Below you'll find MLA Tim McLeod's Report from the Legislature for April 18, 2024.
The views expressed below are solely the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official stance of Golden West.
Saskatchewan’s economy and population are growing rapidly and with that growth comes a need for new, expanded and renewed infrastructure. The 2024-25 provincial budget invests a record $4.4 billion in capital projects to support classrooms, care and communities.
The budget invests $216 million in education capital to enhance learning environments for students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 schools. This includes $165.9 million to support 11 ongoing new or consolidated school projects and three major renovations in Balgonie, Carlyle, Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Lanigan, La Loche and Wilcox.
Another $8.8 million supports the planning for nine new schools and two renovations announced in this year’s budget, located in Pinehouse, Regina, Saskatoon, Corman Park and Swift Current. Our government has invested $2.6 billion into school capital since 2008-09 for 65 new schools and 32 major renovations, demonstrating our commitment to Saskatchewan students.
In health care, our government is making a record investment of $516.8 million in infrastructure improvements to provide residents with the care they need and deserve. This is an increase of $179.3 million from last year.
Major health care capital projects in this year’s budget include the redevelopment of Prince Albert’s Victoria Hospital; replacement of the Weyburn General Hospital; work on long-term care facilities in La Ronge, Regina, Grenfell, Estevan and Watson; and construction of the parkade at Regina General Hospital.
Our government has invested more than $2.9 billion to support the construction and maintenance of new health care facilities since 2008-09, helping to ensure that you can get the care you need when and where you need it.
The budget invests $617.1 million into operating, maintaining, building and improving Saskatchewan roads and highways, an increase of 3.5 per cent. The entire amount collected in fuel tax - $521.3 million – is enhanced with additional investments to maintain and operate Saskatchewan highways.
The budget provides $417.3 million for transportation capital to improve more than 1,100 km of provincial highways. Construction continues on several major highway improvement projects, including twinning projects near Rowatt and Corinne on Highways 6 and 39 between Regina and Weyburn, corridor improvements on Highway 5 east of Saskatoon, and completion of the replacement of the two Highway 6 bridges over Regina’s Ring Road.
The budget also includes $73.5 million to build, operate and maintain the transportation system in northern Saskatchewan. Since 2008-09, our government has invested more than $13 billion in transportation infrastructure, improving more than 20,700 kilometres of highways.
Saskatchewan municipalities continue to benefit from this year’s budget, with a record $350.1 million in transfers through capital programs.
This year, $78.9 million will be invested in water projects. This includes more than $35.9 million to continue to develop and expand irrigation in the province, as well as funding to support the engineering, design and construction of the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project.
To continue to enhance public and community safety, $60.8 million will be invested in projects at provincial courts and correctional facilities. This work includes continued construction of the remand expansion at the Saskatoon Correction Centre.
Our provincial Crown corporations are also a priority in the budget. Crown corporations are investing approximately $2.6 billion this year – another record – to improve infrastructure in the province. Over the next four years, the Crown sector will invest more than $9.5 billion, which is the largest capital investment in its history.
SaskPower is investing a record $1.6 billion in the provincial electricity system to meet demand and maintain reliability and support the transition to a modern grid. This includes construction of the natural gas plant in south-central Saskatchewan, improvements to the plant near Kerrobert and expanding the southwest transmission interconnection.
SaskEnergy is investing $416.9 million into the province’s natural gas transmission and distribution system to help meet growth in demand.
SaskTel is investing $439.8 million to ensure the information and communications technology infrastructure is in place to help connect Saskatchewan residents. Investments this year include continuing to deploy fibre to rural Saskatchewan and rolling out the 5G wireless network.
The 2024-25 Capital Plan of $4.4 billion is the largest in Saskatchewan history and over nine times the amount of the capital budget in 2006 under the NDP government, which was $484 million in today’s dollars.
As our government continues to make these infrastructure investments to build classrooms, care and communities, we look forward to hearing from you. You can reach my constituency office at 306-692-8884 or mjnorthmla@sasktel.net.