care centres in Saskatoon, Prince Albert, North
Battleford, Moose Jaw and Regina.
In
the first few years after my government was first elected, it focused on
reducing surgical wait times.
In
2007, Saskatchewan had the longest surgical wait times in Canada.
By
2014, we had the shortest.
In
2007, about 74,000 surgeries were performed in Saskatchewan.
Last
year, more than 95,000 surgeries were completed — an increase of more than 28
per cent.
However,
that growth has not kept pace with the number of people needing surgeries and
in recent years, surgical wait times have lengthened.
To
address this, my government will ensure that 450,000 surgeries will be
performed over the next four years.
Increasing
capacity will reduce surgical wait times to no more than three months.
To
meet the need for more health care infrastructure, five new hospitals are under
development in Prince Albert, Weyburn, Esterhazy, Rosthern and Yorkton.
Over
four years, my government will invest more than $2.6 billion into health
care infrastructure.
My
government will continue to increase the number of doctors, nurses and other
health care professionals working in Saskatchewan through its Health Human Resources
Action Plan.
There
were 1,160 more active practising nurses and doctors licensed in Saskatchewan
in 2023 compared to 2022.
My
government will continue to build on its ambitious Health Human Resources
Action Plan to further stabilize and strengthen important health care services
for urban, rural and northern residents.
Since
the Health Human Resources Action Plan was introduced in fall of 2022, my
government has successfully recruited thousands of health care workers in
communities across Saskatchewan.
Today,
84 per cent of Saskatchewan people have access to a regular primary health
provider — a doctor or a nurse practitioner.
That
is higher than the national average, but my government knows it can do better.
That
is why my government is setting a goal that every Saskatchewan person will have
access to a primary health provider by the end of 2028.
My
government will reach this goal through partnership and collaboration with our
health care providers to deliver team-based primary care to Saskatchewan
people.
My
government will work directly with primary care providers to ensure they have
the support they need to deliver health care in our province.
To
ensure my government engages nurses throughout the province, my government has
invited all nursing teams and the unions that represent them to join a
first-of-its-kind patient-focused nursing task force.
My
government will deliver on its campaign commitments in health care.
[14:15]
It
will provide women with the option to do cervix self-screening at home for the
human papillomavirus (HPV), the leading cause of cervical cancer.
Saskatchewan
will be the second province in Canada to offer this option.
This
builds on the commitments made to women’s health and cancer care in the 2024‑25
Budget, which includes a $3.5 million increase for breast cancer care, the
development of a Breast Health Centre of Excellence in Regina and a
$1 million grant for ovarian cancer research.
My
government will make it more affordable for individuals and couples to access
fertility treatments by introducing a new fertility treatment tax credit.
My
government will help with the cost of monitoring and treating diabetes by
expanding no cost coverage for glucose monitoring systems and supplies to
seniors and young adults ages 25 and under.
EDUCATION
AND CHILD CARE
My
government will do more to support children in their classrooms by expanding
its specialized support classroom model.
This
program is showing positive results in the eight schools in which it has been
piloted.
My
government will work with school divisions to expand the specialized support
classroom pilot to 200 more schools throughout the province.
A
child’s ability to read at grade level by Grade 3 is the single greatest
predictor of future academic success, because this is when they transition from
learning to read to reading to learn.
My
government will focus on improving reading levels in Kindergarten to Grade 3,
giving students every opportunity for academic success throughout their time in
school.
More
teachers and education support staff will be added to deliver on these
commitments.
Not
enough has been done to support our children in their classrooms.
My
government will address this by increasing funding to school divisions to help
them meet the pressures of a growing student enrollment and the challenges of
classroom complexity.
More
schools will be added to meet the needs of a growing province.
Fourteen
new or consolidated school projects and three major renovations are underway in
communities throughout Saskatchewan.
My
government has also initiated planning for the construction of nine new schools
and two major renovations.
My
government will expand regulated childcare spaces.
There
are more than 5,100 childcare spaces currently under development.
My
government has a target to provide funding for 12,000 additional new space
developments by the end of the next fiscal year.
