Premier Brad Wall said the fall legislative session that wrapped up today focused on keeping Saskatchewan strong and moving forward.
“Even with the challenges facing our resource sector, Saskatchewan is still growing and creating jobs, thanks to our diversified economy,” Wall said. “That’s a far cry from a decade ago when any sort of an economic slowdown would drive people, jobs and investment out of Saskatchewan.”
Wall said the government is doing its part to keep the economy strong by continuing to invest in much- needed infrastructure projects.
“Since this session began just seven weeks ago, we have opened the new Dr. F. H. Wigmore Regional Hospital in Moose Jaw, new health facilities in Saskatoon, Biggar, Maple Creek, Kerrobert and Canora and a long-term care expansion in Tisdale,” Wall said.
“We have also opened the new school in Hudson Bay, major additions at Holy Cross and George Vanier schools in Saskatoon, the expansion of the Queen Elizabeth Power Station in Saskatoon, a new Headstart on a Home housing project in Prince Albert, a new group home for persons with intellectual disabilities in Regina, the new Parkland Trades and Technologies Centre in Yorkton and a number of completed highways projects including the Estevan Bypass.
“At the same time, planning is continuing on the Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert and work is underway on the new Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon, the new Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford, the Regina Bypass, 18 new schools and a number of other important projects all over Saskatchewan.
”It’s all part of our government’s plan to keep Saskatchewan strong,” Wall said.
During the session, the government passed a number of pieces of legislation, including:
A new essential services law to protect Saskatchewan people in the event of a public sector strike;
A new farmland ownership law to clearly define who can purchase farmland in Saskatchewan and prevent pension plans from buying farmland;
A new conflict of interest law for municipalities;
A new procurement law to ensure Saskatchewan taxpayers receive the best value for money when government contracts are awarded; and
New legislation to give patients the option to pay for a private Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan in Saskatchewan.
During the fall sitting, the government also announced its intention to create 52 more private liquor stores in Saskatchewan while updating the liquor permitting and price system to put all retailers on a level playing field.
This was the last legislative sitting before the provincial election on April 4, 2016.
