Speaker Goudy: — I’d like to table a report from the Provincial Auditor of Saskatchewan pursuant to section 14.1 of The Provincial Auditor Act. The Provincial Auditor has submitted her business and financial plan for the year ended March 31st, 2026.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS

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

Aleana Young: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I request leave for an extended introduction.

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Aleana Young: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you and to all members, it’s my pleasure to rise today on behalf of the official opposition and just recognize a few guests here in the Chamber, former members of this fine Assembly.

First of all I’d like to recognize Mr. Fred Bradshaw, former member for Carrot River Valley. Someone has to tell this man that he’s retired. I think this is the second time I’ve seen him in the building in the past week alone. But always a real pleasure to have worked with you, Fred. And nice to see you back in the building.

I didn’t have the opportunity to get to know Mr. Bradshaw particularly well over the past four years, but I did have the misfortune of seeing his son, Morgan Bradshaw, at the finish line of the Queen City Marathon. I think every single year that the member for Douglas Park and I ran that race Morgan always outpaced us by about an hour or so and always looked fresh as a daisy at the finish line, which was incredibly frustrating. So, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask all members to join me in welcoming back Mr. Fred Bradshaw, former member for Carrot River Valley to his Assembly.

While I’m on my feet, Mr. Speaker, I’d also like to welcome the former member for Arm River-Watrous, former Government House Leader Mr. Greg Brkich, who I never had the pleasure of serving with. But I know the legends, the apocrypha, the tales of Mr. Greg Brkich still roam these hallways throughout the day and throughout tales certainly shared with me by our current House Leader and former House Leader, the former member for Regina Elphinstone-Centre, Mr. Warren McCall. I never had the pleasure of serving with the member, but always a treat to see you here in the Assembly and outside of it. So again, Mr. Speaker, I ask all members to join me in welcoming back Mr. Greg Brkich.

Last but certainly not least, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize a former Speaker of this Assembly, former member for Kindersley, Mr. Randy Weekes, who’s also here in the Assembly today. Also somebody needs to remind this gentleman that he too has retired. It is always lovely to see you back in the building, Randy.

Randy was obviously first elected in ’99. He’s a proud grandpa to five granddaughters and a father of three. While Randy has certainly been a champion of democracy in and outside of this Chamber — and the tales we could tell about Randy Weekes would fill a few pages of Hansard, to say the least — I would like to just share one personal anecdote with your indulgence, Mr. Speaker, for new members in this Assembly.

You know, when you’re first elected you don’t know kind of who’s who in the zoo — who’s friendly, who’s not, members on both sides. And I was very new to this Assembly and Randy was in the Speaker’s Chair, and I’d just had a baby. And he came up to me and he said, “Whatever you need, don’t worry. I may be on the other side, but all of us are nice. A lot of us are grandparents.”

And for me on my second day in the Assembly, that really meant a lot to me, and I think really illustrated for me part of what you’ve talked about, Mr. Speaker, that we’re all people beyond the roles that we hold here in this Assembly. And Randy really meant a lot to me. So thank you for that.

With that, Mr. Speaker, finally I’d like to ask all members to join me one last time in welcoming back Mr. Randy Weekes to this, his legislature.

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

Terri Bromm: — Mr. Speaker, I would ask for leave for an extended introduction.

Speaker Goudy: — Request has been . . .

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Agreed. We hardly need to even communicate in this place . . . [inaudible].

Terri Bromm: — I too would also, Mr. Speaker, to you and through you all members, like also to welcome Mr. Fred Bradshaw to this Legislative Assembly. He has sat 17 years down here on the floor, serving formerly as the minister of Highways and minister responsible for the Water Security Agency, and also Deputy Speaker. It is nice to have you back with us in the building here today, Fred.

I would also like to welcome, please, in the gallery the reeve Ian Allan from the RM [rural municipality] of Tisdale, and also with him Chris Hudyma, the economic development officer for the Invest Tisdale board. Invest Tisdale is a joint board with the rural municipality of Tisdale and the town of Tisdale looking to attract investment within the region. I would ask all members to join in welcoming these gentlemen and Fred here with us today.

PRESENTING PETITIONS

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

Brent Blakley: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today here to present this petition calling for adequate and equitable SAID [Saskatchewan assured income for disability] rates. Those, the undersigned, wish to bring to your attention the following: that the Saskatchewan assured income disability program is a program for people with significant, enduring disabilities who have barriers to employment; that poverty has deepened because the SAID program has not seen an increase in the basic amount in over seven years and does not account for regional realities of the cost of living; that the provincial government has made cuts to many additional benefits formerly available under the program, such as to the special diet benefits and rental supports; that Saskatchewan people are struggling to make ends meet under historical inflationary pressures.

The folks in here . . . and the prayer reads as follows, Mr. Speaker:

Respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan to increase SAID rates to account for inflation, respect the constitutional rights of persons with disability in Saskatchewan by halting discriminatory practices and aligning policies with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, index the SAID basic amount to inflation going forward, and provide targeted relief to those in deep poverty, such as single individuals paying market rent.

The signees of this petition, Mr. Speaker, reside in Regina and Prince Albert. I do so submit.

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

April ChiefCalf: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a privilege to rise today in the legislature to present this petition calling upon the Government of Saskatchewan to open up vacant Sask Housing units for occupancy. Mr. Speaker, there are approximately 3,000 Sask Housing units vacant across Saskatchewan. Many of these unoccupied units are in need of repair, but the Sask Party government has cut the maintenance and renovation budget by 40 per cent over the last decade.

Mr. Speaker, thousands of people are unhoused throughout the province of Saskatchewan, the vast majority of whom are Indigenous. Mr. Speaker, this situation is the legacy of colonialism. Homelessness has tremendous costs, Mr. Speaker. There are financial costs, but more importantly, Mr. Speaker, there are human costs.

And with that, I will read the prayer:

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request that the Legislative Assembly call upon the Government of Saskatchewan to renovate Sask Housing units that require renovation, make units available and affordable, and ensure that all currently vacant Sask Housing units are occupied.

Mr. Speaker, the signatories to this petition reside in Regina. I do so present.

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

Jared Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I arise today to present a petition calling for the Government of Saskatchewan to protect the Duncairn Reservoir Migratory Bird Sanctuary from expansion of irrigation.

The undersigned residents would like to bring to our attention the following: that water is a valuable resource to be used for the benefit of all people in the province; that the Swift Current Creek Basin has had a moratorium on new water allocations since 1981 due to supply constraints in the Southwest; that Duncairn reservoir was designated a migratory bird sanctuary in 1948 covered by the migratory conservation Act protecting migratory birds, their nests, and management of those areas; that the proposed expansion of irrigation would pose a significant threat to the fish and migratory birds.

Mr. Speaker, we continue to see a loss of wetlands, a loss of native prairie in this province, and it is something that we need to address in this legislature.

I’ll read the prayer:

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to protect the Duncairn Reservoir Migratory Bird Sanctuary from any proposed expansion of irrigation.

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

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

Vicki Mowat: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to present a petition calling on the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan to fix the crisis in health care.

These citizens wish to bring to our attention that there were 951 health care closures across rural Saskatchewan between August 2019 and July 2023, that 407 of those closures were to Saskatchewan emergency rooms. We know that a Saskatchewan emergency room in one of our major cities shut down for the first time due to staff shortages last year, and that Saskatchewan has the longest wait time for knee and hip replacement surgeries in Canada.

This is unacceptable. And it’s unacceptable that women are having to leave the province for routine breast cancer diagnostic care.

Mr. Speaker, we heard loud and clear throughout the campaign that health care is the number one priority for people in this province. It needs to be taken seriously by this government.

I’ll read the prayer:

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request that the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to immediately address the short-staffing crisis in health care and work with health care workers on solutions to improve patient care.

This is signed today by individuals from Prince Albert, Mr. Speaker. I do so present.

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

Brittney Senger: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to present a petition to the Legislative Assembly calling for home supports for older adults in Saskatchewan.

The folks who signed this petition join the thousands that we met with on the doorsteps in this most recent election who know that we need to do more for older adults. Evidence shows that older adults in Saskatchewan want to age in their own homes and communities. The factors that drive older adults from their homes often go beyond health care needs. A provincially subsidized home support program could help older adults with practical needs and comes at a significantly lower cost than providing institutionalized care. When older adults have autonomy over their own lives and decisions, they experience better health and quality of life.

And with that, I’ll read the prayer:

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request that the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to work with older adults, stakeholders, and municipalities to design a home supports program that will allow seniors to age with dignity and autonomy in their homes and communities.

The people who signed this petition reside in Saskatoon. I do so present.

[13:45]

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

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

Thanking Health Professionals during National Addictions Awareness Week

Betty Nippi-Albright: — Miigwech, Mr. Speaker. This year, November 24th to the 30th, is National Addictions Awareness Week. It is a time for communities and people across the country and in Saskatchewan to have an opportunity to learn more about addressing the harms related to the use of alcohol and other drugs. It is also an opportunity to discuss solutions for change and celebrate those recovery milestones.

Mr. Speaker, many of us are taught and encouraged to live a healthy life and have balance in the four dimensions of ourselves: mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual. It is believed substance abuse and addiction negatively impacts those four dimensions of self. Substance addiction not only destroys the individual’s life, it also impacts families and friends.

Mr. Speaker, there are many dedicated professionals working in the substance use health field. The official opposition would like to thank those professionals for their commitment and compassion working in an extremely challenging field. While working in the substance use health field and addressing its challenges can result in different experiences, ideas, and opinions, it is important to continue to collaborate and work together to find effective solutions and actions to address these challenges.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all members to join me in acknowledging NAAW Week [National Addictions Awareness Week] and join me in thanking the communities and those who work in the substance use health field for the valuable work they continue to do for our citizens in this province. Miigwech.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Batoche.

Provincial Government Action Plan for Mental Health and Addictions

Darlene Rowden: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of Saskatchewan recognizes November 24th to the 30th as National Addictions Awareness Week. This week highlights our government’s commitment to addressing the harm caused by addictions as well as providing treatment and recovery options for those who are struggling with addictions.

That is why we put forward a new action plan for mental health and addictions last fall. Since the plan was announced, we have surpassed our original goal of opening 200 more spaces by announcing 215 new addiction treatment spaces across the province so far. Some examples of these new spaces include 15 withdrawal management spaces at Onion Lake, 15 in-patient treatment spaces at Muskwa Lake, 14 in-patient treatment spaces through Poundmaker’s Lodge in North Battleford, 32 intensive out-patient treatment spaces through Possibilities Recovery Center in Saskatoon, 60 treatment spaces through Willowview Recovery in Lumsden.

Under the action plan we are also improving access to medications that can help people overcome opioid addictions by alleviating cravings and managing withdrawal symptoms.

Our vision is to invest in a full continuum of mental health and addictions services across the province to help ensure every Saskatchewan resident can receive the help they need. Thank you.

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

World Children’s Day a Reminder to Promote Children’s Rights

Joan Pratchler: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This past week on November 20th was World Children’s Day. It’s a day to promote children’s rights and a reminder to everyone worldwide to enter into dialogues and take action to build a better world for children.

On World Children’s Day we celebrate the youngest members of our human family. But today is also a moment to recognize the enormous challenges children face in our deeply divided, tumultuous, and often violent world. Children’s rights are human rights. They are non-negotiable and universal. But in too many places, today’s children’s rights are being misunderstood, disregarded, or even denied and attacked.

By listening to children we can fulfill their right to self-expression, understand their ideas for a better world, and include their priorities in our actions today. Let us not forget that each one of us was once a child, and to honour children is to honour what makes us human.

Perhaps we can take a moment right now and think of our precious children and our own circle of family who need to be honoured and hugged a little tighter when we see them next. And may we take that commitment and extend it to every child in this province in our thoughts and actions and all that we do. Thank you.

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

New School Completed in Carrot River

Terri Bromm: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our government, along with the North East School Division, is proud to announce that the new Carrot River kindergarten to grade 12 school project has been completed. This new school combined the two pre-existing schools, Carrot River Elementary and Carrot River High School. This concludes a two-year-long $26.9 million project, which saw an investment of $24.4 million from the government with an additional 2.5 million being invested by the school division and the community.

This new school is 4400 square metres and has the capacity to accommodate 350 students. The school also includes an expanded and robust practical and applied arts area. This new school project provides exciting opportunities for new students to develop themselves to get ready for their careers after school, work on their family farm, or move on to post-secondary education. This project is not just about building classrooms; we are building the foundations for lifelong learning.

Since 2008 the Government of Saskatchewan has invested 2.6 billion toward school infrastructure projects and built 69 new schools and completed 32 major renovation projects. On behalf of the Carrot River Valley constituency, thank you to the North East School Division, the community of Carrot River, and the Ministry of Education for their work in getting this project done. Thank you.

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

Nature Saskatchewan Celebrates 75th Anniversary

Jared Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my honour to rise today to congratulate Nature Saskatchewan on their 75th anniversary this year. On September 17th, 2024, I had the pleasure of attending the Fall Meet 75th banquet celebration here in Regina. Nature Sask was formed in 1949 in Yorkton by Isabel Priestly. Priestly started the society’s quarterly publication, the Blue Jay, which continues to be printed to this day.

Over the last four decades, Nature Sask has taken on an important role in monitoring the populations of many endangered species through their Stewards of Saskatchewan program, such as burrowing owls, piping plovers, and loggerhead shrikes. They work closely with hundreds of Saskatchewan landowners to share best practices to help producers maximize their operations in a way that is beneficial for these important species.

Despite these efforts, species like the burrowing owl continue to disappear from Saskatchewan. In 1988, Operation Burrowing Owl participants reported close to 700 pairs of owls across the province, but that number has plummeted to only eight pairs reported in 2021. Clearly more needs to be done in conserving endangered species in our province.

Nature Sask also manages the Last Mountain Bird Observatory, Saskatchewan’s longest running migration monitoring station. I ask all members of this Legislative Assembly to congratulate Nature Saskatchewan on their 75th anniversary and on their continued advocacy as a voice for nature. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Movember Classic Supports Cancer Research and Mental Health

Barret Kropf: — Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, November 21st, BHP Jansen hosted their sixth annual Movember Classic at the LeRoy Community Centre, a charity hockey game between the contractors and BHP staff to raise funds for the Movember movement, supporting cancer research and mental health initiatives for men around the world. It was an honour for myself and fellow member from Kelvington-Wadena to lace up the skates and battle for Movember supremacy. Despite the goal-scoring prowess of my colleague in the game, we lost to a team stacked with former professional players.

Mr. Speaker, one of the leaders from BHP Jansen project and organizer of the event, Maury Simoneau, has raised over $15,000 himself this year, and his team has tipped the scales at over $85,000 so far this month. In total they have raised over $350,000 in the last six years for this fantastic cause.

Former Edmonton Oiler Eric Gryba spent some time prior to the game conducting a youth skills clinic for local athletes in LeRoy and helped them create an atmosphere that sees BHP continue to give back and support the community at grassroots level.

Mr. Speaker, next year we hope to recruit a few more ringers for our own team to be able to report back a victory on the scoreboard in the November ’25 Classic. But in reality we’re all winners because of great community events like this in Saskatchewan.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Kindersley-Biggar.

Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan Builds a Strong Economy and Quality of Life

Kim Gartner: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Saskatchewan’s 2030 growth plan continues to be our province’s road map to building a strong economy and a better quality of life for Saskatchewan people. In 2023 the value of our exports reached 49.5 billion, surpassing our 2030 goal of 46 billion for the second straight year. Saskatchewan’s agri-food exports reached 20.2 billion, surpassing our 2030 goal of 20 billion. Potash sales reached a record 11.5 billion in 2023, also surpassing our 2030 goal of 9 billion.

Outside of our export sector, Saskatchewan is well below the national rate of inflation and currently boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Saskatchewan’s real GDP [growth domestic product] growth reached an all-time high of 77.9 billion in 2023, which is an increase of 2.6 per cent, the second-highest growth in the nation.

Along with our incredible economic growth, we’re also seeing there are more people choosing to live in our province with a record population of 1.25 million, well on track to reach our 2030 population goal of 1.4 million people.

Mr. Speaker, these numbers tell a story that people are seeing Saskatchewan as a land of growth and opportunity. More people are choosing to live, work, and start their families in Saskatchewan than ever before. Thank you.

QUESTION PERIOD

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

Cost of Living and Affordability Measures

Vicki Mowat: — Mr. Speaker, this tired and out-of-touch government talks about change but they’re still same old, same old. Back in the spring they used their majority to vote down our motion for fuel tax relief, and yesterday they blocked it once again. People need relief right now. They can’t wait for tax time in the spring.