AFFORDABILITY
Saskatchewan
is the most affordable place to live in Canada.
Still,
Saskatchewan people are facing cost of living pressures, just like other
Canadians.
My
government heard this concern on the doorsteps during the recent campaign.
That
is why the centrepiece of my government’s election platform was a plan to make
life more affordable for students, for seniors, for homeowners, for families
and for everyone.
My
government will introduce the largest personal income tax reduction in
Saskatchewan since 2008 by raising the personal exemption, the spousal
exemption, child exemption and the seniors supplement by $500 a year in each of
the next four years, in addition to fully indexing income tax brackets.
As
a result, a family of four will save more than $3,400 over the next four years
and a senior couple will save more than $3,100.
When
fully implemented, an additional 54,000 people will no longer pay any
Saskatchewan income tax.
The
Saskatchewan Low-Income Tax Credit will be increased by 20 per cent over the
next four years.
Saskatchewan
has one of the lowest inflation rates in Canada, largely due to my government’s
decision to take the carbon tax off home heating.
That
exemption has already been extended by SaskPower for those customers who use
electricity to heat their homes.
During
this session, my government will introduce legislation to extend the carbon tax
exemption on natural gas through 2025, saving Saskatchewan households about
$480 next year.
My
government will continue to advocate for the carbon tax to be eliminated
completely, but until that happens, we will ensure carbon tax fairness by
exempting home heating from the carbon tax.
The
Active Families Benefit, and the income threshold to qualify for that benefit,
will both be doubled, making children’s sports, arts, cultural and recreational
activities more affordable for more families.
My
government will make it more affordable to buy your first home and to renovate
your home.
The
Home Renovation Tax Credit will allow homeowners to claim up to $4,000 in home
renovation expenses every year, to a maximum benefit of $420 annually.
Seniors
will be able to claim an additional $1,000 every year, for a maximum benefit of
$525 annually.
The
Saskatchewan First-Time Homebuyers Credit will be increased by 50 per cent,
from $10,000 to $15,000.
For
seniors who reside in a personal care home, the Personal Care Home Benefit will
be increased by $1,000 a month.
My
government will improve affordability for persons with disabilities.
In
2008, my government created the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disabilities
(SAID) program in response to requests from the disability community.
The
annual amount that an individual, couple or family can earn from employment
without having their SAID benefit reduced will be increased by $1,000.
My
government will increase tax credits for persons with disabilities and
caregivers.
The
Disability Tax Credit will be increased by 25 per cent.
The
Disability Tax Credit supplement for children under 18 will also be increased
by 25 per cent.
The
Caregiver Tax Credit, which provides financial support to families who care for
adult children or parents with a physical or mental impairment, will also be
raised by 25 per cent.
Bill
1 of this new Legislature will be The Saskatchewan Affordability Act —
legislation to enact my government’s campaign commitments to reduce taxes and
make life more affordable for everyone in Saskatchewan.
A
STRONG ECONOMY AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES
My
government will help keep our economy strong and build vibrant communities.
My
government will ensure Saskatchewan is one of the best places in Canada to grow
a small business by keeping the small business tax rate at one per cent.
To
help support Saskatchewan’s next generation of entrepreneurs, my government
will create a young entrepreneur bursary.
The
Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce will be provided with funding to work with
local Chambers of Commerce to award a $5,000 bursary to a promising young
entrepreneur in their community.
To
support the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises in Saskatchewan, my
government will develop a new investment tax incentive based on a proposal from
the Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce.
To
ensure more young people continue to work, live and raise a family in
Saskatchewan after they graduate, my government will increase the Graduate
Retention Program benefit by 20 per cent.
The
maximum benefit for a student with a four-year undergraduate degree will
increase from $20,000 to $24,000.
The
benefit for graduates of one, two and three-year post- secondary programs will
also increase by 20 per cent.
My
government will introduce a $5,000 Class 1 Driver Training rebate to help
offset the cost of truck driver training.
My
government is committed to growing vibrant communities through revenue sharing
and additional support to keep our communities vibrant.
