Legislative Report
(29 April 2015)

Enhancing Protections for Victims of Violence and Abuse

The Victims of Interpersonal Violence Act will soon update protections and expand the ability of police to help victims of violence and abuse. Changes include:

• Extending non-contact provisions to prohibit contact at the victim’s schools and workplaces in the case of an emergency intervention order;
• Adding harassment and deprivation of necessities as prohibited forms of interpersonal violence;
• Direction for a Justice of the Peace on certain matters that should or should not be taken into account when deciding whether to grant an emergency intervention order;
• Extending the scope of the Act to include care giving relationships regardless of cohabitation; and
• Modernizing the Act to include prohibitions on electronic communication between parties.

In 1994, Saskatchewan became the first province in Canada to introduce Victims of Domestic Violence legislation. These changes help to ensure that police and the justice system continue to have the tools needed to protect those living with interpersonal violence.

Working Together to Provide Homeownership Opportunities

One of our goals, as we work to keep Saskatchewan strong, is collaboration with community partners to provide safe and affordable housing for Saskatchewan people. Our partnership with Habitat for Humanity is one of the ways in which we’re achieving that goal.

Habitat for Humanity’s innovative delivery model provides opportunities for families to stabilize their housing and achieve their homeownership goals. This week, three more Saskatchewan families received the keys to a brighter future, starting with a home of their own.

The province now provides $65,000 in funding for each home starting construction. This is up from the $50,000 provided per home prior to March 2014. Since March of 2009, the province has provided Habitat with $7.85 million to support the construction of new homes in 12 communities across the province.

Saskatchewan’s 2015 Big Game Draw Opening Online

Saskatchewan’s big game draw opens online May 1st and hunters have until midnight June 2nd to submit their online application. The big game draw is a transparent and equitable method of allocating a limited number of hunting licences to Saskatchewan residents. This year’s draw includes licences for elk, moose, either-sex mule deer and antlerless mule deer.

This year, the big game draw moves to our province’s automated hunting, angling and trapping licence (HAL) system. This includes submitting, reviewing and updating an application, checking pool status history and purchasing a draw licence. These changes help to streamline and simplify the process. All hunters to apply early in order to familiarize themselves with the new process. For more information please visit www.environment.gov.sk.ca/licences.

Saskatchewan Supporting Relief Effort in Nepal

On behalf of the people of Saskatchewan, Premier Wall has announced that the province is providing $250,000 to the Canadian Red Cross for disaster relief in Nepal. Over the weekend, Nepal experienced a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that shook large sections of the country. Thousands of people were killed and thousands of others are now homeless.

The province’s donation represents the goodwill of Saskatchewan people, people who understand the importance of lending a helping hand when others are in distress. Since 2010, Saskatchewan has contributed more than $1 million in disaster aid relief to the Red Cross around the world including aid to Japan, the Philippines, Pakistan, Africa and Haiti.

Past Legislative Reports