Legislative Report (12 November 2008)

Huge Drop in Social Assistance Numbers

Our government’s initiatives to grow the Saskatchewan economy have contributed to a huge drop in the number of people receiving social assistance in our province. More people are finding jobs. In October 2008, 1,225 fewer households received the Transitional Employment Allowance (TEA), a 35 per cent drop from October 2007. 879 fewer households received the Saskatchewan Assistance Program (SAP), compared to October 2007. Over the past year, the number of households receiving SAP has decreased from 22,516 to 21,637. Since your Saskatchewan Party government was elected last November, we have announced significant increases in support for low-income families, including increases to:

• the Saskatchewan Employment Supplement;
• the Saskatchewan Rental Housing Supplement;
• the Discounted Bus Pass Program;
• the Saskatchewan Child Care Subsidy;
• the income thresholds for social housing; and
• doubling the amount, and the number of people who qualify, for the Seniors Income Plan.

In addition, Saskatchewan residents will benefit from recent changes to the provincial tax system that benefit low-income people, such as:

• an increased child tax credit;
• the new, enhanced low-income tax credit; and
• a higher basic personal exemption which means 80,000 low-income people will no longer pay any income tax at all. Our government is committed to helping people secure their future by giving them the resources they need to prosper.

PROMISE KEPT: “PATIENT FIRST”

Your Saskatchewan Party government has kept another promise by announcing the “Patient First” review. It is the first of its kind in Canada and will look at the system through the eyes of the patient. The review will help ensure that healthcare time and dollars are going to front-line care for patients and to create quality work environments for healthcare professionals.

The independent review will be conducted by the former head of Saskatoon’s Royal University Hospital, Tony Dagnone, and will have two parts. The first part will focus on issues and challenges for patients and their families, including input from front-line healthcare workers. The second part of the review will look at the administrative side: such things as administration, finance, human resources and communications. Promise made, promise kept.

NO EXPIRY DATE FOR GIFT CARDS

Your Saskatchewan Party government had consumer protection top of mind when it introduced legislation that bans expiry dates on gift cards. That legislation is now in effect. The amendments to the Consumer Protection Act prohibit expiry dates on gift cards, including those for specific services rather than dollar amounts. Gifts card are a multi-billion dollar industry and it is important that Saskatchewan consumers are protected.

SASKATCHEWAN CONTINUES TO LEAD THE COUNTRY

Under our government, the Saskatchewan economy continues to be the hottest in Canada. The value of building permits issued in September was the highest-ever in the history of Saskatchewan, at $347.5 million. Statistics Canada also says Saskatchewan has the highest rate of employment growth in Canada, and the lowest unemployment rate. There were 521,600 people working in Saskatchewan in October 2008, 17,100 more than in October 2007. In this time of economic uncertainty, these numbers are very encouraging. They speak to confidence in our government’s historic reduction of debt and record infrastructure investment. Combined with our historic tax cuts and $2 billion fiscal insurance policy, we can expect continued confidence in the Saskatchewan economy.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE MISSION TO CHINA

Our government led a delegation to China that put Saskatchewan’s mining industry on the world stage. China Mining 2008 is one of the world’s premier mining shows - last year’s show attracted 3000 delegates from 35 countries. The Saskatchewan delegation continued to build relationships with a potential for increased Asian investment in our province, creating jobs and economic development opportunities. Mineral exploration spending in Saskatchewan is forecast to hit a record of $360 million in 2008, led primarily by interest in uranium and diamonds. Seven Asian companies have invested in Saskatchewan's mineral sector in the past three years, with advanced negotiations underway with Asian investors on a number of other exploration projects in the province.

Past Legislative Reports