“My government must also do more to address the challenges of growth – challenges like crowded classrooms and access to health care services. Voters told us we must do better in this areas and we will.”
– The Speech from the Throne 2024
The Throne speech said a new beginning will include a clear-eyed appraisal with what is and what is not working and as such will ensure that Saskatchewan people will be able to find a primary health care provider, will be able to access surgery in a timely manner, will feel safe where they live and will have access to mental health and addiction recovery.
It points to the challenges behind growth noting that there are 250,000 more people in the province now then when the Sask. Party was first elected in 2007. And at that time neither Warman nor Martensville were cities but Warman has grown by over 160 per cent while Martensville has grown by more than 112 per cent.
While having been criticized by the opposition NDP over not being able to staff the Regina Urgent Care Centre 24/7 as initially promised, the government says the Centre has served 14,000 patients since opening in July and its success means additional, similar facilities will open in Saskatoon, Prince Albert, North Battleford, Moose Jaw and Regina.
While there were more than 95,000 surgeries completed last year in the province which the government says is an increase of 28 per cent, the number of operations being performed aren’t keeping pace with surgeries that are needed. The government says it will ensure 450,000 surgeries will be performed in the next four years which they calculate will mean surgical wait times will not exceed three months.
The government says it will set a goal that every Saskatchewan person will have a primary health provider by the end of their mandate. It will also continue to build on their Health Human Resources Action Plan which the government says has resulted in 1,160 more active practicing nurses and doctors licensed in Saskatchewan in 2023 compared to 2022.
On the subject of education the Throne Speech noted that a child’s ability to read at grade level by Grade 3 is the single greatest predictor of future academic success so the Sask Party government is going to focus on improving reading levels in Kindergarten to Grade 3 which will include adding more teachers and education support staff and says it will increase funding to school divisions.
On the issue of affordability, as outlined on the campaign trail, Scott Moe says his government will introduce the largest personal income tax reduction in Saskatchewan since 2008 by raising the personal exemption, the spousal exemption, child exemption and seniors supplement by $500 a year in each of the next four years. That is in addition to fully indexing income tax brackets.
The Throne Speech also promises to add 500 more police officers and 500 more addictions recovery spaces as well as amend The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act which is intended to provide officers with additional authority to shut down nuisance properties.
The Speech from the Throne also addressed the acrimonious debate in the legislature in recent memory suggesting that while the Assembly should be a place of vigorous debate and at times strong disagreement it should now be driven by malice and that the Sask. Party government is going to work to improve the decorum and tone while the legislature is in session.
Other initiatives highlighted include:
-raising the personal exemption, the spousal exemption, the child exemption and the senior’s supplement by $500
Saskatchewan Low-Income Tax Credit will increase by 20 per cent over four years.
– The Home Renovation Tax Credit will allow homeowners to claim up to $4,000 in home renovation expenses every year.
-Seniors can claim an additional $1,000 a year.
-The Saskatchewan First Time Homebuyers Credit will be increased by 50 per cent from $10,000 to to $15,000.
-The annual amount that an individual, couple or family can earn from employment without having their SAID benefit reduced will be increased by $1,000.
The Disability Tax Credit will be increased by 25 per cent.
The Disability Tax Credit supplement for children under 18 will also be increased by 25 per cent.
The Caregiver Tax Credit which provides financial support for families who care for adult children or parents with a physical or mental impairment will also be raised by 25 per cent.