Why is the Sask Party government blocking cost-of-living relief for Saskatchewan families?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Jim Reiter: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth. We just spent a month in October on a campaign where we campaigned on affordability issues. What kind of a party would we be, what kind of a government would we be if we didn’t live up to the commitment? That’s what the people voted for. That’s what we’re going to deliver.

In fact, Mr. Speaker, just a few minutes ago I gave notice of the bill that’s going to enact most of these affordability relief measures. Mr. Speaker, it’s going to be the largest personal income tax reduction since 2008. It’ll save a family of four $3,400 and a senior couple $3,100 over four years.

We’re going to increase the low-income tax credit by 20 per cent. We’ve already removed carbon tax on home heating, Mr. Speaker. That’s going to be extended. We’re doubling the active families benefit, created a home renovation tax credit. The list goes on. Affordability measures are very important to this government because they’re very important to the citizens of this province. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Vicki Mowat: — Well let’s get this straight, Mr. Speaker. They blocked our motion yesterday. If they hadn’t, people across this province could be saving 15 cents per litre today, and the Sask Party government wouldn’t have blocked that motion, Mr. Speaker. Their choices are making life more expensive.

In Prince Albert, the food bank is beyond capacity because of the soaring demand of people needing support. It’s crystal clear to everyone that families need help with the cost of living. Clear to everyone, Mr. Speaker, except for this tired and out-of-touch Sask Party government.

Why is the Premier forcing families to wait until spring before they get some relief?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Jim Reiter: — Mr. Speaker, as I said, we campaigned on the affordability measures. I just listed some of them. Many of them are in the bill that I gave notice of today. The opposition campaigned on a short-term, temporary reduction in gas tax, Mr. Speaker. The voters have spoken. We campaigned on that platform. We’re going to honour that platform.

Mr. Speaker, if the members are actually concerned about affordability measures — and the people of Saskatchewan have spoken — are they going to block the bill that I gave notice to today? Or we could pass it today if they would support it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

[14:00]

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

Epilepsy Drug and the Provincial Drug Formulary

Vicki Mowat: — Mr. Speaker, we’re joined today by Dr. Alexandra Carter, a neurologist and epileptologist, along with Kim Ebert and her son Cody Holgate. They are here because this tired and out-of-touch Sask Party government halted negotiations to publicly fund a life-saving anti-seizure medication, Xcopri. Mr. Speaker, one-third of epilepsy patients have a drug-resistant form of epilepsy. Xcopri is said to fill those gaps and provide relief for thousands in Saskatchewan alone.

Why did Saskatchewan halt negotiations on this life-changing and life-saving medication?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Scott Moe: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I would first welcome Alexandra, Kim, and Cody to their Legislative Assembly here today. Saskatchewan is not halting negotiations in any way. In this province we have a formulary and the Saskatchewan drug plan which has some of the most comprehensive, if not the most comprehensive coverage in the nation of Canada.

The process that a drug will find its way through to approval and ultimately to our provincial formulary and drug plan, Mr. Speaker, is to be approved by the Canada drug agency. Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that has happened. And then the provinces will come together at the stage of the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance. It is at this stage I understand that there are some breakdown in the negotiations.

What I have asked our provincial Minister of Health to do and the Ministry of Health to do, Mr. Speaker, is to reach out to his colleagues across the nation to see if there’s any way to restart, to reinvigorate those discussions immediately. And if not, is there a way for Saskatchewan to re-engage, Mr. Speaker, to make this all-so-important drug available to Saskatchewan families and Saskatchewan people that require it?

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

Vicki Mowat: — Let’s be clear, Mr. Speaker. Saskatchewan has walked away from the negotiating table. Patients that live with uncontrolled seizures live with the unknown every single day. This disease impacts all areas of their life — from work, to education, to social relationships, to mental health — and there is a medication that can change the lives of thousands of people in this province. Yet this government has pulled out of negotiations that would see this medication publicly funded.

Will the minister take leadership? Will he work with other provincial leaders and get back to the negotiating table?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the member opposite for the question. I too would like to welcome Dr. Carter and Kim and Cody to their legislature as they advocate on behalf of Cody and certainly many people living with epilepsy here in Saskatchewan.

As the Premier mentioned in his first answer, unfortunately negotiations did break down between all provinces and the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance last month. As the Premier said in his last answer, he’s directed me and I’ve directed the Ministry of Health to work directly with other provinces to try and reopen those negotiations with the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance. If those don’t open, we’ll try and work directly with the drug provider, again to make this drug available to people like Cody and many others who need it here in Saskatchewan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Vicki Mowat: — Mr. Speaker, people are waiting for access to this treatment, having seizures that have so many consequences in their life, while they’re waiting for this government to take action. The Canadian Drug Agency, which Saskatchewan funds, recommended that Xcopri be publicly funded. It was approved by Health Canada in 2023. The cost is aligned with other similarly publicly funded medication, and we know that having access to this medication will improve the lives of thousands of patients in Saskatchewan.

Now Saskatchewan has led in health care before. Will the minister commit to taking on that leadership in health care again?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’ll do exactly that. That’s exactly what I’ve committed to doing. And you know, those of us in this Chamber, many of us have friends or family members that live with epilepsy here in this province, and that’s exactly why we will take that leadership role. Thank you.

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

Vicki Mowat: — Mr. Speaker, what the minister is failing to talk about is why he walked away from the deal in the first place. They should be at that table. They should have come to this agreement. They should have made this drug publicly available for people in the first place. We shouldn’t have to have people coming to the legislature to make this happen here today.

Mr. Speaker, people should be able to have access to health care when and where they need it, and for many epilepsy patients in Saskatchewan, Xcopri is the right drug to treat their condition.

Dr. Carter and this family have come here today to have their voices heard. What does the Minister of Health have to say to these families who have to go without treatment they need because this government walked away from the negotiating table?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Mr. Speaker, the wording of the question from the member opposite shows . . . I’m not sure that she has an understanding of how the process of a drug is added to the Saskatchewan formulary, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in this province we have one of the most comprehensive drug plans in all of the country. We have . . . The member from Saskatoon Fairview, I’d appreciate the opportunity to finish my answer to this question, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as I said, we invest close to $400 million a year into our Saskatchewan drug plan. This is because there is a process that we follow. This is because we work with people, with families that come forward, with members of the opposition, with people in this province, health care providers that bring forward opportunities to add new drugs to the formulary, Mr. Speaker.

There is a process. As I have committed in my previous answers, and I’m doing again right now, Mr. Speaker, we’re going to work to make sure that Xcopri can be available to Saskatchewan residents who need it. Thank you.

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

Jared Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the families with us today are my constituents, Cody and Kim. Cody has had an uncontrollable seizure disorder his whole life. In 2021 he started having drop seizures, which would happen unexpectedly, and he would fall forward or backwards, stiff and unconscious, up to five or six times a week.

Before Xcopri was approved in Canada, he and his family travelled to New York once a month for nine months, paying out of pocket just to access this medication. What does the minister say to patients and families like Cody’s who deserve publicly funded access to this medication? And will he agree to meet with Cody, Kim, and Dr. Carter today?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said previously, you know, many members in this Assembly are close personal friends or family members of those who live with epilepsy here in our province, Mr. Speaker. We understand the incredible family sacrifices that are made to support family members living with this condition.

Mr. Speaker, I’d be happy to meet with Kim and Cody and Dr. Carter. I also have an official from the Ministry of Health here in the building actually who is our representative on the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance and who can provide more of a comprehensive update on exactly where we’re at with Xcopri. As I’ve committed to, Mr. Speaker, and I assure the member from Regina Walsh Acres, I’m going to be working hard with the Ministry of Health officials to make sure, again, that we can make Xcopri available to people like Cody and those in the province who need it. Thank you.

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

Jared Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Cody would suffer multiple concussions per week, cuts, bumps, and bruises from these uncontrollable drop seizures. His mom explains that his brain couldn’t sustain any more trauma. That was until they travelled to New York and were able to access Xcopri, a drug that they believe saved his life, and could save many others. When can the family expect to have access to Xcopri?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to sitting down with Cody and Kim and Dr. Carter later today to talk exactly about how we enter into that process. Thank you.

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

Health Care Staffing and Urgent Care Centre

Meara Conway: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This Sask Party government is failing on health care across the board. We see that at the urgent care centre here in Regina in my own constituency. It’s a beautiful building, no doubt, Mr. Speaker, but it still isn’t operating 24‑7 as promised. Why isn’t the urgent care centre open 24‑7 like the Sask Party government promised it would be?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the member opposite mentioned, we did open up an urgent care centre here in Regina on Albert Street earlier this summer. It has seen already over 15,000 patients in the city, helping to ease the pressure on our emergency rooms in both Pasqua Hospital and the General Hospital, Mr. Speaker.

The anecdotal stories that I myself have heard and many colleagues have heard about the service that they’ve received at the urgent care centre, Mr. Speaker, that’s exactly what we need in this province. That’s why we announced on Monday in our Throne Speech that we’ll be rolling out this model to more communities in our province, including again a project that we have under way in Saskatoon and North Battleford and Prince Albert and Moose Jaw as well, Mr. Speaker.

We continue with Canada’s most ambitious health human resources action plan to aggressively recruit health care professionals to this province so they can staff facilities like the Regina Urgent Care Centre, so that we can provide more care to those people who need it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Meara Conway: — Mr. Speaker, let’s review the record of what the Sask Party government has actually said about the urgent care centre. A government news release from April 9th, 2024: “Open 24 hours, seven days a week.” And quote: “An opening date is expected this summer [that’s last summer] once staff are in place and training has been completed.” Then on June 27th, 2024, another news release: “As part of a phased approach, the centre will be accepting patients seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. with plans to expand opening hours later this year.”

Well, Mr. Speaker, it’s the end of November. It’s later this year, and now they’re walking back that initial commitment to have it open around the clock at all. How is this anything but another broken promise from that Sask Party government?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Mr. Speaker, in my last answer, I used that opportunity to speak to some of the success that we’re seeing from the Regina Urgent Care Centre right here in this community, and the positive impact that that has for patients and families and health care facilities all across the city, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, this Regina Urgent Care Centre is funded to be 24‑7. As we ramp up recruitment and staffing, we’re going to get closer to that 24‑7 availability for patients in this city, Mr. Speaker. We have the urgent care centre open 16 hours a day right now, again seeing over 100 patients a day, ensuring that more people in this province have timely access to the level of care that they need for them and their families.

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

Meara Conway: — Like so much about that Sask Party government, this urgent care centre is not as advertised, Mr. Speaker, and it’s because of chronic short-staffing across our health care system, not only here in Regina but across the province.

Now in the Throne Speech, the Sask Party government is announcing new centres will be built. And while that’s all fine and good, Mr. Speaker, buildings do not provide health care. People do. And right now in Saskatchewan, we have the worst record in Canada for . . . [inaudible] . . . to retain our people in health care. Where is the plan to start respecting our health care workers, stop the exodus of people leaving the system, and finally end the short-staffing crisis in health care?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we talked about in the Throne Speech on Monday, we absolutely know that timely and appropriate access to care is important to all of us in this province. Whether you live in a rural community or an urban community, whether you’re in the North or in the South, we know that access to health care is important. That’s exactly what we’re focused on, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the members opposite, they talk about challenges that we have, and yes, there are challenges. There are. More work to be done. But, Mr. Speaker, this government, we actually have a plan. We’re executing on that plan, Canada’s most ambitious health human resources action plan.

Mr. Speaker, over 350 positions in the last year and a half have been filled through our rural and remote recruitment incentive. Another 250 full-time positions have been filled by converting casual or part-time positions to full-time positions, especially in our rural health care centres around the province, Mr. Speaker.

It’s this plan, it’s this government’s work that’s making sure that all of us in this province have better access to health care.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Athabasca.

Food Prices in the North and Affordability Measures

Leroy Laliberte: — Mr. Speaker, northern people don’t have access to health care when they need it, and they don’t have access to healthy food either. In the North, food has to travel a long way from the South before it gets to the stores in our communities. And with the high price of fuel, those costs get passed on to our people.

What does the Sask Party government say to the people in northern Saskatchewan who are paying high prices for basic groceries?

[14:15]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Jim Reiter: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier in question period I went through a list of affordability measures that were part of the election campaign, which citizens of the province voted for. I recognize the concerns of the members opposite. Certainly high prices are a concern for many people in this province.

Mr. Speaker, he mentioned trucking costs, transportation. Certainly carbon tax is a big part of that issue. On home heating fuel, our government’s already eliminated that. But carbon tax is an issue. It’s an inflationary pressure, Mr. Speaker, that frankly if the federal government would remove would help everyone in the province, North, South alike. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Athabasca.

Leroy Laliberte: — Mr. Speaker, the prices northern people are expected to pay for basic groceries just wouldn’t be acceptable for people in the South: $20 for grapes, $18 for milk. It’s impossible for families to put healthy meals on the table for their kids. It shouldn’t have to be this way with a rich province like Saskatchewan. The Sask Party government could have supported our motion to cut the fuel tax and lower costs, but they chose not to.

What does the minister say to the people in my constituency who are paying such high prices for food?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Jim Reiter: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, elimination of the carbon tax would certainly help everyone in this province, in this country with inflationary pressures. Earlier I had talked about a bill that I served notice of. It’s the platform that we ran on, Mr. Speaker, making affordability measures for people across the province.

I’ve talked about the home renovation tax credit, about income tax so people can keep more of their own money in their pockets to begin with, Mr. Speaker, the low-income tax credit for people on lower income to help them. There’s a number of measures. They’re wide across the spectrum. They’re going to help most citizens of the province, Mr. Speaker.

We recognize the pressures that affordability is causing, Mr. Speaker. We’re moving to address them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Athabasca.

Leroy Laliberte: — Mr. Speaker, the cost-of-living crisis in Saskatchewan isn’t just impacting family budgets. It impacts their health too. Twenty-seven people in La Ronge have been diagnosed with scurvy because they can’t get enough vitamins from healthy food. And I know the cost of food impacts the health of the people in my constituency too. People need help now. People need relief now. Will Sask Party government support an investigation into high food prices in northern Saskatchewan?

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Jim Reiter: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, affordability is a problem across the entire country and outside of Canada as well. There are some things that could be done in Canada. As I mentioned, carbon tax would greatly help to alleviate pressures on food, on all goods and services, Mr. Speaker, because it costs more for trucking; it costs more for manufacturing.

That’s why, Mr. Speaker . . . Again a huge list. I didn’t even get through half of them. Largest personal income tax reduction since 2008. We campaigned on it, Mr. Speaker; we’re going to deliver. We’re going to increase the low-income tax credit by 20 per cent. We campaigned on it; we’re going to deliver.

We’re removing the carbon tax again. We did this earlier, Mr. Speaker. We’re going to extend that on home heating. We campaigned on it; we’re going to deliver. We doubled the active families benefit. We campaigned on it; we’re going to deliver. We’re going to increase the first-time homebuyers tax credit, increase the personal care home benefit by $1,000 a month. Mr. Speaker, the list goes on. We campaigned on those; we’re going to deliver.

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

Emergency Shelter and Cold-Weather Strategy

April ChiefCalf: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, winter is here and with it the extreme cold weather. The government should be implementing a cold-weather strategy. Instead the burden is placed on our already underfunded community-based organizations, like the Prairie Harm Reduction and the Saskatchewan Indian & Métis Friendship Centre in my community of Saskatoon. They open their doors 24 hours a day to keep people safe, seeing hundreds of people a night that would otherwise be cold and alone on the street.

Last week I wrote with my colleagues to the Minister of Social Services, calling for urgent action on this issue. When will we see action from the Sask Party government to open further shelter spaces and provide safe refuge for people facing homelessness?

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

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Cold-weather strategies are led by the cities and the community partners to tailor an approach that best meets the need of that community. The Ministry of Social Services is working closely with the partners to ensure availability of space and other supports. The Ministry of Social Services is working with these community-based organizations and all levels of government to keep people safe year-round with additional support of warming centres and shelters over the cold winter months.

The ministry is in contact with the city of Regina and the city of Saskatoon on an ongoing basis. And we’re working closely with those cities and others to ensure that everyone in need of a shelter has a safe, warm place to stay and access to services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Nicole Sarauer: — Mr. Speaker, the frigid Saskatchewan winter comes every single year. Yet for some reason, every single year we see the Sask Party government scramble to try to put a plan in place. When will we see an actual provincial-based strategy to keep people safe from the cold?

