Legislative Report
(8 July 2009)

Creating Jobs Across Saskatchewan

Your Saskatchewan Party government is making smart investments that will improve Saskatchewan’s infrastructure. In partnership with the federal government we are providing $86 million for 85 projects across the province. The money will go towards new roads, wastewater infrastructure and community projects. $79.3 million will be used for 72 projects in communities of fewer than 100,000 residents under the Building Canada Fund - Communities Component. Thirteen projects will receive joint federal-provincial funding of over $6.8 million ($4.5 million from the federal government and $2.3 million from the province) from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. This fund provides money to provincial, territorial and municipal shovel-ready infrastructure projects that can be built during this year's and next year's construction seasons. Our government’s investment will improve Saskatchewan’s quality of life and keep our province’s economy strong and steady during these current economic times.

HELPING PRODUCERS AFFECTED BY DROUGHT

Your Saskatchewan Party government understands the challenges facing our producers suffering from the current drought. That is why we are accelerating program payments to producers and addressing potential feed shortages. Crop Insurance will extend the seeding deadline for greenfeed crops from June 30 to July 15. Producers who have Crop Insurance will now be able to seed and insure any cereal greenfeed crop. In areas severely affected by drought, an increased number of producers will now have their claims processed without field inspection in order to receive their payments faster. If producers have a shortage of pasture or feed, they can also access Crop Insurance features that allow forage and annual crops to be grazed by livestock or cut for feed.

496 NEW CHILD CARE SPACES

Your Saskatchewan Party government recognizes the increased demand for child care spaces in the province. To meet this need our government is providing 17 agencies with $1.67 million in capital funding. This will provide 496 new child care spaces in 11 communities. The funding is part of the 2009-10 provincial budget which is investing over $4 million to develop 1,000 new child care spaces by the end of 2009-10. The new spaces will bring the total licensed child care spaces in Saskatchewan to 11,400. In addition to the 1,000 new child care spaces, the early learning and child care sector received an additional $1.2 million to support the training of early childhood educators. Our government is also providing $375,000 for child care for children with exceptionally high diverse needs this fiscal year. Child care centres received a seven per cent annualized CBO lift in 2008-09 and an additional three per cent in 2009-10 to support recruitment and retention of early childhood educators. The new spaces will provide high quality early learning and child care opportunities and support the social and educational development of our young children.

TRESPASS ACT IN EFFECT

Your Saskatchewan Party government listened to municipalities and police and passed the Trespass to Property act during the spring legislative session. The act took effect July 1st and allows police to issue a ticket of up to $2000 for trespassing, rather than charging people under the federal Criminal Code. Police forces and municipal leaders asked for this legislation so that they could deal quickly and easily with simple cases of trespassing. The legislation will not prevent activities that are protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, such as peaceful picketing on public property and peaceful demonstrations or rallies at the legislature.

BUILDING OUR ROADS

Your Saskatchewan Party government is addressing the highway deficit left behind by the NDP. In the last year the NDP were government, only 79km of highway with a thin membrane surface (TMS) were rebuilt. In contrast, our government has increased the highways budget by 41% and approximately 250km of TMS construction has taken place this year alone. Our government will complete the twinning of highway #11 between Saskatoon and Prince Albert twice as fast as the NDP planned. We are not only rebuilding the roads but we are also building bridges. There are over 800 bridges in the province. In the last year of the NDP only 12 bridges were replaced. In this construction season our government will replace 58 more bridges. This is a great improvement and we are working hard to overcome a backlog of close to 500 bridges left in disrepair by the NDP. Our government continues to diligently repair and replace the infrastructure deficit of over $600 billion left behind by the NDP, not only in highways but in schools, hospitals and long term care facilities. Our investment is increasing safety on our roads while creating jobs and opportunities for Saskatchewan people.

Past Legislative Reports