After a summer hiatus, the Estevan Chamber of Commerce’s Coffee Talk returned, featuring Estevan MLA and Highways Minister Lori Carr, who covered a variety of topics, including education, healthcare, highways, and power production.
Carr highlighted a new multi-year agreement with all 27 school divisions, guaranteeing $365.6 million annually for classroom supports over the next four years. The provincial education budget for 2024-25 includes a record $2.2 billion in funding, with $354.6 million allocated for classroom supports—a 14.7 per cent increase over the previous year. She also mentioned 101 major infrastructure projects, including 69 new or replacement schools and 32 major renovations.
On healthcare, Carr said the Health Human Resource Action Plan, launched in 2022, has successfully recruited 373 internationally educated healthcare workers from the Philippines, with 290 already employed in Saskatchewan. The plan has also shortened the bridging process for these workers to 12 weeks.
Since 2022, 1,279 nursing graduates have been hired, including 182 since April 2024. Estevan currently has one remaining nurse practitioner vacancy, she added. The plan has also reduced surgical wait times to below 2007 and 2010 levels.
Carr said Estevan will soon receive MRI services, with St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation raising $4 million toward the $6.5 million goal for the equipment.
She also provided an update on the planned new regional nursing home in Estevan, noting the design phase is expected to begin soon after cabinet approval.
Turning to highways, Carr said the Highway 18 project west of Estevan is progressing, with resurfacing scheduled for early next spring. Gravel work is nearly complete.
Carr also addressed power production in the Estevan region, discussing federal regulations impacting coal-fired power generation.
“When Premier Moe was here last year, he said that if it is still viable after 2030 to burn coal, then that's what we'll do,” Carr said, emphasizing that abandoning useful assets isn’t beneficial.
She said the provincial government is exploring small modular reactors (SMRs) as a future power source. However, federal approval for SMRs is a lengthy process, and Estevan is being considered as a location.
Carr concluded by expressing dissatisfaction with the current federal government.
“I'm going to go out and do my part by voting and hopefully we see a change and a new government can undo some of the harm that has been truly done to this region,” she said.