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

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to give an update, tonight there are over 450 emergency shelter spaces available across the province for those in immediate need of shelter. People experiencing homelessness in Regina also have access to warming spaces at Carmichael Outreach and All Nations Hope. In Saskatoon, overnight warming spaces are provided by the Saskatoon Indian & Métis Friendship Centre.

In addition too, we have street teams that are out connecting with the people that are out in the cold and helping them get shelter and have a warm place, safe space, to stay the night while we work on other plans, including the provincial approach to homelessness. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

Speaker Goudy: — Why is the Government House Leader on his feet?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — I request leave to move a motion regarding sessional order, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — The Government House Leader has requested leave to move a motion. Is leave granted?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Leave is granted. The Government House Leader may proceed.

MOTIONS

Sessional Order

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move:

That the Rules and Procedures of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan shall be varied on an interim basis for the fall period of the first session of the thirtieth legislature as follows:

(1) That notwithstanding rule 30(5), rule 30(7) shall apply to both the amendment and the main motion;

(2) That notwithstanding rule 14(3)(b), on Thursday, December 5th, 2024, the order of business shall follow rule 14(3)(a); and

(3) That the time for the daily meeting and adjournment of the sittings of the Assembly on Tuesday, December 10th, 2024, shall be 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. with a recess between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and further

That the provisions of this sessional order shall come into effect immediately upon its adoption.

Speaker Goudy: — It has been moved by the Government House Leader:

That The Rules and Procedures of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan shall be varied on an interim basis for the fall period of the first session of the thirtieth legislature as follows:

(1) That notwithstanding rule 30(5), rule 30(7) shall apply to both the amendment and the main motion;

(2) That notwithstanding rule 14(3)(b), on Thursday, December 5th, 2024, the order of business shall follow rule 14(3)(a);

(3) That the time for the daily meeting and adjournment of the sitting of the Assembly on Tuesday, December 10th, 2024 shall be 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. with a recess between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and further

That the provisions of this sessional order should come into effect immediately upon its adoption.

Is the Assembly ready for the question?

Some Hon. Members: — Question.

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

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Speaker Goudy: — Carried.

SPECIAL ORDER

ADJOURNED DEBATES

ADDRESS IN REPLY

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the address in reply which was moved by Kim Gartner, seconded by the Hon. Eric Schmalz, and the proposed amendment to the main motion moved by Jared Clarke.]

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Moose Jaw Wakamow.

Megan Patterson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to start by acknowledging that we are situated on Treaty 4 territory. And I want to congratulate you on the distinguished election of the position of Speaker. I would also like to congratulate one of my favourites, the member from Lumsden-Morse, on his election to Deputy Speaker. I trust that you will both strive to maintain a respectful, honourable Assembly that we can all be proud to work in.

It is an incredible honour to be standing here this evening to address the Assembly for the first time as the MLA [Member of the Legislative Assembly] for Moose Jaw Wakamow. Moose Jaw Wakamow is a beautiful area of the city to grow up in. The house that I grew up in was built by my grandfather and overlooks the valley. My brother and I would spend countless hours playing and exploring the valley.

I am truly humbled and grateful to be elected by the constituents of Moose Jaw Wakamow to represent them here. I may be a little biased on this, but I think Moose Jaw Wakamow may just be the best riding in the province and I couldn’t be prouder to represent it. It includes the beautiful Wakamow Valley urban park; the Events Centre, home to the Moose Jaw Warriors, champions of the Western Hockey League. It includes the Moose Jaw air forces base; the historic downtown; the Temple Gardens mineral spa; Mac the Moose, the largest moose in the world. It includes the Moose Jaw Centre for Arts & Culture, which includes the historic Mae Wilson Theatre and the museum of art.

And it also includes the kindest, most generous people. It includes community-based organizations and volunteers working to improve the lives of children, newcomers, seniors, and those requiring supportive living, young and old. Wakamow truly is, in my mind, quite representative of the diversity across this province — all in one place.

It represents urban areas and rural areas, farmers and ranchers. It includes a thriving tourism market, the Al Capone tunnel tours, many unique and successful small and large businesses ranging from spas to trucking companies. It also includes a new power plant and it includes constituents of all income levels. Moose Jaw Wakamow also contains the beautiful Crescent Park, in which our beautiful historic public library and art museum are situated.

[14:30]

Moose Jaw Wakamow now also contains Homebase, an integrated youth services hub developed by youth for youth.

In the coming weeks and months I look forward to meeting with as many stakeholders as I can so that I can represent them well on the floor of this Assembly. I grew up in a political family. My late grandfather, Albert Horner, was a Member of Parliament for The Battlefords from 1958 to 1968, and at this time there were four Horners in parliament — all related — and the Senate. The former MLA from Moosomin is also a Horner, as is the current Minister of Finance in Alberta. There may be some truth to the saying that politics is in your blood.

I met my future husband volunteering on a campaign in Toronto while working there after I graduated with my commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan. Truth be told, Mr. Speaker, when I graduated from university with my degree in 2000, the NDP [New Democratic Party] were in power and the best opportunities were outside this province.

After my husband and I had our first son in Ottawa, we decided to move back to Saskatchewan. You see, Mr. Speaker, at that time in 2013 the Sask Party were in power and starting their second term. Saskatchewan was no longer a have-not province and was a major contributor to Confederation. Saskatchewan was no longer the province to be from, but the province to be in. I am proud to be elected to a government who put Saskatchewan back on the map and made it one of the best places in the country to live, work, and raise a family.

When I initially came back to Saskatchewan I worked at SaskPower, where I attained my M.B.A. [Master of Business Administration], my Canadian securities course, and learned about the distribution transmission systems, energy efficiency, and renewables. Later I was thrilled to have an opportunity to eventually come back to Moose Jaw, the town where I grew up in, to work as an instructor in the School of Business at Sask Polytech. I loved working there, getting to know incredible students, and becoming a part of their journey.

My favourite class to teach was leadership. In this class we had sections on communication and professionalism. If the Speakers ever think that we need a class or just like a little reminder on professionalism, I can surely get a colleague to come do a Lunch and Learn here. At this point I should warn the Assembly that as an instructor, if I felt the energy in the room was low, I would introduce a stretch break. And if I see eyelids getting heavy here, I might do the same.

Next, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the people who have made today possible. Firstly, I want to thank my parents, George and Colleen Patterson, who have been incredible role models to me. My dad went back to school as a mature student to receive his law degree. It wasn’t easy to go back to university later in life. He had a young family, he had to move to another city, and he had to take out loans to complete his degree. But he did it and as a result he had a successful career as a Queen’s Bench lawyer in Moose Jaw.

My mother also completed her education degree after getting married, with young children, and working full-time. When my dad was away at law school, she was the sole caregiver, working full-time, managing the house, and hauling us all over the city to activities.

My mother taught in Moose Jaw for 30 years in elementary and high schools. She was one of those teachers that you never forget. Many students have told her that they wouldn’t have got through high school if it wasn’t for her. My extended family is full of educators so I have the utmost respect and gratitude to those who work in education. Both of my parents were extensively involved in the community and still are. My parents taught me to strive, to work hard, and to value community.

When I was in university I sustained a traumatic injury as a result of a motor vehicle accident. When I woke up from a coma that I was in for two weeks, I couldn’t move the right side of my body. I couldn’t see, I couldn’t breathe, and I couldn’t speak.

The years following my injury, I learned a lot. I learned the importance of family, of staying positive, of keeping a sense of humour, of believing in oneself, having faith for the future, and keeping things in perspective. My parents were incredible supports to me after my injury and somehow found the right balance of supporting me yet encouraging me to extend myself and take risks. I had many failures, tears, and disappointing days, but those days made me who I am today.

Some phrases from my family that resonated with me were, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going” from my dad, and “Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” from my brother. Their support is steady and unwavering. My mother literally researched every tracheostomy in the world to find me the only one I could wear and breathe consistently with. It is from Germany, and it is the same model I still wear today 20 years later. And it still only comes in blue.

My recovery took many years but gave me important perspective that will help me serve the people of this province. I am keenly aware of how quickly life can change and that you shouldn’t take anything for granted. I believe in the power of the human spirit, body, and mind to overcome its circumstances and exceed expectations, especially with the right supports. I want to have a positive impact in my life. I want to inspire and enable people to reach their potential and have the quality of life that they aspire for.

I know first-hand the importance of health care and rehabilitation services and the impact these critical services have on people in the challenging times of their life. I want to thank the many doctors, specialists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, respiratory therapists, physiotherapists who helped me through my journey. I also had many teachers, instructors, and professors who supported me through my recovery and educational journey. I also want to thank my first employer out of university for supporting me after I received my tracheostomy.

I didn’t receive my tracheostomy until four and a half years after my injury. At that point I was living in Toronto and working, and I only had between 10 and 15 per cent of my airway left. This tracheostomy changed my life. I will never forget the day the doctor came in to see me after my surgery and asked me to cover the tube and say something. I said, what do you want me to say? And I will never forget that that was my voice, because it was so clear after struggling for so many years with my speech and breathing. This little tube allows me to breathe and speak, although it did take me a few years to adapt and find the right model.

This organization I worked for, it was the model of how organizations should support employees with disabilities. They put me in different roles as I recovered so that I could learn, develop, and be successful. Near the end of my career, as a result of their support I was awarded a North American top-performer award for a reinvention that I led with a national retailer. My experience with this company is my inspiration for wanting to improve how organizations in Saskatchewan support and enable persons with disabilities to be their best because when they are, we all win.

My M.B.A. thesis, Improving Workplace Accessibility For Persons With Disabilities In Saskatchewan, was a motivation to launch DiscoverABILITY, a local cable show, to increase awareness on the different types of disabilities and the supportive agencies that are available in Saskatchewan.

Next, Mr. Speaker, I would like to focus on thanking those incredible people who believed in me and helped me become their representative from Moose Jaw Wakamow. I would like to first of course thank the constituents, the constituents who went out and voted, those people who opened their doors to me and talked to me, shared their concerns. And I got to know them. I got to know a lot of people during the campaign. It was really special.

I want to thank Lee Guse, who was one of my earliest supporters and he is also the president of my constituency association. I would like to thank Mike Bachiu, who is my financial agent, who I have known since high school. Our team knocked over 15,000 doors throughout the campaign. I want to thank Dana Watson, a friend I’ve known for over 30 years who knocked thousands of those doors, for her support and friendship.

I want to thank Vidit Soni, a former star Sask Polytech student of mine who now — I’m going to brag — works at Graham Construction, which is the seventh-largest construction company in Saskatchewan, which started in Moose Jaw. He drove down numerous times throughout the campaign to support our family.

I want to thank Peter Branetzki, who I met at the Premier’s barbecue in Moose Jaw, who became a volunteer and quick friend. Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank Warren Michelson, the retired member from Moose Jaw North who mentored me from the beginning and knocked on countless doors. I would also like to thank Dana Skoropad, former MLA from Arm River, for bringing his energy to the campaign in the final days when we really needed it.

Mr. Speaker, there are dozens of people who supported, volunteered, and donated to my campaign and I don’t want to miss any names. I’ll simply say thank you to everyone who touched it. I also want to thank the Sask Party for their support and responsiveness. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the current member from Moose Jaw North, who has been an incredible support and encouragement to me. I also want to thank the current member from Lumsden-Morse for his incredible support as well.

Next, Mr. Speaker, most importantly, I want to thank my husband, Sean Osmar. He supported me throughout the election by door knocking and doing more at home with our boys. Sean worked right here in the legislature for five years and is actually more politically inclined than I am. He is the yin to my yang and, although we drive each other crazy sometimes, I couldn’t be more blessed. He is very calm and laid back. He couldn’t be more supportive in every way or a better father to our three boys, although he has drawn the line at three boys and two dogs. As far as I’m concerned, we are the perfect fit and I hope he thinks so too.

I also want to thank my sons, Mr. Speaker: Kane who is 12, and John and George who are nine. They are identical twins. Kane is wonderfully unique. He is an avid reader, very intelligent, and has a large vocabulary. He is a talented piano player, takes tae kwon do, and is thrilled to have recently joined the army cadets. He is his own person and I admire his confidence to walk his own path. He is very sweet and I will always be his number one support and admirer.

Although the twins are identical, they are slightly different. They are both outgoing, smart, and athletic. George is the talker of the two and John is a little bit more sensitive and meticulous. The connection they have, Mr. Speaker, is absolutely incredible. The love that they share for each other and their brother is heartwarming. Both John and George play hockey. George is an accomplished speed skater and John loves judo. They are both in the local Moose Jaw pipe band, play baseball, and also play the piano.

They all helped me during the campaign, and their support means the world to me as it’s difficult to pursue a career as demanding as politics without the full support of your family.

Now more focused on the job at hand, Mr. Speaker, there are almost 30 per cent of residents in the province who have disabilities. Often people with disabilities are vulnerable and/or struggle with mental health challenges. This can make them more susceptible to addictions. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent the government who introduced the Saskatchewan assured income for disabilities program, SAID, in 2007. And the government introduced The Accessible Saskatchewan Act.

[14:45]

This government will continue to support persons with disabilities by increasing the allowable income earned while receiving SAID by $1,000. This government, Mr. Speaker, will also increase the disability tax credit for persons with disabilities and their caregivers by 25 per cent. I want to inspire and enable all people in this province to reach their potential, Mr. Speaker, including those with disabilities. I want everyone in this great province of Saskatchewan to have the opportunity to lead the lives they aspire for and work for.

Saskatchewan people voted for a strong economy and a bright future, and they voted for a government that will change with a growing, dynamic province. There are now 1.2 million people living in Saskatchewan, more people than ever before. This growth requires investments in the services that we all rely on.

Mr. Speaker, as highlighted in the Throne Speech, this government will better support patients by expanding urgent care centres, work to accelerate the hiring of health care professionals, and work directly with primary health care providers. I’m happy that an urgent care centre will also be added to Moose Jaw, Mr. Speaker. This government will set a goal that every person in Saskatchewan will have access to a primary health care provider by the end of 2028.

Our children are our future of this province, and this government will do more to support children in classrooms by expanding its specialized support classroom model. Our government will focus on improving reading levels of children in kindergarten to grade 3 so that they can seamlessly transition from learning to read, to reading to enhance their learning and improve their outcomes. This government will increase funding for school divisions to help them meet the pressures of a growing student enrolment and the challenges of classroom complexity. These investments, Mr. Speaker, can only be made through a strong economy.

Mr. Speaker, this government will continue to deliver on the 2030 growth plans that generate employment opportunities and ensure our economy stays strong. Saskatchewan has already achieved and exceeded many of the growth plan goals, including increasing total export value and increasing manufacturing value by 50 per cent when compared to 2018. We’ve increased agri-food exports to 20 billion a year and increased the annual value of potash sales to $9 billion.

Many of the growth plan’s goals are on track to be achieved, including increasing agriculture value-added revenue to $10 billion, attracting 16 billion in private capital investment, and doubling the forestry sales to 2.2 billion.

Mr. Speaker, this government will also ensure that these measures produce results, and have committed to ensuring that Saskatchewan people will be able to (1) find a primary health care provider, (2) access surgery in a timely manner, (3) access mental health and addictions recovery supports when they are needed, and (4) feel safe where they live.

Many Saskatchewan people are also struggling with the high cost of living and this is why this government will introduce multiple cost-of-living measures to reduce the pressures on families. Mr. Speaker, this government will introduce the largest personal income tax reduction in Saskatchewan since 2008, allowing a family of four to pay no income tax until they reach a combined income of $72,425.

This government will be raising the personal, spousal, and child exemption by $500 a year as well over the next five years. This, along with the other affordability measures you heard in the Throne Speech, will keep Saskatchewan the most affordable place to live in Canada and the Saskatchewan people more money in their pocket.

This government, Mr. Speaker, will keep our economy strong and help build vibrant economies by increasing revenue sharing with municipalities to over $340 million a year. Moose Jaw received $7.9 million in 2024, which is an increase of 180 per cent versus 2007.

This government, Mr. Speaker, will keep our communities safe by continuing our efforts to add 500 more police officers and 500 more addictions recovery spaces. Moose Jaw received $952,000 in funding for eight additional police officers to keep our cities safe.

Only by delivering on our 2030 growth plans and continuing to support small businesses by keeping the tax rate at 1 per cent will this government be able to make additional investments in the services that we all rely on.

