Steven Wilson

The provincial government has given a few hints about what will be included in the budget that is set to be delivered this afternoon, and one more was hinted at during Question Period in the Legislature yesterday. 

Earlier this month, Premier Scott Moe announced the budget would include the largest ever amount for operating budgets for school divisions across the province. The amount, $2.2 billion, would be buoyed by a $180 million increase from the 2023-24 budget, and would also have $356 million earmarked for classroom supports. 

When it comes to setting up natural gas service on a rural property, the costs can be quite a bit. During the SARM convention last week, Dallas Tolles, a councillor for the R.M. of Cymri said he had been quoted $63,000 for a 1200-metre line to his property.

Dustin Duncan, the Minister Responsible for SaskEnergy, didn’t have enough information to answer that specific question during the bear pit session but did note the volume of natural gas used on some farms can be quite high, which can impact what is needed in terms of infrastructure.

Perhaps one of the biggest highlights of the annual Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities convention is the bear pit session, where the Cabinet ministers from the provincial government field a variety of questions from the delegates at the convention. The questions cover anything and everything, at times putting ministers on the spot to answer difficult questions.

Four organizations representing teachers and professors from pre-kindergarten to post-secondary education participated in a press conference Monday morning, calling on the provincial government to make commitments to fund education at all levels. The organizations, the University of Regina Faculty Association (URFA), the University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association (USFA), the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Faculty Association (SPFA), and the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF), were all represented by their respective president.  

Four organizations representing teachers and professors from pre-kindergarten to post-secondary education participated in a press conference Monday morning, calling on the provincial government to make commitments to fund education at all levels. The organizations, the University of Regina Faculty Association (URFA), the University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association (USFA), the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Faculty Association (SPFA), and the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF), were all represented by their respective president.  

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation is disappointed the provincial government reached an agreement with the Saskatchewan School Boards Association outside of the bargaining process but understands the situation the SSBA found themselves in.  

In October, it was announced SaskEnergy stop collecting the carbon tax on home heating effective January 1st. The move was in response to the federal government announcing they were pausing the collection of carbon tax on home heating oil, and providing no further exemptions.  

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation announced a three-day withdrawal of extracurricular activities on March 11 - 13 and a one-day rotating withdrawal of noon-hour supervision on March 11. 

STF president Samantha Becotte says that teachers regret the continuation of job action, but remain steadfast that measures to address class size and complexity must be part of the provincial collective agreement. 

Wednesday evening, Premier Scott Moe took to social media to announce what would be included for education in the upcoming provincial budget. He stated there would be an increase of $180 million in school operating funding, just over nine percent from the levels for the current fiscal year. Of that, $356 million would be for classroom support.  

Measles. In recent weeks, cases of childhood illness have been showing up in Canada. While there has only been a handful reported, including here in Saskatchewan, it has given pause for thought in the medical community.