Municipal
revenue sharing increased to over $340 million this year.
This
funding allows local governments to invest in local priorities.
To
provide communities with additional assistance, my government will double the Community
Rink Affordability Grant from $2,500 to $5,000 per ice surface.
My
government will also make it more affordable for school community councils and
parents to construct or refurbish school playground equipment through a new
School Playground Equipment Fund.
SAFER
COMMUNITIES
My
government will make our communities safer by continuing our effort to add 500
more police officers and 500 more addictions recovery spaces.
My
government will also strengthen legislation to keep our communities and
neighbourhoods safer.
Amendments
to The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act will provide officers
with additional authority to shut down nuisance properties.
Further
legislative and regulatory changes will address disruptive behaviour on public
property.
Much
of today’s crime in our communities is being driven by drug addiction.
That
is why my government is creating 500 recovery spaces to help individuals access
treatment and leave a life of addiction.
More
police officers, more access to recovery spaces, more mental health supports
and stronger laws — that’s my government’s plan for safer communities and
neighbourhoods.
A
MORE RESPECTFUL ASSEMBLY
This
Assembly should always be a place of vigorous debate and even strong
disagreement.
But
that debate and disagreement should always be driven by what is best for those
we serve — the people of Saskatchewan.
It
should never be driven by malice toward those on the other side or any
individual who may serve here or anywhere in the province.
Look
at the way this Assembly is configured.
When
Members look forward, they do not see the faces of the Members on their own
side.
They
see only the faces of those on the other side.
I
urge all Members to look at those faces and know that they love this province
and want what is best for the people of our province, just as you do.
My
government will strive to improve the decorum and tone of this Assembly, to
disagree without being disagreeable, and to remember that every Member shares
the same desire to make Saskatchewan a better place.
CONCLUSION
This
first day of the Thirtieth Legislature marks a new beginning for this Assembly
and for my government.
Saskatchewan
people voted for a strong economy and a bright future, and they voted for a
government that will change with a changing province.
My
government has heard both messages, and my government will deliver on both
messages.
It’s
time to get to work.
I
leave you now to your deliberations, confident that all Members of this
Assembly will provide the best possible representation for the people who
elected you and for our great province.
God
bless Canada.
God
save the King.
Speaker
Goudy: — I invite Elder Larry Oakes to come
forward.
Larry
Oakes: — Good afternoon, people of Saskatchewan,
leadership. I’ve been given tobacco to say a prayer for the well-being of
everybody. I’m going to pray for your health, your prosperous future, and your
family, friends, your co-workers.
I’ll be speaking in Cree. And I’ve seen
some Cree-speaking audience members here, including the Lieutenant Governor.
And I’ll ask for yourself to help out in your heart and your mind — with your
spiritual teachings — that we get to enjoy, continue to enjoy what the
beautiful province of Saskatchewan provides for us, and also our children and
grandchildren, great-grandchildren get to enjoy the same experience that we
have been so fortunate to have lived in this wonderful, beautiful province. I’m
going to say something in Cree to the Cree speakers.
[Elder Oakes spoke for a time in Cree.]
I’m going to be praying to the spirit of
the buffalo for the prosperity of the people, that we get from the land.
[Elder Oakes spoke for a time in Cree.]
Thank you.
[14:30]
Speaker
Goudy: — Thank you, Elder Oakes.
[At 14:31 His Honour retired from the
Chamber.]
Speaker
Goudy: — Now I’ll begin with the traditional
Assembly prayer:
Present us, O Lord,
in all our doings with thy most gracious favour and further us with thy
continued help, that in all our works, begun, continued, and ended in thee, we
may glorify thy holy name, and finally by thy mercy attain everlasting life.
Amen.
You are all welcome here. Thank you for
coming today. Please be seated.
TABLING THE RETURN TO THE WRIT
Speaker
Goudy: — I wish to inform the Assembly that
the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly has received from the Chief Electoral
Officer a letter certifying the names of members who have been duly elected to
the thirtieth Legislative Assembly, which I now lay upon the Table.
I recognize
the Premier.