I look forward to working in a respectful Assembly with the members sitting beside me and the members opposite, because we all have the same goal of making Saskatchewan an even better place to work, live, and raise a family.

This is why I will be supporting the Throne Speech, moved by the member from Kindersley-Biggar that was seconded by the member from Sask Rivers. And I will not be supporting the opposition’s amendment. God bless Saskatchewan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Matt Love: — Mr. Speaker, it’s an honour to be on my feet in response to the Speech from the Throne. And as is customary in here, I’ll take some time off the start to reflect a little bit on the campaign and offer some thank yous, and a few other reflections on what we’ve all been through here.

So first of all, Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate you on your election to Speaker of this Assembly. I know you and I had a conversation, and I’m excited to see you in this role, Mr. Speaker. I’m excited to see the way that you represent the values that you bring to this work, and I think in many ways that’s what we all aspire to do here. We bring our values to this place, the values that we bring from our families, from our upbringings, from our cultural backgrounds, from our constituents. And we bring those values here in hopes that we can do justice to all those people who build in our lives, the folks who brought us here and who help us to serve in this capacity. So I’m looking forward, Mr. Speaker, to doing that together.

I also want to congratulate all of my new colleagues here on both sides. There’s certainly a lot happening here, last night and this afternoon and in the coming days, where we get to know each other. And it’s good to hear the speeches from new colleagues opposite as we get to hear about who you are and what brings you to this work. And I hope to do the same with my words here today.

But to my new colleagues on this side, you know, we’ve heard, Mr. Speaker, mostly in our speeches so far, aside from those who brought forward our amendment and seconded, it’s been all new members. And what a joy it’s been as someone who’s been here only for four years to sit and listen and to really be inspired by my colleagues. The amount of work and thoughtfulness that they have brought to this work — and it’s a long journey — is really inspiring.

This team over here, we’ve got folks who bring their experience as scientists, as nurses, health care workers, law enforcement, lawyers, small-business owners, community organizers, and a whole lot of teachers on this side. And so many more backgrounds that I’ve failed to mention here. And it’s really inspiring to hear those pathways.

So many of us here . . . I know I took some time to look back at my inaugural speech and one of the things that I said that still stands true today, and it’s probably true for many of us, that politics wasn’t a lifelong goal for me. It came up pretty quickly. It came up quickly because I saw things in my life as a parent, as a teacher, as a resident in Saskatoon Eastview, that I thought needed changing. And I thought, you know, why sit around and wait for someone else to bring about that change, and maybe with a whole lot of hesitation decided that perhaps politics was the right thing to do at the right time.

And I still feel that way today. And I see that reflected in so many of these folks here as I hear their stories and their speeches on what brought them to this work. And I know that they’ve entered this role for all of the right reasons: wanting to make our province better, not for themselves but for their community members, for their neighbours, for their children, for the next generation. And it’s been inspiring to listen to all these folks.

The other thing that I want to point out that I find so inspiring from this team behind me, Mr. Speaker, is the incredible, incredible hard work that they put in to get here. I heard my colleague from Saskatoon University-Sutherland talk about an 11-year journey to take his seat in this Assembly. That should be inspiring for all of us — 11 years that he’s worked to get to where he is — and it’s my honour to call him a colleague today and to see him in this seat.

I’ve got other colleagues here. You know, throughout the campaign and really for months leading up to it as we saw reports of how many doors we’ve knocked and conversations we’ve had, and it gets a bit competitive, right? You want to try and keep up, and there’s some folks here very, very hard to keep up with because they worked so hard to reach out, talk to folks in their communities, and to earn their trust. And there’s nothing that can replace that connection on the doorstep or maybe a personal phone call to earn that trust. And so I want to thank all of my colleagues here for all the ways that they’ve inspired me to work hard and to earn that trust to get back to represent the people of Eastview in this Assembly.

Now we also had in this recent campaign, I think, a bit of an ace up our sleeve, and her name in this Assembly is the Leader of the Opposition. And she’s an incredible leader, Mr. Speaker, and to watch not just her hard work during the campaign — because boy oh boy, did she ever work hard — but the attitude and the effort that she brought to that work, the way that she came out day after day. Sometimes it was almost hard to imagine how she got from one community to another. She seemed to be everything everywhere all at once across Saskatchewan, in all places at all times.

She worked incredibly hard and the people of Saskatchewan were inspired by the message that she brought, because she brought a message and a plan that was full of hope to get Saskatchewan out of last place in health care, out of last place in education, and to make life more affordable. And we still hold onto that hope today that that job needs to be done, and we will deliver that whether that’s in opposition or in government in the future because that’s the hope that drives us in the work that we do.

Mr. Speaker, I want to take a few minutes to talk about the folks who support me in this work. First and foremost that’s my wife, Emma. Emma is my best friend. She is wise. She’s intuitive. She’s beautiful inside and out. She is the person that I go to for advice, and she supports me in this work in so many ways. I’m very proud of our marriage and the life that we’ve built together. And I want to thank her from the bottom of my heart for everything that she does for me and the way that she supports me here.

I heard a member opposite last night — I can’t remember who it was, Mr. Speaker — almost offer an apology for talking about their children. Never apologize for that. If you have children and you’re proud of them, we want to hear. I’m very proud of my three kids, and I’ll never hesitate for a minute to talk about them. So it’s often one of the things in this Assembly, Mr. Speaker, that I appreciate most when we have time with budget or response to the Throne Speech to talk about the folks who inspire us, and for so many of us that is our kids.

My kids inspired me to run in the 2020 election. Before this election, a couple years ago, I sat down with each of them one-on-one and asked for their blessing to put my name forward again. It was important that I had that one-on-one conversation to make sure that they support it because when I’m here, we all know, I’m not at home. None of us are. And we need their support to do this work. So I want to thank my kids for offering me their support to be away from home. I know it’s hard on everybody, and that is something that we share in this Assembly. But I’ve got three amazing kids, and I want to share just a little bit about each one of them, Mr. Speaker.

[15:00]

My youngest son is Myles. Myles is seven years old. He’s in grade 2. And just one quick story about Myles. I had the honour . . . I coached high school football for 17 years, but this past spring I coached kindergarten/grade 1 flag football. I am not cut out for it. But we found out at the last minute that the appointed coach was actually placed with the wrong team, and so I digitally put up my hand and said I’ll do it. I’m thankful that I did.

It was a lot of fun coaching these kindergarten/grade 1’s. While I was on the team we were the Bengals, which just so happens to be my favourite NFL [National Football League] team, and had a lot of fun coaching these little ones. There’s one game in particular where Myles . . . He didn’t do this every game, okay? But one game he just lit up. He had a passing touchdown — and you hardly ever pass in kindergarten flag football — passing touchdown, a receiving touchdown, and a rushing touchdown. And it was super fun. But the part that I’m most proud of, Mr. Speaker, was the effort that he brought each and every day. And that attitude and effort, that’s so important to see that as a parent and as a coach.

He is a really funny young man. He keeps us laughing all the time. He can make us laugh which is . . . He’s very expressive with his facial gestures, and he gets our family laughing more than anyone else in our family and we love him for that.

My middle child is Tom. Tom’s 11. We love football. We play catch every day. But this fall and winter Tom is trying basketball for the first time, and I am so proud of him to see him out there on the court. I always tell him as a dad and as a coach that the two things that you always have full control of are your attitude and your effort. And to see him out there trying something for the first time against a bunch of boys that have been playing for years, I’m so proud of his attitude and his effort that he brings each and every day. It’s really special to watch, and I’m just so proud of him and who he’s growing up to become.

And finally the 17-year-old daughter. Her name’s Etta. And for those who don’t know — I might even have some colleagues who might not know this — my 17-year-old daughter is the strongest woman ever from Canada at 17 years old. She’s an Olympic weightlifter, and at 17 years old she’s our national record holder. And in the last year she’s had a big year. Last May, right after spring sitting, shortly after, I left and accompanied her to Peru where she became a youth world champion. Really something else.

This September, just a few weeks ago, in Spain she broke a youth world record. And to put that in context . . . It’s amazing. To put that in context, she’s the first woman ever from Canada to hold a world record in the sport of Olympic weightlifting and the first Canadian, male or female, to have a world record since the 1950s. And if you want to know, the world record was 146 kilos that she clean and jerked. That’s about 322 pounds at 17 years old. That’s absolutely bonkers, Mr. Speaker.

Many people often ask, can I lift that much? Yes, I can. But I just break it up into smaller amounts and then do it that way.

I want to say some thank yous to folks who generously worked on my campaign, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to name a lot of names and I know I’ll forget some folks. We’re all so fortunate to have dedicated volunteers, folks who believe in the project that we have before us to bring better government to this province, to get us out of last place in those key areas. And I had a lot of folks who worked really hard.

I want to say thank you to Kaytee Edwards-Buhler. She’s been my CA [constituency assistant] for the last three years. She came on and worked on the campaign. She is incredible in her work day to day. She’s a great communicator. She’s highly organized. She is all of the things that I am not in this work that we do together in our office in Eastview and on the campaign, and she’s just an incredible force. I simply couldn’t do this work without her.

I want to say thank you to Kaytee and folks working in our campaign office — Aryn, Kalen, Elias — helping us to be organized, to make sure that we were doing everything that we had to deliver another victory in Eastview.

One of my campaign workers and volunteers is a very talented teacher in my community. She actually dropped down to half-time in her teaching contract to make sure that she could help myself and others be successful this election. I want to say thank you to Cathlia for all of the work that she put in. She knocked probably more doors than just about any one of our candidates in this province, really a force to be reckoned with.

I want to say thank you to Randy Cline. He’s my president of our Eastview NDP executive. Randy Cline is a retired educator. And if there’s one illustration I can give of Randy’s hard work, it’s that several days after the election was done and we were very successful in our shared campaign office, Randy was there cleaning up, scraping tape off the windows, vacuuming, cleaning everything, making sure that we left the place better than we found it. And that’s just the kind of person that Randy is, the kind of servant that he is. He worked incredibly hard. I want to say thank you to Randy for all of his hard work.

And I also want to thank Dave Derksen. Dave is a retired teacher, a superintendent. I actually taught Dave’s kids, or his son Tiegen, years ago. Dave and I knocked a lot of doors together. And something interesting in working with Dave is, I think he may have known more people than I do. And I learned a lot from Dave knocking doors, the way that he connects with people, and I built a great friendship with Dave. And I really enjoyed our time together on the doorstep. I want to say thank you to Dave.

Just a few other volunteers I want to thank by name: Judy, Madison, Lesley, Mitch, Jody, Jared, Shawn, and Mark, their help on this campaign. Simply would not have had the level of success that we did without them. And I want to say a sincere thank you.

And there’s two other groups that I want to say thank you to, Mr. Speaker, that I think were really instrumental in this campaign, not just in Eastview but across the province. And those are teachers and health care workers. When I got to doorsteps in this campaign — and I am positive that members opposite had the same experience — we met people who were not teachers, who had never worked in health care, but they’re concerned about the state of our classrooms.

They’re concerned at what’s happening in our ERs [emergency room]. They’re concerned about the lack of access to primary care because they had a teacher or a health care worker talk to them, share their experiences, advocate not in a partisan way, but to say these are the challenges that we have in Saskatchewan that must be addressed.

I’ll share one story in particular. I talked to a gentleman in the community of Lakeview in my constituency, and he expressed to me that he had never voted for the NDP before. But he was kind of two connections away from a teacher. It wasn’t even like a close connection. He said this person had talked about the state of our classrooms and the decline — where we used to be first in the country for education funding and falling to last place — and what that actually means for our students. And this gentleman expressed to me that he would be voting for me in this election and voting for the NDP for the first time because he had heard the stories from teachers.

And I heard that day after day, door after door. Folks who had had a health care worker — maybe a nurse, maybe a care aide, maybe a nurse practitioner — talk to them about the challenges. And then when we showed up on their door, they had questions. And we had answers because we had a plan to get our province out of last place, a real plan to deliver the change that folks needed. And so I want to thank teachers and health care workers for advocating, for telling their stories, and for really getting word out there about the true state of these key systems in our province. I say thank you.

Now most importantly, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the people of Eastview who once again trusted me with their vote. You know, I had a big boundary change like a lot of us in this election. The boundaries shifted and, I don’t know, about 35 per cent of my constituency was new. And so I got out about a year and a half before the election, started knocking doors. And I heard a couple of things there.

I heard sincere appreciation. This area of Lakeview was previously in Saskatoon Southeast. I heard a lot of appreciation for the work of Don Morgan. He is a bit of an institution in our city of Saskatoon, a well-known MLA and public servant for a long time. I heard a lot of appreciation for Don. I did. And I also heard a need for change. I heard the same questions and concerns there in Southeast that I heard in the communities I’d been representing for four years — concerns about affordability, concerns about health care, about education, about who has a plan to really get us back on the right track. And I’m proud to say that in this election in Eastview, my team and I won every poll in Eastview.

And so I come here, Mr. Speaker, humbled but also with a clear mandate from the folks who elected me to be here. I want them to know that I’m committed to serving them and conducting myself in a way that reflects the trust that they’ve placed in me.

Mr. Speaker, I want to take a few minutes to talk about what I heard during the campaign. I heard stories of classrooms so full that students had to sit on the ground. I heard stories about totally unacceptable classroom conditions. And I heard that the Sask Party government ruined our education system. And all of that came from Sask Party candidates in this last election, believe it or not.

Now on the doorsteps of Eastview I heard heartbreaking stories, stories about seniors who called 911 for help and waited nine hours for an ambulance. I heard from health care workers considering leaving the job or leaving the province like so many of their colleagues have done due to burnout and unsustainable working conditions.

I heard from families struggling to pay the bills, families who wanted nothing more than to save up just a few bucks to go on a family vacation maybe over the holidays or maybe in the summer. And of course I heard story after story from concerned parents and teachers about the state of our classrooms.

Now, Mr. Speaker, in the Throne Speech I was happy to see education featured in ways that I have not heard in my time in this Assembly. There is more time focused on education in this Throne Speech than I’ve heard in my previous years here. But I’m also worried, and I’m also skeptical. And I think I have good reason to be worried and skeptical because you always have to read between the lines when it comes to how the Sask Party government talks about classrooms and education.

We have heard for nearly a decade, year after year, talking about record spending in education. During that same time period we have gone from first in the country to dead last in per-student funding. So my advice to this government, if their words in the Throne Speech they wish to ring true for the people of Saskatchewan, that they should abandon those age-old talking points and actually do the work to get us out of last place.

I also heard recognition that the government must do better, and to that I would say, well it’s about time. We’ve been raising the alarm on this for more than a decade. And when you’re in last place, there’s nowhere left to go but up. And I’m looking forward to seeing that happen for the children of Saskatchewan.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I’m old enough to remember that their platform featured nothing new for education. So something happened between election day and the Throne Speech because in their platform there was nothing new in terms of investments or ideas. In fact their platform did not even mention classroom complexity, which is a clear sign to the thousands of concerned parents and teachers that the Sask Party government doesn’t recognize the problem that they’ve created, and they don’t actually have a plan to fix it.

Now this is not even to mention the many commitments that they’ve made over the years to strike committees, task forces. They’ve made committees dating back for nearly a decade to get to work on classroom complexity, but nothing has changed. So again, I was happy to see focus on education, but I am skeptical and I am worried.

Now of course during the campaign there was also this video that surfaced of a cabinet minister answering a question about how to balance the budget, and she said that the way to do it is by further cuts to education. And here we see in the Throne Speech talk about solving classroom complexity. We cannot solve classroom complexity with further per-student cuts in education. It won’t happen. So the language of the Throne Speech is concerning at best.

Now what I wanted to hear was a commitment to adequate, sustainable, and predictable funding for publicly funded, publicly delivered education. Adequate, sustainable, predictable funding — I didn’t hear those words in the Throne Speech. That maybe would have been a better approach if it were up to me.

What I did hear was a commitment to more of the same. Pilot projects. We’ve seen a lot of pilot projects from this government. What’s the criteria for judging the success of that pilot project? How do we know that it’s going well? I would say, Mr. Speaker, that the fact that we have pilot projects is an admission that we have inadequate funding of our K to 12 [kindergarten to grade 12] education system.

[15:15]

If we need specialized classrooms, doesn’t that indicate that we don’t have the resources on an annualized basis for our school divisions to get students the supports they need to succeed at school and beyond? So I’m hoping to see that their commitment to do better will be to put that into the annual funding to get us out of last place in per-student funding, deliver the supports that our students need each and every year.

