Legislative Report
(12 August 2009)

Saskatchewan On The National Stage

Judging by the positive news coverage Premier Brad Wall received in such publications as the Toronto Star, Globe and Mail and Calgary Herald, Canadians from coast-to-coast were talking about Saskatchewan last week. As chair of the annual Council of the Federation, Premier Wall and his fellow provincial and territorial leaders reached consensus on important issues such as H1N1, national and international trade, and employment insurance reform. Premier Wall also successfully made the case for a balanced approach to greenhouse gas reduction which includes carbon capture and sequestration. With other premiers promoting “cap and trade” as the best solution to reduce emissions, Saskatchewan is advocating “cap and cut.” Through carbon capture and sequestration, we would actually be reducing emissions.

To watch the Premier’s closing remarks at the 2009 Council of the Federation, click here. 

DETAILS OF JOINT SUBMISSION ON ISOTOPE PRODUCTION RELEASED

Almost 60 years ago, the University of Saskatchewan made medical history, by using nuclear medicine to save the life of a 40 year old woman with cervical cancer. Our government, in partnership with the U of S, believes Saskatchewan can once again be at the forefront of life-saving technology. Details of the joint submission to build the Canadian Neutron Source (CNS), a new world-class research facility at the U of S, have been released.

The CNS would include a 20-megawatt, low-enriched uranium (LEU) research reactor facility designed to:

• supply medical isotopes to meet Canada's health care needs and for export; and
• provide neutron beams for Canadian neutron science research and industrial applications.

The cost of the CNS research reactor is estimated at between $500 and $750 million. Under our proposal, the federal government would fund 60 per cent of that cost. Ottawa would also provide funding for 60 per cent of the operating cost of the reactor, with industry offsetting approximately 15 per cent of those costs through isotope sales and industrial science.

No final decision on building the CNS will be made until our government has had an opportunity to review the report from this spring's public consultations on uranium development.

In other words, if Saskatchewan people don’t want it, we won’t build it.

STRONGEST JOB NUMBERS IN CANADA

Saskatchewan remains the best place in Canada for employment opportunities, an excellent quality of life, and higher earnings. 11,000 more people are working compared to a year ago, construction employment is up month-over-month and aboriginal employment is up more than half. Saskatchewan is now the only province with more people working than a year ago. While the latest Statistics Canada numbers show our province is being affected by the recession, we remain relatively strong compared to other jurisdictions. Our government will continue to take action, whether that is through tax cuts, fixing roads, providing affordable housing or building new schools, to ensure the Saskatchewan economy remains strong and steady.

Past Legislative Reports