Legislative Report
(3 June 2009)

Potential Re-Development Of
Prince Albert Pulp Mill

Your Saskatchewan Party government has taken the first step toward re-development of the Prince Albert pulp mill site. We have signed a letter of intent with Iogen Energy which proposes re-development of the site which will see the construction of a first-of its-kind facility to convert cereal straw into a low-carbon emission fuel that can be used in today’s vehicles. The final project may also include a power plant that would produce green power.

This good news announcement for the people of northern Saskatchewan is being met with negativity and pessimism by the NDP. Prince Albert Northcote NDP MLA Darcy Furber is actively working against the re-development of the mill site by making criticisms that are factually wrong.. Mr. Furber said our government has committed to building 100 kilometres of new road, which is false. Furber also said a new bridge will be built as part of the project. That is also false. It is clear there is only one Prince Albert MLA – Darryl Hickie – working for the people of Prince Albert and one MLA – Darcy Furber – who is working against Prince Albert.

What our government has committed to is providing some tax incentives and, if a power plant is built, purchasing the green power it will produce.

Our government is working to secure an innovative new deal that does not put taxpayer’s money at risk, in contrast to the NDP’s $100 million “pulp fiction” direct investment in the mill. We are committed to finding new uses for the mill facilities, creating new jobs in northern Saskatchewan and making our province a leader in new technologies such as green power generation.

Iogen will conduct public consultations June 15-17 with local communities and First Nations in the area.

PREMIER MAKES CABINET CHANGES

Your Saskatchewan Party government’s first cabinet got the government off to a tremendous start, both in building economic momentum and sharing the benefits of a growing economy. In order to keep Saskatchewan moving forward, Premier Brad Wall has announced changes to the provincial cabinet which will build capacity. Those changes include four new ministers and adjustments in responsibilities for other MLAs. The new cabinet is a strong combination of youth and experience.

The new ministers are:

1. Dustin Duncan - Minister of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport;
2. Jeremy Harrison - Minister of Municipal Affairs;
3. Jim Reiter - Minister of Highways and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Transportation Corporation (STC); and
4. D. F. (Yogi) Huyghebaert - Minister of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing.

The other members of the new cabinet are:

1. Ken Krawetz – Deputy Premier and Minister of Education;
2. Rod Gantefoer - Minister of Finance and Government House Leader;
3. Bob Bjornerud - Minister of Agriculture and Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation;
4. June Draude -Minister responsible for Crown Investments Corporation (CIC), Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI), Information Technology Office (ITO), Information Services Corporation (ISC), and the Public Service Commission (PSC) and Provincial Secretary;
5. Bill Boyd - Minister of Energy and Resources and Minister responsible for SaskPower, the Uranium Development Partnership (UDP), Innovation Saskatchewan, and the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC);
6. Don McMorris - Minister of Health;
7. Donna Harpauer - Minister of Social Services;
8. Don Morgan - Minister of Justice and Attorney General and Minister responsible for SaskTel;
9. Ken Cheveldayoff - Minister of Enterprise and Minister responsible for SaskEnergy;
10. Nancy Heppner - Minister of Environment and Minister responsible for SaskWater;
11. Bill Hutchinson - Minister of First Nations and Métis Relations and Minister responsible for Northern Affairs and Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation (SGC);
12. Rob Norris - Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour and Minister responsible for Immigration; and
13. Christine Tell - Minister of Government Services and Minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA).

Eight Legislative Secretaries were also named:

1. Joceline Schriemer - Legislative Secretary to the Premier, At-Risk Youth Initiative;
2. Delbert Kirsch - Legislative Secretary to the Premier, Saskatchewan Heritage Initiative;
3. Greg Brkich - Legislative Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture, Agriculture Programs Innovation Initiative;
4. Serge LeClerc - Legislative Secretary to the Minister of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing, Corrections Facilities Initiative;
5. Laura Ross - Legislative Secretary to the Minister of Health, Surgical Wait Times and Long-Term Care Initiative;
6. Greg Ottenbreit - Legislative Secretary to the Minister of Environment, Recycling Initiative;
7. Fred Bradshaw - Legislative Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Resources, Heavy Oil and Northern Resource Development; and
8. Nadine Wilson - Legislative Secretary to the Minister responsible for Immigration, New Citizen Initiative.

MAKING POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION MORE AFFORDABLE

Your Saskatchewan Party government is taking action to help low and middle-income families access post-secondary, through $22 million in student loan enhancements. These improvements will ensure all Saskatchewan people can receive the education, skills training and resources they need to build their careers and their futures. We are:

1. increasing the Saskatchewan Student Loan limit to $140 per week of study;
2. increasing the Saskatchewan Student Bursary to maintain debt levels at $210 per week of study;
3. a new Saskatchewan Student Grant for Persons from Low-Income Families to provide $58 per week of study (or about $250 per month) to low-income students enrolled in one year programs below the undergraduate level;
4. a new Saskatchewan Student Grant for Persons from Middle-Income Families will provide $23 per week of study (or about $100 per month) to middle-income students enrolled in one year programs below the undergraduate level;
5. a new Saskatchewan Student Grant for Low-Income Persons with Dependent Children will provide $47 per week of study per child (or about $200 per month per child) to low-income students with dependent children between the ages of 12 and 18; and
6. a new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) to replace the former Interest Relief and Debt Reduction in Repayment and enable student borrowers to negotiate affordable payments toward their government student loans.

These changes will take effect August 1, 2009, in time for the 2009-10 loan years. These enhancements build on our Graduate Retention Program which offers tuition rebates as high as $20,000 over seven years to post-secondary graduates who live in or move to Saskatchewan.

To learn more about student loans in Saskatchewan visit here or check the Graduate Retention Program webpage.

Past Legislative Reports