Now I also saw a little bit of, in this Throne Speech — again this might be reading between the lines, Mr. Speaker — but you know, really promoting Sask Party government policies while stripping away the autonomy of local boards. Local boards want adequate, predictable, sustainable funding to meet the needs of their local communities, and they are best positioned to make those decisions. When funding comes in envelopes with strings attached, it reduces their ability to make good local decisions. And I hope to see that trend reverse in the budget in the spring.

And I also want to point out just one other thing I was happy to see, but it also comes with a concern. And I’ve heard the new minister talk about the need to invest in early years. Absolutely, kindergarten to grade 3, these are crucial years in a child’s education. We absolutely must invest in these early years.

But I want to issue a warning to that minister that we cannot forget about those students in grade 4 through grade 12 who have only known, in their experience in a Saskatchewan school, they have only known cuts. They were likely failed in their K to 3 years, and so they may be behind. They may have gaps in their learning. They may need extra support. So focusing on K to 3, great idea. I’ll be interested to see where that goes. But we cannot forget about those students, an entire generation of students in Saskatchewan that have been failed by this government and their inability to adequately fund our classrooms.

Now, Mr. Speaker, if I can, I’ll close with just a little bit of advice here for our new Minister of Education. I sincerely, through you, Mr. Speaker, wish him luck. I wish him the best in his role. I was happy to see a change in this area, and I hope that he can in fact do better.

My advice to him is that we have amazing stakeholders in education in this province. We have amazing teachers in this province. They are doing their best. They are holding the system together with their time, their money, and their talent, and they deserve a minister who believes in them. We have incredible trustees, boards of education, and directors, but when they describe a system that’s been cut to the bone and there’s nowhere left to cut, they and their work deserve a minister who believes in them too.

And finally, our families and our students, our children and our youth. We have incredible children and youth in this province, incredible. They are resilient. They’re creative. And they deserve an Education minister who believes in them and who sees education as an investment worth making, to not just get us out of last place, but who can ensure that every student in Saskatchewan will have their needs met when they attend school in this province. They deserve that. And those are my hopes for this new Minister of Education.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to represent the people of Eastview in this Assembly for four more years. It is my honour to serve with these esteemed colleagues. I will not be supporting the motion brought forward by the government, and I will be supporting the amendment brought forward by my incredible colleague from Regina Walsh Acres. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — Sorry, I just had one statement before . . . Just a comment. I wasn’t sure whether I had heard that with this government we need to read between the lines, you know, on some of the things that they may or may not have said. And another time it was, maybe I am reading between the lines. But if we can do our best to not, you know, accuse sort of in roundabout ways of being disingenuous.

I’m not going to ask you to withdraw and apologize, but no, just in the future . . . You’re good. But just keep that in mind. We don’t want to do any backdoor things, and I guess, both sides.

So with that I would recognize the member from Canora-Pelly.

Sean Wilson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is the greatest honour of my life to stand here today as the elected representative of Canora-Pelly. To the incredible people of our constituency who placed their trust in me, I offer my deepest gratitude. I promise to serve with dedication, humility, and an unwavering commitment to your needs.

I’d like to start by reflecting on the proud history of Canora-Pelly, a region that has always been at the heart of Saskatchewan’s story. This is a constituency that helped lay the foundation for the Saskatchewan Party through the leadership of Ken Krawetz, one of the party’s founding members. Mr. Krawetz dedicated himself to this region for over 20 years, championing rural interests and bringing forward a vision that has shaped our province.

But our legacy goes even further back. Canora-Pelly is also home to a trailblazer in Saskatchewan’s political history, Sarah Ramsland, the first woman ever elected to this Assembly in 1919. Her courage and determination paved the way for generations of leaders, and her story reminds us of the strength, resilience, and leadership that defines this region.

This legacy is one of tradition and progress, a bedrock of Saskatchewan political and cultural evolution. Today I am proud to carry forward this legacy as part of a party that continues to grow, diversify, and reflect the people it serves. It’s not only about keeping up, but staying ahead, and constantly adapting to the challenges we are faced with.

This party and side of the House may not look the same as it did a year ago, but the balance of new and not new is the perfect mix for the next four years. We are rooted in our values and guiding principles, but we are always looking ahead, ensuring that Saskatchewan remains a place of opportunity for everyone.

Mr. Speaker, may I congratulate you on your election to the Office of the Speaker of this Legislative Assembly. I know, Mr. Speaker, that you are respected and held high in regard by all members of this Assembly. All of us who serve as members to this legislature wish you, sir, continued success in your new position. On a personal note, in the words of the legendary Macho Man Randy Savage, Mr. Speaker, you are OCD, one cool dude, and I look forward to working with you in the next four years.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my confidence in the Premier of our province, the hon. member for Rosthern-Shellbrook. It is because of the excellent leadership of the Premier and the Saskatchewan Party government that I am here today representing the constituency of Canora-Pelly. The Premier was given a renewed mandate by the people of Saskatchewan on October 28th. The province re-elected a Saskatchewan government. The message from the people was that they put their trust, their confidence, and their faith in the future in policies of the Saskatchewan Party government.

Now a lot of people have asked me what my start point was, as far as politics went, and I think I finally have the answer. In 1994 in Canora school our class wasn’t really what you would call teacher-friendly. I of course was very quiet and well-behaved, but at some point in the year a substitute teacher came in from out of town. He handled the class like a true pro, and it really did stand out to me. That teacher was from Invermay and his name was Mr. Krawetz. A year later I was glued to the TV watching the 1995 election, waiting for the results. At the end of the night, by 50 votes Mr. Krawetz beat Ron Harper in the newly formed Canora-Pelly constituency.

Mr. Speaker, my roots in Buchanan run deep. This is the place who shaped who am I. Every inch of it matters to me. When I look on the roads we drive on or the people who make this community thrive, I don’t just see where we’ve been. I see the foundation of everything I hope to help build for the future.

Growing up I was lucky to be surrounded by some really good people, including my grandfather. He had a way of teaching lessons without saying a word. One of those lessons stuck with me, but it has become more and more valuable as years go by. About 30 years ago when I first entered the workforce with him as my boss, we had set up an asphalt plant not far from the Nipawin dam.

After we were done for the day, it was time to go home for scheduled days off. Driving out of the gravel pit, I noticed there was a pile of chains left on a lowbed. When I told him we should stop and hide them just in case somebody would steal them, he laughed and said, we’ll just leave them right there where they are, and when we come back we’ll see if they’re still there. It was his test of honesty and integrity in the Nipawin area. When we came back, they were there.

I am certain, Mr. Speaker, that I could pick any area in Canora-Pelly to drop that lowbed with the chains on it, and the same results would happen. Whether it’s business, public service, or life, I believe that integrity is found in the little things, in the actions we take when no one is watching, and in the care we show for things that might seem insignificant to us. My grandfather gave me the biggest gift in the smallest lessons. He never stopped working. That’s how I will try to live my life here, and that’s how I will approach it as your MLA.

In addition I would like to thank the support of my immediate family. My parents, Ron and Laurie, who have never really been political people but are very supportive nonetheless. Dad isn’t really a Regina person. He told me to do what I can to move this place to Saskatoon. He does have a great deal of respect and time for a former member of this Assembly who was also one cool dude, like yourself, Mr. Speaker.

My mom, Laurie, was the daughter of a mayor. Her dad, my grandfather, was the mayor of Buchanan once upon a time. When I was first going to run for village council, she held my papers hostage at the post office until Mayor Kosar talked her into releasing them. She must have been worried about what would eventually happen 16 years later. And there’s mom stuff: Who’s that? What does that one do? Where’s that one from? Why did so many of them copy your haircut? Don’t drive to Regina in a storm.

As well as my mother-in-law Janet who is also not very political but is very excited to send squares and baking for all of my colleagues. Janet is the best mother-in-law anyone could have. She is also on the “don’t drive to Regina in a storm” group.

Obviously I can’t skip over the biggest supporter I have, which is my wife Renee. I met my wife in 1999, working on a highway project close to Stenen. She was an employee of the Ministry of Highways that at the time was still called the Department of Highways, and I was a young lad just learning the ropes of building highways.

She has been a registered nurse for over 20 years and is currently working in the Yorkton hospital. I am proud to say I am her fourth or fifth favourite Saskatchewan Party MLA on this side.

She is a 100 per cent Ukrainian girl who loves her garden, her cooking, and anything that has to do with competition and campaigning. Renee would be the captain of the “don’t drive to Regina in a storm” group, but I’m the person that has to remind them that I have more miles driving backwards than they do forwards. Renee is the hardest worker I have ever met, and I was just fortunate to meet her in that gravel pit so many years ago.

We set a few records out in Canora-Pelly, and it never would have happened without her helping me drive the bus. We really enjoyed the nomination, watching everybody from the entire constituency coming to vote. You know it’s a good nomination when there is a lineup outside of Wong’s on Main Street in Canora on a Tuesday night and you can’t get any parking at the curling rink.

[15:30]

I would like to tell one quick story about Renee and another politician who is very familiar to this Assembly. We purchased a cabin at Canora Beach in 2019. Little did I know that a former deputy premier lived only a few houses down from our cabin. Deputy premier — I’m sure you’re all thinking Ken Krawetz. Wrong. It was the former member for Yorkton, Clay Serby.

Somehow Serby knew my political beliefs, and I guess that was no surprise considering Canora-Pelly is Saskatchewan Party country. But what he did as part of an elaborate plan was befriend Renee almost immediately after we moved out there. I wanted none of it. “Oh come on, Sean. Serby is such a nice guy.” Yeah, sure.

Any little thing he could do to take a dig at me, he did. He wore these horrible orange Crocs and assured me that if the NDP would have won the 2007 election, that himself and Premier Calvert would have provided a free pair of them to every resident of Saskatchewan. If only I had known.

But he did provide snow removal, while I was away at work, with his tractor that he had to have borrowed from the Western Development Museum in Yorkton while he was still the MLA. He also took us out for a ride and some fishing on his pontoon boat. As Renee was enjoying the ride, he bragged to me about how he had built this pontoon boat on his own using 45‑gallon barrels and plywood. I instantly flashed back to swimming lessons on that lake when I was 11 years old and wondered how much of that I would remember, just in case Serby’s plywood boat went down like the Titanic. Him being NDP doesn’t make him a great guy, but it doesn’t make him a bad one either. We can’t all be perfect.

I also had the support of many people in the constituency, including a lot of old soldiers — old soldiers — that have participated in political campaigns back to the 1950s. I don’t want to do too many name drops, Mr. Speaker, but I would like to thank the Haramburas, Klewchuks, Machnees, Pollons, Minhinnicks, and Plaxins for their guidance and knowledge of campaigns. For every good MLA there has always been a team behind them, and I don’t know if they get enough credit in the history books. The Plaxins from Preeceville are both in their 90s and dropped a lot of knowledge to me about the 1956 Saskatchewan general election that you can’t find in a book.

Alvin Harambura and his wife, Georgina, were also very special to me. He was on the 1986 campaign in Pelly. He kept telling me how the day the writ was dropped, by the time the sun came up the next morning they had every sign up that they had. Of course being competitive I tried to replicate that type of an ambitious plan, but it didn’t quite match what they did. The sheer geography of the constituency made it impossible to do it. But then I realized in 1986 it was just the Pelly constituency he was talking about, not Canora-Pelly. It doubled in size since then and it took us two days to get it done. So we matched him at least.

A few other members had some sign horror stories. I too had some interesting experiences. One week before the election was called we set up our stands for the signs, to make it easier to put signs up the first day. Then a nasty wind came, a very nasty wind. It blew over a few, snapped a few, but it ended.

Two days later — I don’t even know how this would ever happen — but the worst wind I have ever seen in my life came. We made it out with about a 50 per cent loss. We did manage to get everything back together. The first week of the election had a bad wind too. I’m guessing a few of my 4‑by‑8s are someplace in Manitoba. So if you are watching, Manitoba people, please send them back to me.

There are a lot of new people that have become involved in this for the very first time. I am extremely grateful for all of the work they have done to get me here. I am scared to name too many names, Mr. Speaker, because there are just too many people that helped in our campaign, but I am hopeful over the course of the next four years I will have an opportunity to introduce them to you.

But to my campaign team of Clarissa, Katie, and Jess; my constituency association; everyone in the Sask Party office; my RM and village councils; current and former MLAs; and everyone else who gave me their time and helped me, particularly Sam, Jared, Jason, Dylan, Deanne, Rupel, Patrick, Dwayne, Kristin, Rachel, Darlene, Allen, Gerald, Annette, Trevor, Billy, Larry, Coreen, Tyler, Tuxie, June, and last but not least, Paul. I told Paul about my last village meeting and how hard it was to chair knowing that it was going to, one way or another, be my last meeting. And he said, you better toughen up, boy, because you will be in for a big ride in Regina.

Within the constituency this deep respect I have for my predecessors and for the place I call home is why I care so much about the people, the land, and the communities of Canora-Pelly. Every back road, every community hall, it matters. Because it’s not just the infrastructure or geography; it’s the lifeblood of the families and the neighbours who make this region what it is.

This sense of stewardship is something I feel to my core. It’s not about asking for recognition or reward; It’s about doing what’s right. It’s about making sure that the things we’ve built and the values we share endure for the next generation. I see this as my responsibility, and I’ll bring that same sense of care and commitment to my role as your MLA.

Over the years I’ve had the privilege of working on projects that connect communities, drive commerce, and improve lives. As a former site and general manager for GW Construction and Venture Construction, I’ve helped pave the roads that people drive on every day. We never did any of that as a corporation or a place where people were numbers. We did that as a group of highly skilled and motivated individuals. We did that work as a big family.

Most of those people that I have worked with were in fact from the constituency. While we were on job sites, we made those communities our home. We made sure to give local businesses support. Tire shops, mechanics, welders, and restaurants — the group of individuals I worked with — understood the importance of embracing the areas we worked at. It’s honest work, work that builds not just infrastructure but relationships. I’ve gotten to see every corner of this province. From Coronach to Eatonia, Hudson Bay to Whitewood, I have seen all of Saskatchewan. Walking around a gravel crusher on night shift at Big River in the winter of 2003, when the temperature never rose above minus 38 for four weeks straight, is something I may not miss in this new position.

I will miss working with Greg, Lee, TJ, Curtis, Brandi, and Ronnie. But I won’t miss hand-delivered bacon and eggers that never had an egg on them, only bacon. I will miss eating Black Forest ham sandwiches at the Bluebell Pit by Meadow Lake. I will also miss eating salmon sandwiches at the pit at Whitewood. And I will miss taking all of my co-workers’ lunches. I have no idea why they named me The Coyote, but I am sure hoping that everyone here has good food.

In 2009 I was encouraged to run for council in Buchanan by a former mayor. That was the start of a journey I could have never imagined. Since then I’ve served as the mayor of Buchanan, division 3 councillor, and deputy reeve for the RM of Buchanan. I’ve worked on boards that improve water quality, manage waste, and advocate for better infrastructure, not just for today, but for the future.

We did some of our best work in the village when we were rookies. Mayor Zuravloff and myself really didn’t understand process, but we knew that we wanted to be hooked up to the Canora rural pipeline. Less than a year later we were. I had a lot of great people to work with on both councils. What started as a favour for two years for Reeve Skoretz of the RM of Buchanan turned out to be six years of a lot of fun.

These experiences have taught me that leadership isn’t about doing it alone. It’s about working together as a team to solve problems and make life better for everyone.

So why take the leap to provincial politics? The answer is simple — because Canora-Pelly deserves a strong voice in this Assembly. This region is the backbone of our province and I’ve seen first-hand both the challenges we face and the opportunities ahead. Although I attended many events during our campaign, I truly found the best part of it to be knocking on doors in every community and listening to what people had to tell me one-on-one. Although the campaign is over, I will continue to do this, as it is the best way to get a good indication as to what’s going on in each community.

Our farmers, small-business owners, and families work hard every day to keep Saskatchewan moving forward. But we can’t take that for granted. We need to ensure rural communities like ours aren’t left behind, that we have the infrastructure, health care, and economic opportunities to thrive.

At the same time, I believe in bridging the gap between rural and urban Saskatchewan. We are one province and we depend on each other in ways that people sometimes forget. As your MLA, I will work to ensure that our province moves forward together — not divided, but united by our shared future.

To the people of Canora-Pelly, you can count on me to be accessible, honest, and dedicated. There are a lot of books and papers on how to be a good or great politician. We will write our own book now. Whether it’s a phone call, text, or email, I am here to listen and to advocate for you. And you’ll find that I’m not one to shy away from tough issues. If something isn’t in the best interest of our constituents or the people of Saskatchewan, I will speak up.