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
Pro Forma Bill
Hon. Scott Moe: — Thank you, Mr.
Speaker. I move that a bill respecting the administration of oaths of office be
now introduced and read a first time.
Speaker
Goudy: — It’s been moved by the Hon. Premier
that the said bill be now introduced and read for the first time. Is it the
pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?
Some
Hon. Members: — Agreed.
Speaker
Goudy: — Carried.
Clerk:
— First reading of this Bill.
TABLING THE SPEECH FROM THE THRONE
Speaker
Goudy: — I wish to inform the Assembly that
in order to prevent mistakes, I have obtained a copy of the speech of His
Honour the Lieutenant Governor which I now lay on the Table.
I recognize
the Premier.
MOTIONS
Consideration of Speech from the Throne
Hon. Scott Moe: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move:
That the speech of His Honour the Lieutenant Governor be taken into
consideration on Tuesday, November the 26th, 2024.
Speaker Goudy: — It’s been moved by the Premier:
That the speech of His Honour the Lieutenant Governor be taken into
consideration on Tuesday, November 26th, 2024.
Is it the
pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?
Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.
Speaker Goudy: — Carried.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Introduction of Pages
Speaker Goudy: — I wish to inform the Assembly that the
Pages for this session will be Tahera Hussain, Kaleela Sangwais-Thomson,
Chidinma Anosike, Diff Zaumu, Usama Chowdhury, and Moise Mujanama.
Introduction of Table Officer
Speaker
Goudy: — I would like to introduce Danielle
Humble-Selinger as the newest Table Officer. For the last two sessions she has
been at the Clerks’ Table participating in the career development program.
Danielle has had the opportunity to learn skills that will serve her well in
her new Table Officer role. Please join me in formally recognizing Danielle as
our newest Clerk at the Table.
I recognize the Premier.
Hon. Scott Moe: — Thank you, Mr.
Speaker. I would move that this House now adjourn.
Speaker
Goudy: — Before putting the question on the
adjournment motion, I have a few announcements to make. I’d like to thank all
the guests and members of the public for joining us here today. I want to thank
the members of the judiciary and the Court of Appeal, the Court of King’s
Bench, and the Provincial Court for your attendance here today.
I would like to welcome the F.W. Johnson
Collegiate choir. They are seated in the west gallery, and I will be calling on
them to sing for us in a few minutes. Looking forward to that.
Thank you to Elder Oakes as well for
taking part in today’s ceremony. Thank you to Miles Newman for his Vice-Regal
Salute this afternoon. And I would like to thank the members of the various
Saskatchewan-based regular and reserve force units for providing us with the
guard of honour earlier this afternoon.
I would like to invite everyone to join
Their Honours, the Premier, the Leader of the Opposition, and the members of
the Legislative Assembly at the Speaker’s tea, which will take place
immediately following the Chamber ceremony. The tea will be in two locations:
room 218 in the west wing and the library room in the east wing.
So it has been moved by the Premier that
this House do now adjourn. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the
motion?
Some
Hon. Members: — Agreed.
Speaker
Goudy: — Carried. I would now like to welcome
the F.W. Johnson Collegiate choir under the direction of Brendan Dickie, and
they will sing two songs for us. Ladies and gentlemen, the F.W. Johnson
Collegiate choir.
[The choir sang.]
Speaker
Goudy: — On behalf of everyone present, I
would thank you for your performance today for us.
One final direction. I ask that the
members and guests observe the following order when departing from the Chamber:
Speaker’s party; Premier and Provincial Secretary; Leader of the Opposition;
judges of the Court of Appeal, King’s Bench, and Provincial Court; members of
the cabinet and their spouses; and guests.
And if I might say, one person that
isn’t present is my mom. And you know, I don’t know if you get to say that, but
you have the microphone. And she’s not here, but hopefully she’s watching. Hi,
Mom.
So this House stands adjourned until
tomorrow, Tuesday, November 26th at 1:30 p.m. Thank you, all.
[The Assembly adjourned at 14:45.]
Published
under the authority of the Hon. Todd Goudy, Speaker
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