Steven Wilson

The provincial budget, delivered last week, included a record amount for health care, with a budget of $7.59 billion. This was a 10 percent increase from the previous year.  

One of the key concerns voiced by many in recent months has been surrounding staffing for rural communities. This was brought up during the recent SARM convention in Regina and was mentioned numerous times in the Legislature in the days leading up to the budget.  

Just over 1/5 of the provincial budget announced Wednesday afternoon has money included for education. With $3.3 billion in total set aside, it is the most money ever earmarked for education and includes $2.2 billion for operating funding for the province’s 27 school divisions.  

When RCMP officers in Saskatchewan conduct a traffic stop, they will soon be asking for more than just your license and registration. Starting on April 1st, the RCMP will also be conducting mandatory alcohol screening on all traffic stops they conduct within their jurisdiction.  

The provincial budget, tabled yesterday, comes up short of helping the people of Saskatchewan, according to the leader of the Official Opposition, Carla Beck. The leader of the NDP noted the provincial government hasn’t been listening to the people of the province, and providing what they need.  

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. 

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. 

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.