I’m also proud to be part of a team that brought people from all walks of life into my campaign. Our planning table included individuals from all political stripes, including a few former NDP members, a reminder that when it comes to building a better future, there’s more that unites us than divides us. I will carry that spirit with me as I represent you in this Assembly.

Looking ahead I believe we can accomplish great things by working together. For Canora-Pelly, that means supporting our farmers with fair policies that reflect their role as economic drivers, investing in rural health care to ensure families can access care when and where they need it, promoting small businesses and local contractors to strengthen our economy from the ground up.

These priorities reflect the values of our constituency, and they’re also aligned with the Saskatchewan Party’s vision for a strong, resilient province. This Throne Speech has a lot to offer for the Canora-Pelly constituency, including affordability measures to help my constituents manage the rising costs of living.

I am particularly happy about the community rink affordability grant doubling. I spoke with some hard-working volunteers who just got their rink up and running again in Jedburgh. And this grant is so important to communities like this to help offset the cost of operating their facilities. I know that in my community of Buchanan, the previous grant of 2,500 was a massive help in keeping these facilities not only open, but operating in a capacity that serves our village well.

For these reasons and numerous other reasons, I will be supporting the motion put forward by the member from Kindersley-Biggar and seconded by the member from Saskatchewan Rivers. I will not be supporting the amendment.

Mr. Speaker, as I stand here today, I am reminded of the remarkable history of this constituency and the people who have come before me. From Sarah Ramsland to Lorne Kopelchuk, Rod Gardner, Terry Dennis, Ken Krawetz, this region has been a source of strength, innovation, and leadership for our province.

[15:45]

I promise to honour that legacy with hard work, integrity, and a commitment to fairness. Together we can ensure Canora-Pelly and all of Saskatchewan continue to thrive, not just for today but for generations to come. Thank you.

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

Bhajan Brar: — Thank you. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I congratulate to you and to the Deputy Speaker as custodians of democracy.

Mr. Speaker, hon. members, and fellow citizens of Saskatchewan, I stand before you today to tell you my childhood. I come from a very poor family. My father was nine years old when he became an orphan, and he was looked after by distant relatives. He had a great personality. He taught us humanity. He always said that a person should not serve the society while living, but after death too. He donated his body to the hospital and inspired the whole family to donate our bodies. Now my family has no right upon my body. It will rest in the hospital.

At the age of 89 in 2010 when my father died, we all family members donated his body with tears in our eyes to the medical hospital for transplanting the organs to the people in need and the rest of the body to the doctors for research purposes. By doing this, we fulfilled his wishes. We all family members always bow our heads before his thoughts.

Mr. Speaker, sometimes I did not have money to pay my monthly school fee that was just 10 cents at that time. My teacher sometimes paid my fee. I always bow my head before them. Luckily Punjab government opened up a polytechnic in a rural area which was just 800 metres from my home. That changed my life. I took a loan, bought the cows, and sold the milk at various shops to pay my college fee.

I passed a three-year diploma in electrical engineering, but again there was so much unemployment that I became a certified technologist after seven years. At the age of 32, I passed a degree in electrical engineering from Calcutta through distance education and was selected as the assistant engineer and worked in electricity board just here at SaskPower.

At the age of 55, I took my retirement as a senior executive engineer and decided to settle in Canada. I resigned and became a permanent resident in Manitoba. There, for several jobs I worked at a gas station, at 7‑Eleven, and in Kitchen Craft factory and as a part-time job I delivered pizza.

In 2006 the NDP government opened the SINP [Saskatchewan immigrant nominee program] program. My son and my daughter-in-law applied and they came in 2007 in Regina. My younger daughter was married in Regina, and me and my wife united here with my son, thanks to the NDP government and my daughter’s in-laws who sponsored to my son’s family and gave shelter here.

In 2007 Saskatchewan government came, and I got licensed as a journeyperson electrician at the age of 62. And at the age of 65, when people think about retirement, I got a class 4 power engineer ticket and worked on both positions. I was a student, I am a student, and I will remain a student for my whole life.

Here again my age became a hurdle for further employment, and to whom I guided and taught, those persons are already working as class 1 power engineers. But I am not a disappointed person. One Punjabi poet has written, “I don’t walk on the path already made, but when I walk the path, the path becomes.” Again I will quote it. “I don’t walk on the path already made, but when I walk the path, the path becomes.” I always try to follow him.

In Regina, Mr. Speaker, besides my job, I was always anxious to help the society and lovely Saskatchewan people and did various volunteer activities like fundraising for the food bank, Nepal earthquake victims, for needy people, and special fundraising on Remembrance Day. In this way I remember my father in-law who fought Second World War and became a prisoner of war, and all the other known and unknown soldiers who sacrificed for us.

I am a blood donor and donated blood up to the age 64 and also arranged camps and bring awareness into my community. I am also a community counsellor for family disputes and solve the problem of dozens of families. Nowadays they are living with their kids with a happy life.

I have three adult children. One girl is married in the USA [United States of America]. One girl and son are here, and I am living with my son. Along with my partner, I have eight grandchildren; six of them are here.

Since that day I came to Canada, I liked the policy of the NDP and participated in every activity and came into politics. I also ran for Regina Pasqua in 2020, but due to COVID I could not deliver my clear message to the Regina Pasqua constituents. But in 2024, not from the nomination day but before that, I stayed in contact with my constituents. I am proud to say that no constituent can say that Bhajan has not come to their door and heard us.

Ultimately the respected constituents responded and, as result, now I am here. And I am here with an overwhelming sense of humility and gratitude as the newly elected representative for Regina Pasqua. This is not a personal milestone, but a moment that belongs to the people of my constituency, who have placed their trust in me to advocate on their behalf.

Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge those that have made this journey possible: first and foremost, NDP; my respected leader, the Leader of the Opposition, Carla Beck; my family, my partner, children and their further relatives from in-laws; grandchildren and my other relatives, more than 100 members. A very big family and loved ones have been my greatest source of strength. This journey would not have been possible without their support.

I would also like to thank our dedicated team of volunteers and my whole executive, who worked day and night on my campaign. Also thanks to those constituents who voted for other parties. At least they kept alive the democracy.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank the resident of Regina Pasqua who have put their faith in me. I am here to represent their concerns, their hopes, and their dreams. It is truly an honour and a privilege, and I don’t take it lightly.

Regina Pasqua is a newly developed area and is expanding rapidly. I remember its construction just started perhaps in 2010, and has been expanding day by day. But Regina Pasqua, like the rest of our lovely Saskatchewan, faces many challenges. The most important need of Regina Pasqua is the immediate completion of a school under construction in the Harbour Landing area.

Of course there are other problems in Regina Pasqua, just like the rest of our great province, like health care, proper education for the students, non-recognition of international education and qualification. Skilled immigrants are leaving the province; that is why retaining rate in Saskatchewan is 63 per cent. Our employees having the lowest wage in the country.

I look forward to working with all of you across the party lines to find the solution to make life better for the residents of Regina Pasqua. Mr. Speaker, to the people of Regina Pasqua: I promise you that I will always be at your doorstep to listen to you and work tirelessly on your behalf to make your life better. This is a responsibility that I don’t take lightly, and this is a responsibility that I will carry with pride every day. Together let’s build a bright future for Regina Pasqua and for the lovely Saskatchewan as a whole.

Mr. Speaker, in the end I will ask the Saskatchewan government, that is not ready to give the temporary relief by reducing the fuel cost for the Saskatchewan people. And the opposition will trust that Saskatchewan . . . How the opposition can trust that Saskatchewan government will give the permanent relief to the Saskatchewan people?

Saskatchewan government said that we have to maintain highways. It means, number one, that either there is no highway in the east or west where fuel prices are less, or if they have, they might have taken the grant from the Saskatchewan government to maintain the highway. Number two, Saskatchewan government is losing that revenue. All truckers and other vehicles, whether they go east or west, they fill their tank from other provinces.

If the Saskatchewan government is not ready to listen, the opposition is ready to listen to them. Let the Saskatchewan government put the resolution to decrease the fuel cost immediately. The opposition will favour.

That is why I do not support the Throne Speech. Thank you. And to end, love to all of Saskatchewan people. And I request, Mr. Speaker, to introduce, give the time, opportunity to speak, Sally Housser in Regina University. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Lloydminster.

Hon. Colleen Young: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to begin by congratulating you and our new Deputy Speaker, the member from Lumsden-Morse, on your new roles. I am confident you will do a great job in keeping this House in order. I also want to extend congratulations and welcome back to the returning members on both sides of the House, as well as a warm welcome to all the newly elected members of this Assembly.

I will begin like many of my colleagues in this Assembly have done by thanking some very special important people who I’m truly indebted to in helping to get me re-elected and have given me the honour to be able to enter this building once again and represent them in this place of honour.

First of all, a sincere and humble thank you to the people of the Lloydminster constituency for your trust and confidence you have placed in me to be your voice and advocate within this government. I also want to thank the many people who may not have voted for me but were open, polite, and kind, and shared their concerns and issues with me on the doorsteps. It’s important to listen, work to understand, and relay those messages as well within government.

I will begin with a very heartfelt thank you to my husband, Kim. During my nomination process last year, he spent many, many hours and miles with me in the car travelling from farm to farm, acreage to acreage, town to town throughout the rural part of my constituency, meeting folks and asking for their support.

This year he stuck with me again, going from door to door and up and down every street throughout my riding, asking for everyone’s support. Day one of the writ, he travelled again with me throughout the countryside putting up signs and was on sign duty daily, getting them on people’s lawns.

Even when I felt tired and wanted a break, he would push me and set a time for us to get out and knock more doors. He knows how important it is to knock on doors, meet, listen to, and share conversations with the voters. He once sat in this Legislative Assembly too as an MLA from 1982 to ’86, representing the good people of Saskatoon Eastview before being appointed to the Provincial Court.

After 36 years he was retired from the bench. He continues to serve as a Provincial Court relief judge, doing court points mainly in the northern part of our province. I am so fortunate and grateful to have such a supportive, loving, and caring husband that encourages me and allows me to do my job. Thank you, Kim. I love you dearly.

To my dear long-time friend and neighbour, Kathy Bloch-Hansen: thank you for the many evenings and hours you put in knocking doors with me as well. When Kim couldn’t come with me, Kathy was always willing, ready, and able. Thank you, Kathy.

[16:00]

To my constituency assistant, Tracy Patterson, and her husband, Rob: you are an amazing team, keeping me on track throughout the campaign, from getting the campaign office in place, putting signs together, organizing volunteers and events, to wrapping everything up one day after the election. A special thank you goes to Rob. Rob has been fighting pancreatic cancer for the past year, and I was always amazed that he showed up every day during the campaign, helping out in so many ways. Thank you, Rob and Tracy, for your dedicated support.

I also need to give a shout-out and thank you to some of my other volunteers who gave many hours of their time to the campaign: Wayne King for knocking doors, getting monetary donations, putting up and taking down signs; Malik Ahmad for helping with technical support when needed; Shelley King for keeping my finances in good order; Tom Paul for knocking doors; my Filipino friends, Michele, Johanna, Ethel, Melaine, and Mike, who came to fold letters, put up signs, and travelled to Saskatoon for the rally. I am so grateful for all your help, support, and to call all of you my friends.

A big thank you also goes to the many, many individual donors and businesses who financially supported my campaign. I’m truly grateful for your support.

I want to thank my children for their love and encouragement. They keep me grounded and send me daily updates on their very busy lives and growing families. Of my eight children — one daughter and seven sons — five of them have returned to the community of Lloydminster to establish professional businesses, buy a home, and raise their families.

I’m going to take a few minutes — and I hope it’s only a few minutes — to give an update on where they are in their lives and their families. They are all alumni of the University of Saskatchewan to begin with. Our daughter Nevada has a master’s in biology and teaches grade 12 at the Lloyd Comp. She loves her work and her students. She is a world traveller and takes the opportunity whenever she can.

Our son Casey is an interventional radiologist. In 2012 he married Jessica, who is a special ed teacher. They moved from Vancouver to Lloydminster. Casey worked for the health region while he built his own clinic, and Jessica taught in the public school system. Over the next 10 years, Casey has built 22 diagnostic clinics, both in Saskatchewan and Alberta, including the largest one currently in Leduc.

At the beginning of last year, Dr. Casey Young was seconded to be the community development officer for Canadian Diagnostics of Canada. He is busy creating more opportunities for diagnostic clinics across the country.

They have six beautiful children — five daughters and a new little boy. Pearl is 11; Belle is nine; Hazel is eight; Ruby is six; June is three and a half; and Otto is four and a half months.

Dr. Chester Young is a dentist and owns and is a partner with his brothers Riley and Duke in Chestermere Lake, Alberta, and own a clinic in Calgary as well.

Dr. Riley Young is a dentist with his brothers at Rainbow Falls Dental in Chestermere Lake. He’s married to Ashley, a pharmacist. They began their family with a set of twins, Zach and Henley, who turned two in June, and they have a one-year-old little boy as of October, Cade.

Fraser built and owns his own Edge Orthodontics clinic in Lloydminster and practises there, but he also owns a clinic in Canmore, Alberta and is currently building one in Cold Lake. He’s married to Chantal, a dental assistant, and they have two boys — Beck, five; Harris, two and a half — and our newest grandchild, Nellie, who is three weeks old.

Percy is a dentist as well, an associate at College Park Dental in Lloyd. His wife, Lesia, is a dentist at SmileWorks in Lloydminster, and they have a one-year-old little boy, Wells.

Ace, who is a twin, Dr. Ace Young, is a dentist who also just recently moved back to Lloydminster and opened his own practice there. He’s been very busy. His wife is an RN [registered nurse], but currently she’s been home raising a set of twins, 16‑month-old twins, Briggs and Brinley.

And the other twin, Dr. Duke Young, is a dentist and is also an owner of Rainbow Falls clinic in Chestermere Lake with his brothers. Mr. Speaker, I am so very proud of all my children, their educational, business accomplishments, and their strong and loving commitment to the foundation of family.

As you heard, I currently have 15 grandchildren with the latest one, as I mentioned, a little girl called Nellie born on October 25th, just before election day. She was born a month early but received exceptional care at the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon and has been home doing very well.

So, Mr. Speaker, it is a new beginning for little Nellie. And it’s also a new beginning for this thirtieth sitting of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan and our government. As we have heard on more than one occasion now, many Saskatchewan people voted to re-elect our government for a fifth term. They voted to keep our economy strong and our future bright.

But some also voted for change. I too heard on the doorsteps concerns and challenges people are facing daily — the wait times in health care; the education of our future generations; and the ongoing concerns of drugs, violence, and safety in our communities; and the cost of everyday living.

Our government is committed to making the necessary changes, investments, and providing the human resources that will improve services and help all citizens of this province to feel pride in a government who is listening and taking action. Many if not all my colleagues will touch on the important work that lies ahead of our government and our campaign commitments, but I just want to speak briefly on how we find the money to invest in these priorities — our very valuable and important energy and resources sector.

Mr. Speaker, I grew up in a large family on a farm in Saskatchewan and know that agriculture is a significant contributor to the economy of our great province. And we thank our farmers, ranchers for their continued commitment, hard work, and dedication to ensuring the spine of our province remains strong and stable. But since 2007 we need to recognize that our oil and gas and other resource sectors — potash and now critical minerals like helium, lithium, and I’m positive more to come — have become the number one contributors to our growing economy.

The current 2024‑25 estimate for oil- and gas-related revenue is $1.23 billion, and the current 2024 estimate for oil and gas investment for new exploration and development is said to be 3.5 billion. Oil and gas has returned to 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. 459,000 barrels per day was produced this year alone, and our growth plan for 2030 has set a target of 600,000 barrels per day. And in talking with our industry, they are confident we are going to get there.

The current estimate for combined oil and gas production is already at 14.5 billion, and the value of potash sales in 2023 was 10.5 billion, exceeding our growth plan goal by nearly $2 billion. And as we’ve heard over the past few years, and that we should all be aware of, Saskatchewan is home to 27 of 34 critical minerals that the Government of Canada recognizes on their list and which positions this province for future growth opportunities and revenues, including helium, hydrogen, lithium, gold, diamonds, copper, and zinc.

We will continue to work with industries and potential investors to expand the opportunities in the mining sector. Global interest in Saskatchewan’s natural resource sector has increased considerably over the past decade. Saskatchewan definitely has the food, fuel, and fertilizer to help meet the food and energy security needs of the world and our province’s growing population.

