Legislative Report
(25 June 2009)

Stellar Year For Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan’s success story continues with the news that our province enjoyed record revenues and our highest ever surplus last year. This allowed your Saskatchewan Party government to reduce the provincial debt and interest costs to their lowest levels in 20 years. The 2008-09 Public Accounts show that last year’s surplus was $2.39 billion, the largest ever.

Prudent fiscal management has allowed our government to pay off nearly 40 per cent of the government debt while also lowering income taxes by over $300 million and committing $1.5 billion to infrastructure projects. There is also an accumulated surplus of $1.4 billion in the Summary Financial Statements, the first such one in the 18 years these statements have been published. Government debt in the General Revenue Fund is now lowered to $4.15 billion, the lowest level since 1988-89. Our government has also maintained a $1.2 billion balance in the Growth and Financial Security Fund as prudent planning and to act as a cushion in uncertain times.

Through our strong economy, resource endowment and strong fiscal management, Saskatchewan is well-positioned to continue leading the nation in growth. While we are not immune to what is happening worldwide, our province is in a strong position by making record investments in infrastructure while maintaining a surplus.

SASKATCHEWAN REACHES HIGHEST POPULATION SINCE 1988

Saskatchewan continues its steady growth in the first quarter of 2009. Our province has grown by more than 15,000 people in the last year, including with a net gain of 3,282 people in the first three months of 2009, according to Statistics Canada. Your Saskatchewan Party government is focused on continuing this growth through good fiscal policy, sustainable tax cuts and improving the lives of all Saskatchewan residents.

Our government’s efforts to recruit Ontario workers are paying off as Ontario was the main source of new residents that have moved to our province. Saskatchewan’s net in-migration was the second highest of all the provinces in the first quarter of 2009, bringing our population to over 1,027,000, the highest level since July, 1988.

Your Saskatchewan Party government remains committed to a growth agenda through our new immigration strategy, attracting workers from throughout Canada and creating the best environment for people to work, live, and raise a family.

NEW IMMIGRATION STRATEGY UNVEILED

Your Saskatchewan Party government is working to grow our province through the release of a new immigration strategy, Strengthening Our Communities and Economy. The 2009-10 target is for 3,400 nominees through the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nomination Program (SINP), which, with spouses and families, would bring in nearly 10,000 new residents to our growing province. Last year 2,914 individuals were nominated through the program.

The strategy was developed after consultations with more than 300 stakeholders from around the province, and it will increase the number of nominees while also enhancing the services they use to settle into our communities.

Our government has also recently unveiled a plan to nominate 250 immigrants under the entrepreneurship category of SINP over the next two years, leading to the creation of nearly 900 jobs, as part of an “entrepreneur stream”. Other programs will also work to establish links between local business owners near retirement and immigrants who have the skills for business ownership. An additional $2.69 million was provided for immigration in the 2009-10 budget and this investment will help strengthen our labour market, stimulate investment and help create more diverse communities in our province.

The more information on the strategy, visit here.

REVITALIZATION FOR SASKATOON NEIGHBOURHOOD

Sod turning has begun on the revitalization of the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood of Saskatoon, which will include the new St. Mary’s Community School, park space and 35 new housing units.

Your Saskatchewan Party government is a strong partner in this effort, as we have contributed $8 million towards the development of affordable housing, along with $8 million towards the construction of St. Mary’s Community School, as part of the Pleasant Hill Revitalization Project. This project is a major step in improving the conditions in Pleasant Hill, ensuring that families in the area have more access to green space, quality education and affordable housing. This will lead to a stronger, more vital inner city for the residents of Saskatoon.

Past Legislative Reports