There might be a few headwinds, but I am excited about the opportunity that lies ahead of the oil and gas industry, even with the new administration changes in the United States. Keep in mind they want what we want, and what strengthens our economy and creates well-paid jobs is what they want too — more oil and gas flowing through pipelines like Keystone XL expansion, and exports to more world markets. The province’s rich, abundant resources are foundational to this growth and the revenues to support it. The stability and competitiveness of our government’s regulatory and taxation environment are key and major contributors to investor confidence and economic growth.

Now we just need our federal Liberal-NDP coalition government to stand down on the numerous regulatory policies that they continue — continue — to impose on this industry, which are costly and are not in their bucket of responsibility to carry and manage. Clearly that authority belongs to the province of Saskatchewan.

Since 2007 our government has been working hand in hand with our energy sector and our resources sector to cut red tape, create effective investment incentive programs, which have supported investment projects related to innovation and value-added processing in the oil and gas and emerging critical mineral sectors.

A strong economy, built by working with our energy and resources sector industries and partners, is how we pay for and get to shorten surgical wait times, the building of more urgent care centres, more hospitals, new schools, and added educational teachers and support staff, the hiring of more health care professionals, expanding health programs that support people. It’s how we add more mental health beds and supports for those who need it.

It’s how we support small business and create entrepreneur opportunities. It’s how we hire more RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] and police officers to keep our homes, businesses, and communities safe. It’s how we can provide supports for the homeless and the most vulnerable in our communities, and it’s how we help make life more affordable for everyone in our great province.

Mr. Speaker, it is a new beginning for this province and this government. And I am honoured to be part of this government as we look forward to keeping this economy strong, all the while recognize the important partners in our energy and resources sectors that will keep our economy strong and moving forward.

I know there is a brighter future for my grandkids and our future generations, and that’s why I will be supporting the motion on the 2024 Speech from the Throne put forward by my colleague from Kindersley-Biggar, seconded by the member from Saskatchewan Rivers, and I will not be supporting the amendment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize member from Saskatoon University.

Sally Housser: — Regina University, Speaker.

Speaker Goudy: — Oh, sorry. I recognize the member from Regina University.

Sally Housser: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today on Treaty 4 territory and the traditional homeland of the Métis to enter into debate on the Speech from the Throne.

Firstly to you, Mr. Speaker, I say congratulations for taking on this new position. I know that you and your colleague, the Deputy Speaker, will conduct yourselves with thoughtfulness and above all else, fairness.

To Madam Clerk and your team: thank you for the hard work you put in to keep this legislature running. The consistency and non-partisanship with which you conduct your work is a key but often overlooked cornerstone of our democratic process.

To the Sergeant-at-Arms and his team, the cafeteria staff, the custodial and building maintenance staff, security, camera operators: you all play a part in the governance of Saskatchewan.

I want to take a moment to specially acknowledge the Pages. Last time I was considered a non-stranger on a legislative floor was when I served as a Page in the House of Commons in Ottawa. I urge you to treat every day with reverence. Being a Page was truly a life-changing event for me and in many ways put me on the course that has led me here today. I never got tired of walking up to the Parliament Buildings, as I know I will never get tired of walking into this beautiful provincial legislature.

I would like to address the people of Regina University directly. To them I say that this honour and the responsibility that you have seen fit to bestow me is one of the greatest achievements of my life, and I will not let you down. Whether you voted for me or not in the 2024 election, I will work every day to serve you and either earn your vote again or for the very first time when we go to the polls next.

[16:15]

From Munroe Place to Froom Crescent to Calla Bay to Wascana Gate, I promise to represent all of my constituents to the absolute best of my ability every single day.

I would also like to thank Gene Makowsky for his long service to this province, both in the legislature and on the field. I know that I have big shoes to fill both literally and metaphorically.

I also look forward to working with my federal and municipal counterparts, Michael Kram and Sarah Turnbull, to ensure that we are getting the best for our community. I would like to thank my leader, the member for Regina Lakeview, for trusting me with the portfolio of Energy and Resources and SaskEnergy. And I look forward to working with the hon. minister on things that we can control within our borders to celebrate in our resource industry and to improve.

I’ve worked as a consultant, both in oil and gas and renewable energy, and I’m looking forward to engaging with industry stakeholders to let them know that from the C-suite to the shop floor, they have a partner in me and the official opposition.

Of course no one attains this honoured position by themselves. I began this process almost exactly a year ago when I announced my intention to seek the NDP nomination for Regina University. In every step of the way I have had friends, family, and volunteers who have supported me heavily throughout the journey. My friends Adrienne King and Style Stenberg helped me greatly through the hotly contested and sometimes lonely nomination process and successfully got me through what was in many ways the most nerve-racking part of the political process.

Justin Passmore, my Regina University riding president and right-hand man began door knocking with me and organizing as soon as I received the nomination back in April. And he kept doing that many times a week with me throughout the summer and right up through the 2024 election campaign.

My core campaign team of Justin, Judy Vanta, Nicole, Dion Tchorzewski, and our fearless manager Evelyn Riggs not only provided incredible commitment, dedication, and strategic and financial direction, they also created a welcoming and exciting office that kept volunteers well fed and made them feel at home — but not too at home that they weren’t out knocking on doors.

I would also like to acknowledge my friends in labour. When the stakes are high, workers always deliver. Members of Unifor, LIUNA [Laborers’ International Union of North America], CUPE [Canadian Union of Public Employees], SFL [Saskatchewan Federation of Labour], and steelworkers all knocked on doors for myself and many of my colleagues to help take our message to voters. They did this because they know that the opposition NDP will always be on their side.

And to both our party office and caucus staff, a very special and specific thank you, thank you, thank you. With my years as a political staffer not very far behind me, I know the crazy hours, the constant firefights, the highs and lows, and the many, many, many competing priorities and points of view that must be weighed and balanced every day. You individually and collectively consistently go above and beyond, and because of that the credit of the growth we have experienced recently falls most squarely on your efforts. And I promise I will renew and redouble my commitments to all of you to not be a nightmare to manage now that I am an elected.

We all know that the decision to seek public office does not affect just one person. To my husband, Noah, thank you for taking the path of loving me which is most assuredly not the easiest road to travel. You’re truly my rock, and I am so grateful that I have you as I embark on this journey.

To Mila and Isaac, who were seven and four respectively when I came into their lives, now 14 and 17 at LeBoldus, it has been my greatest joy to watch you grow and become the talented, smart, kind, and funny young adults that you are today.

Thank you to my in-laws, Lynn McCabe, who is here today and Randy Evanchuk, who have welcomed me into their family and have been supportive in every way, shape, and form and are always on deck to help with the hockey, school, and swim runs.

To my mother and father, Rosemary House and John Housser, and my sister Emma Housser. They have been my greatest champions and boosters since I was a kid and that support has increased tenfold as I’ve taken this next step in life. We have often been far-flung in different provinces and countries throughout my adult life, but remain the tightest knit.

We have faced challenges as a family recently. My sister’s recent, but I’m very happy to say, successful battle with breast cancer which she faced, never losing her joie de vivre, and her natural desire to care for all those around her despite her illness. And my father, Johnny’s, ongoing battle with terminal illness which he continues to face with his characteristic thoughtful philosophy and fairmindedness.

Despite our geographic distance we have been able to support each other with good humour — often dark humour — great advice, and tremendous love. And a special acknowledgement to my mother, Rosemary, who adds tireless and loving caregiver to her extensive résumé as an award-winning filmmaker and writer.

I would also like to mention my late grandfather, the Hon. Max House. He was a visionary, community leader, and a trailblazer in the fields of neurology and telemedicine. And I believe he recognized that I would eventually end up in politics long before I did, and I know that he would be so proud of me today.

I’ve been asked many times how I decided to take this next step. The answer is that I see the tremendous potential in our capital city and in our province, and it is frustrating to see that potential fail to be realized as we continue to fall from leaders to last place in so many of the important metrics. It is not a negative thing to look at where we are failing as a province. I think in fact the greatest love we can have for Saskatchewan is acknowledging where problems are so that we can fix them and we can grow together and be the best that we can be.

We have some of the most talented, dedicated, and innovative small-business owners in this country, yet our urban centres are crumbling, and Saskatchewan has lost too many small businesses in the last year alone. We have the most tremendous wealth of natural resources — oil and gas, uranium, potash, solar, geothermal — but the people of Saskatchewan are not seeing that resource come down and feel the benefit to them.

We have vibrant, excited youth with their whole lives ahead of them, but tragically we have the highest rates of youth self-harm, suicide, and overdose deaths, and too many of the people that should be our future do not get to make it to adulthood.

We have the most dedicated teachers but the lowest per-student funding. We have the hardest-working doctors and nurses but the highest surgical and emergency room wait times. And while we are considered the breadbasket of the world, we have the highest rates of child poverty, food bank use, and now scurvy and tuberculosis are on the rise. Mr. Speaker, a province that has seen the resurgence of afflictions most associated with 18th-century naval expeditions is not a province that works for everyone. And even back in the 1700s, captains and leaders recognized the importance of keeping their people healthy. People like Lord Nelson recognized that in order to carry on and do what they needed to do, that he needed to keep the people under his watch healthy.

Now that historical digression around recognition in action, it does bring me to the topic at hand, the Speech from the Throne of the thirtieth Saskatchewan legislature. A Throne Speech is supposed to present the government’s vision for the legislative session, and what we heard from the government on Monday was a fairly long statement that says to the people of Saskatchewan, hey, we haven’t tried much and we’re all out of ideas.

Yes, many of the challenges are complex and not unique to Saskatchewan. But, Mr. Speaker, hard things are hard, and it is the job of the legislature and this government to attack them with curiosity and innovation. And when it is abundantly clear that what the government is doing isn’t working, it is time to be adaptable, contrite, and try something different.

We need to think of the good of this province not in four-year election cycles, but in terms of the necessary generational changes that will allow Saskatchewan to grow and thrive well into the future for our kids and grandkids. I will recognize the one novel note from the Throne Speech, the government’s seemingly new-found interest in civility and decorum. I do find the timing a little curious that they began this walk down the road to Damascus after an election that saw their numbers and power greatly reduced.

Mr. Speaker, I’m no stranger to vigorous debates with people of a different political persuasion. I’ve sat across a metaphorical microphone from former Reform Party leader Stockwell Day, former Conservative cabinet minister James Moore, even, Mr. Speaker, this government’s former Finance minister, Kevin Doherty. I’ve had great debates and formed great friendships with people of all political stripes. And while on this side of the House we will absolutely appreciate an elevated tone, I will not be confusing civility with my absolute duty to my constituents and the people of Saskatchewan to fight tooth and nail for them.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I know that we can reach the height of our potential here in Saskatchewan. We can again be leaders in health care and education. We can again have safe and bustling downtowns where small businesses thrive. We can have a province where our children don’t go hungry, where we don’t lose loved ones to mental health and addiction, and where we maximize our resources in such a way that all the people of Saskatchewan feel the growth and we have the best-paying jobs for people right here in Saskatchewan.

These things are hard, Mr. Speaker, and they are complex, but they are achievable. As the late, great Tommy Douglas would say, “We must dream no little dreams.” And as the late, great Jack Layton would say, “Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done.”

Mr. Speaker, I’m here on behalf of the people of Regina University to dream big and to get the job done. I will be supporting the amendment as moved, Mr. Speaker, and I will not be supporting the motion. Thank you.

Speaker Goudy: — I recognize the member from Cypress Hills.

Doug Steele: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I must say you look . . . That suits you. That Chair is yours. I’d like to thank you for putting your name forward to do that. We had a long conversation. You’ll do a great job. You’ll lead with, you know, respect and dignity. And I’d like to thank the member from Lumsden-Morse for stepping up and putting his name forward.

You know, this has been a journey. It’s the third election I’ve ran, and I’ve gone out and helped neighbouring candidates across the province in different areas. You know, it takes its toll. I remember back in 2016 when I first ran for nomination to be a member to run on behalf of Sask Party. It was in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan and getting, you know, out there. And elections are tough, and I was successful. They had buses come in for the other candidate and all that stuff, but I had more people riding on the bus voting for me than . . . [inaudible] . . . Thank God. The bus was reasonably priced, I’ve got to say, on that one. That was good.

But you know, as we step up here . . . And like, what I’ve seen here in this last election, like I was kind of disappointed in some of the things that I seen. And going back to when I first ran in 2016 and become the candidate, and I run. And then we had the provincial election. And so you’re out there and meeting, and you know, I was fortunate. I spent 20 years as a councillor reeve in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan, and then besides that I was on the SARM [Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities] board for pushing 17 to 18 years with the member from Wood River. So those people were your people. They knew you. They knew how you operated. They knew what your word meant.

And so you’re out there. You talk to them. They’ve talked to you before so you’re not just a fresh face out there — maybe a younger face, but not fresh — but you know, and they had a trust for your opinion. And I like to take pride as being a politician. I’m not going to tell you what I want you to hear because I want to be elected. We’re going to talk about the issues and we’re going to deal with them. And I’ll take them forward whether I’m on government side or the opposition side, and we’re going to see how we can be successful in accomplishing things.

And you know, that really gains support as you move forward in the . . . Just like I said, this was my third election. And it’s like, okay folks, it’s time to come out of the gates. The signs come out of the garage. It goes on their lawn. You know, you drive around. You don’t get . . . You try to door knock in your constituency and, well, you’ve got to sit and have coffee and visit, and you know, it’s a different game than it is in the cities.

And I really gained . . . Like, this is the second time that I’ve helped in door knocking within the cities. The first time I was fearful at it. You know, like it’s new kid on the block. You’re standing up. You’re shaking. It’s just like something happened to your speech, for example, you know, and you get up out there and you’re trying to gain their trust and you’re out there. And you’re thinking, well you know, it doesn’t get easier even though you think you have all that support. For the 30 days of the election, your mind is on the election, getting out there and doing things and getting the signs out and trying to meet and talk.

And then with the boundaries change this year, it was even a little bit different spin. But again I was counting myself pretty lucky as far as that happened because I was a director for division 3 in SARM and it went across the river, so I jumped the river. You had the natural boundary, Saskatchewan River, with people up there.

Well you go up there and you go into the restaurant, you know, and stop in Eatonia or something like that. You sit down and, you know, people look. Is that the new guy? Like you’re trying to educate them on the boundary. That’s the new guy. Is that Steele? Yeah, it’s Steele. Yeah. We would sit down and we’d talk and we would just . . . It’s pretty amazing. It’s pretty relaxing. Like I say, I can’t say enough about, you know, how I feel and how it’s a great constituency to run in as far as, you know, a constituency in general, like the Cypress Hills.

So then you know, like I say, it was all like that and the signs, the papers. They phoned. Are going to put an ad in? You bet. Got ’er. They get you up there. They put it in, front page. Bam it goes, eh? And like, so we had an NDP candidate and we had a Buffalo Party candidate then. Well the Buffalo Party, it was a one-issue individual and the things didn’t work out. You know, a handful of votes and stuff like that.

[16:30]

The NDP, I got to say they did, I thought, exceptionally well from before. There was a young lady run in 2016 and she was . . . I don’t know how exactly she decided to throw her name in the hat, but she did. And it was a very nice young lady and she was planning on, you know, if she didn’t accomplish getting into politics and that type of thing, wanted to get into an administration career, working at RMs and all that stuff. So I didn’t say she wasn’t going to win. But I told her, I said, well I know some people and maybe you’re looking for administrators — RMs and all that stuff. You know, you could apprentice and get your certificates and away you go.

So you know, I got the greatest respect, even more than I had before, to the folks across the way and the folks here, the new ones and the old ones too.

You know, I had one gentleman said when I first decided to get into . . . You know, politics is a blood sport. I kind of wondered what he was talking about, because in my part of the world I didn’t see the blood sport side of it, you know, I guess, and I don’t know if that’s the right terminology to use. Like it can be hurtful. I guess maybe say it that way. So you know, we go out and we help our fellow candidates run in their constituencies, you know, and in funding and stuff.

And like I say, I’m very fortunate. They’d phone, and they, like, say — you don’t have to request, you know, assistance for funds to try and run your campaign and those types of things — how can we help? Well it’s up to you, you know. And that’s, I know, very, very fortunate to have that. But you know, like I say, I really feel for the candidates that are maybe not just in the larger urban . . . they’re in different constituencies, and that type of sense of, you know, how they would contribute. It’s unbelievable.

But this year, like you say, you know, you take the nomination, run for the nomination of the party. It’s an election. Then you go and you get into the campaign for the provincial election. You know, I’ve been fortunate enough, back in ’20, ’16, I don’t think I’ve lost an election except for one within caucus here, over my lifetime. Touch wood.

But you know, the journey, it comes to an end. And you want to work with new individuals that are coming in and mentor them and show them and try to guide them to have an understanding of what can happen and what maybe won’t happen. But so anyway, like you say, that’s the journey up to the campaign this year.

And so I went out and we brought my campaign team. We had . . . Well it’s kind of hard to take them from way down there in the south corner of Saskatchewan and get them up . . . Well the two cities are three and a half hours away. But we had a handful of folks, and we wanted to get out to more constituencies to try and help and campaign and door knock and that type of thing.

But the time and the limits and . . . because you get called and people want you to come to their community and to their town hall. And they want to talk with you, you know, and they appreciate it, you know, or they want to have a coffee with you. And you know, you want to meet those requests because those are the people that are going to be signing their name on the box whether it’s for you or someone else. So you know, you want to get that done.

And like our campaign team, and we looked at a lot of this and we worked on it. And we tried to pick, and we only got out to about three places. And you know, we drove up and left about noon and got up there for knocking around suppertime, like, and that type of thing. And we got out there, and so then we — I won’t say where we were — but we went with the campaign team from that constituency and went door knocking.

And you know, we were kind of pumped to get out there. And you get on the doors in the cities and you talk with people, and I really . . . I got to say I really enjoyed it. It’s not them and us, as rural Saskatchewan against urban. If we remember how this province got started, they come with homesteaders that built and this had a population. I used to know this number but it was amazing. And then they built small towns, and you know, hamlets, and that stuff.

Then we built and when we started developing the resources, we started to, you know, expand, and we created jobs like, you know, with the Crowns. And CP Rail [Canadian Pacific Railway] opened it up. My ancestors, the Steele family, come from Eastern Canada. They were Irish. They come. They were 100 years there and had one . . . My grandfather come out here, and it’s been 125 years he’s been here — well he isn’t here now, but I mean, he passed away now — but when he homesteaded here. And the same with my grandma. She come from Scotland and they ended up here.

And you know, we talk about health care. You know, they come over and my grandfather on my grandma’s side — would be my . . . [inaudible] . . . grandpa — but they ended up with cancer and they lost the homestead because they went for health care into the States or wherever it was, and you know, lost it. His brothers were here and they acquired it back. But you know, these things deal with health care and education and all these types of things are nothing new, but it costs money. There was no health care then. You had to pay out of pocket. And then it got, you know, brought forward on Tommy Douglas time.

But okay, I’m jumping around here, but back to the campaign and door knocking and that type of thing, we were up there and we went with them. We door knocked all evening and then we go and we had supper with them and sat down. And you know, those folks were wore out, played out. And I imagine these folks over here had the same thing, door knocking, and you know, in the evenings, 30 days of . . . maybe more because they started before that because, you know, it’s a competition; they got out there. So we ended up, and like you know, we lost a few of our . . . well a lot of friends from both sides, I would say, in my mind.

And one side of politics that really started to bother me was kind of the personal smear thing that comes out in the media where you’re going after an individual. It’s not just that individual that you’re hurting; it’s their family and everybody besides. And you know, are the facts exactly the truth or not? You know, it really made me shake my head. And that’s where, you know, some of the things that happened prior to election time, different things like that, and then we’ve all of a sudden seen, you know, these things arise. And you know, as we move forward, I have the confidence that you’re the individual that will gain the respect from both sides of the House, that we can work together to get some things accomplished here.

You know, there’s certain days, and I know we’ve all likely seen this, when we had classes in the galleries sitting here watching us. And you know, I was brought up with respect demands respect, you know. And you know, things get a little tough, you cowboy up. You don’t cry, whine, and you work through it. You help each other.

And that’s how Saskatchewan was built. Take rural Saskatchewan for example — volunteerism. If we had to pay for our fire services, our EMS [emergency medical services], and a lot of these services in these communities and towns — and these are not little just villages, these are communities that are a few thousand and all that stuff — they couldn’t afford to do it.

So then, you know, they look to government. Well where does government get their money? We tax the people. We tax the businesses. They pay taxes. And it should be tax for services, not just taxes if you feel like it. Like I guess the carbon tax here, that has put a lot of stress on our people in our province.

And here we sit back and forth and debate this. And I know those individuals aren’t . . . They’re opposition. I shouldn’t say those individuals, but in the opposition. You know, they’re going to have to . . . Sorry, guys. Like it’s kind of rough, you know. Anyways, I mean I know that they don’t appreciate that any more than we do, that carbon tax that they seem to pull out and they think that’s going to happen. You know, I’m hoping. I’m hoping.

But the thing is that’s where we’ve got to, you know, stand united to fight other governments, what they impose on our people and our province. And you know, the oil and gas industry down home and the helium industry, I know the potash industry across this province has done amazing things. Back in the Devine era we started to build that. Oh, maybe I can’t say that. Can I say that? Okay, I did anyway. But anyway, they did it, and you know, got it started. Then it stalled. But then look what it’s doing today.

You know we want to be — it was mentioned earlier — we want to be the place. We were the place that we’re from; we want to be the place to be. I was growing up as a young man at home and stuff I stepped into . . . Well I got to, you know, to be at the farm and do a lot of things and all that stuff. So then I had to have about two jobs besides farming to be able to pay for this farm, which now I rent out. I thought somebody else would start over. It’s kind of a generational thing, but it’s already been four.

But that’s how, you know, we get things accomplished and that type of thing. I went through double-digit interest rates on loans and, my God, I don’t even want to think about them. Well not what they’re paying for land now, but what we paid for land back then. It was a lot of money.

My wife worked for 35 years in the education system. We raised a family of three kids that I’m very, very proud of. And they’re very, very successful, and they’re community leaders.

You know, my son, he is in the RCMP. He’s been in the RCMP for a number of years. His wife’s in the RCMP. And he’s in specialty services in the RCMP. He’s an ERT [emergency response team] instructor. I think I mentioned this before. But you know, they deal with the worst of the worst. He goes out of country. They’re trained extremely well.

And you know, and my daughter-in-law, she’s an RCMP. She works in Ottawa in the Parliament buildings doing what type of work she does, things you can’t mention.

But you know, we talk about policing in Saskatchewan. And like yesterday, I think well we have retired members that are in both parties here that served to protect their families, their communities, and all that. You know we think about it, those folks put their shoes on one at a time like the rest of us and go out every day, kiss their wife goodbye, off to work. They’re off to work. The kids, goodbye off to school.

And they don’t know what they’re going to run into. It could be just dealing with the public in general. Just like a politician talking with them. But when the bells go off and it’s them, they go into the worst-case scenario. Or you know, it could be an accident. It could be, you know, many different things. Drugs. They see the worse of the worst. And then they have to deal with that and separate that from their everyday life at home.

So we talked here like marshals services and the RCMP. I have the greatest respect for the RCMP. I had a brother who was 29 years in the RCMP. He went in at 18 years, I remember that. A uniform come to our farm, sat in there. Here’s an RCMP officer, and he was a large fellow. Well I was a little fellow, so he looked really large. But anyway he’s sitting there at the kitchen table interviewing my parents and the family, and talking to us, and I’m looking at him. And then he left.

He graduated in June, and he was in the RCMP in November because that was the age of 19 or 18. I can’t remember. But he went 29 years, and he went North quite a bit. He did different communities and different things and all that type. He was with GIS [General Investigations Section]. They dealt with drugs and organized crime and stuff out of Saskatoon.

And you know, like I say, growing up on the farm, my dad was kind of a guy, you know, it’s like the old story, cowboys don’t cry type thing. You step up. And he was brought up that way. We were both brought up that way. But he went out in there, and you know, did those things.

But you know, we talk about mental health and putting funding in there. I didn’t really think of any of that growing up. But he ended up — like he was 6 foot 2, and he was strong as an ox — but it took him down. He suffered with PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder]. And I know he was talking to my mom and dad at the table. He’d come home, and he was having troubles with his personal life, and it didn’t make sense to me.

And you know, at the end of the day, at the end of his . . . He’s passed away now. Actually he passed away this year. You know, then the journey ended for him. And unfortunately, you know, it’s something that I’ve learned from being a politician and listening to debate across the way, back and forth, the importance of funding for mental health and health in general.

But it takes management to come up with the resources and money to be able to do that. You know, we don’t want to overtax industry or businesses. Businesses are the backbone of our economy. We want to pay fair salaries to people, whether it’s in education or health. But I don’t know where we can, at this point in time right now, how can we do much more? And like I say, the Throne Speech here, there’s a lot of different things we’re trying to accomplish and do. You know, it’s not perfection. I would say there’s things that . . . you know we come to a consensus and we try to move it forward.

So you know, I’m hoping like, this next term over the years that we move forward, and there’s going to be some tough times. They’re talking now for example a 25 per cent tariff the United States is putting on. Just looking at the markets, canola is . . . [inaudible] . . . you know, and we’ve got concerns with China.

[16:45]

You know, our province is . . . Like I say, I mentioned earlier, the homesteaders started and agriculture is still here. It’s one of the biggest industries in our province, if not the biggest. You know, we’re going to be in a world of hurt here that we’re going to have to together try and manage to work through.

So like, I’m kind of rambling on here. But you know, like I say, the point is this being my third time up to the plate and running, and I was successful. And the people of Cypress Hills are amazing. Really, I wish every constituency had the opportunity to be treated like I get treated. But it’s not that just all of a sudden they’re going to vote for a certain party. You’ve got to gain their respect and their confidence, where a handshake means something. Like I said earlier, don’t promise something that you’re not going to be able to achieve. Work together on how you’re going to get there.

Like I sat in municipal government meetings and different things, and we talked about stuff. And I’ve had different constituents sit there and say — these are councillors, mayors, reeves, you know — well what’s government going to do for us?

Well whoa, whoa, let’s back up here. What are we going to do together? Come up with a business plan, and let’s put it in front of government. How can you contribute? We can contribute at home along with funding that comes out from government to achieve what we really want to do and build our stronger communities.

And then they kind of look at you. But I think if we message that more often, it’s like the system has to adjust and change and work together.

Saskatchewan’s an amazing place. In my mind it’s the best place to be if you’re raising a family or living; that’s four generations of Steeles have been here. And I imagine there’s lots of others sitting here today that their families have been here multi-generational, and some that have moved here, you know, not too long ago.

I ran into in Shaunavon — just to mention about people moving — there was 12 people in the town of Shaunavon moving from Victoria. And they had set up a meet-and-greet and went down and had coffee. And I kind of looked at them and said, “Victoria, in my mind, what a beautiful place to live and be.” And they said, “Well you know, things have changed over the last while.” And I said, “Well how do you mean?” The one lady, she . . . I can’t remember. She come from Victoria. They still have their residence there. She’s a little older lady, very nice lady. But she says, “Can I be on your campaign?” Well I said, “Any time if you like, sure.” But she wanted to be involved.

But can you imagine? And I imagine more of that happens across Saskatchewan, that people are coming to our communities and our cities and saying, hey, you know, I’m getting away from something that I don’t want to be part of anymore. It’s deteriorated with things that are happening in those communities, and we want to be part of things that there’s a positive side to it.

So you know, and like I say, for myself, it’s been a great campaign going through. And like I mentioned earlier about the things that were kind of a concern with me. But you know, like they say, it’s not a competition between rural and urban; it’s how we can get to the finish line together and get the value out of the dollars that we have to do it. And you know, it breaks all of our hearts when we run into certain things.

There’s the situation that was mentioned here today in the North. You talk about wait times. We have wait times, but we work and we work and we try to work around them. You know, it’s something that it’s worth working to achieve and accomplishing what we need to.

And like I said, in the Throne Speech there is a lot of material, and it’s been mentioned a number, number of times. I won’t go into reading everything over again here, and you know, coverage and seniors aged 65. I got another 20 years and I’ll be 65, so I’m good — I only wish. Then I might need one of those monitors, I’m thinking. Cut back the chocolate and all that stuff.

But anyway, I am going to end like that. I kind of went right off track. I had notes. Did anyone notice that? Did anyone notice that? You know, didn’t notice it at all, did you, not at all.

But anyway, I’m going to end by saying, which we all should — you guys think about this over there — I will be supporting the motion from the member from Kindersley-Biggar and seconded by the member from Sask Rivers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Betty Nippi-Albright: — Hon. Speaker, miigwech and congratulations.

I just want to say it’s wonderful when we can laugh in here, you know, and thank you for . . . Yeah, I love the 20 years. Yeah, 20 years. I may still be around for 20 more years.

Anyway, I just first of all want to say congratulations to each and every one of you who won their seat back and also to the new MLAs who worked very hard, worked very hard every single day to earn the trust of your constituents.

I want to say congratulations, Mr. Speaker. I’m sure my community would be like, yay, we have the Speaker. And I’m sure the children in my First Nation community, in the school, will probably extend an invite for you to come. So to them you would be a rock star.

And I want to say to every one of us how we don’t know the impact, at least I didn’t know the impact when I got elected, of what my role in this legislation would be. I didn’t realize how many people watch us — young people, young people — and how many . . . They look to us. We’re like rock stars. And I’ve had many young people, young Indigenous women, reach out to me. And to see representation, to have this representation in the House, it’s wonderful to see, you know, the changes that we have made. Although sometimes I think they’re too slow, but you know, it is what it is.

We’re on Treaty 4 territory. My great-grandfather, Chief Kinistin, was one of the signatories to the adhesion to Treaty 4. So to have his great-granddaughter sitting in this legislature trying to effect change that colonial governments have . . . colonial policies that continue to impact us today. To see, I’m sure, he must often at times rolled around in his grave, and thought, “Oh my goodness, what are you doing, sweetie?” But also at the same time saying, “Thank you. We need that, to make those changes.” And changes have been made.

And as a residential school survivor of nine years, I saw first-hand the experience of what it’s like to be oppressed, to be discriminated against, to be mistreated. And that has given me the ability to be resilient. And for those that don’t know, I’m pretty feisty. Right? And some may appreciate it, while others may fear it, while others may despise that. But I am who I am. I bring all of me.

And the one thing I’m grateful for, Mr. Speaker, is what my family from Kinistin have instilled in me, is the belief in the Creator and the faith that work hard, work hard to represent the people we serve. And I think of my great-grandfather who served his people, who felt forced to sign the adhesion in 1876 because his family was, his community was starving.

And to be in 2024 in this Chamber talking about issues that are still impacting us today — people that are struggling to make ends meet to put food on the table, people that don’t have a home. And I worry we’re going to have another individual die out there because they have no place to lay their head.

So when I think about the role that I’ve been provided . . . Like this is such a great privilege. It’s not an easy place to be. It really isn’t. And especially difficult for, when you’re not part of the system or haven’t been in the system, it’s difficult. It’s difficult to . . . It’s like putting a round peg in a square box. And it’s a challenge.

But you know what? I’m fortunate and I’m grateful that I had the education that I did in these white systems. I’m grateful I had an opportunity to go to university, to go to university. And yes, contrary to what many people think, my husband and I had to pay for my education. I’m First Nation but we had to pay. So I’m grateful for that opportunity.

And I never wanted to be an MLA. I never wanted to be in politics. That’s not what I wanted to do, because I’ve seen many of my family be in leadership positions. Politics is a thankless job. We’re on 24‑7. People expect us to change things, make things happen. And I didn’t want that, Mr. Speaker, but I entered into politics because it’s, like many of you, a calling. It was the right thing for me to do. We needed representation. We needed people to look like us in here. And I thought okay, I’m a pretty strong-willed person, educated. I have all this experience and I have a voice and I know that I can impact change. It’s going to be difficult. I’m going to face a lot of things that are going to go against me. But I thought, that’s the right thing to do when we’re called to serve. And I’m so grateful for that.

And I too just went off-topic completely. But what I want to say is how excited I am to see more desks on this side, to see more desks. And when I first walked in here I was like, wow. And it just shows how much . . . Yes, there’s been talk about change. The citizens want a change. And to see, to sit here with 26 of my colleagues, it’s just fascinating. It’s wonderful. And then the other thing that’s really nice to see is that we have diversity. That’s wonderful. That’s wonderful. We’re changing with the times.

And what excites me even more . . . There, I’ll continue tomorrow.

Speaker Goudy: — It now being the hour of adjournment, this Assembly stands adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m. Thank you.

[The Assembly adjourned at 17:00.]

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

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