Written by Maury Wrubleski 

The fall sitting of the 29th session of Saskatchewan’s legislature opened with yesterday’s reading of the Throne Speech by Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty. Prior to the members assembling in the Legislative Building, the afternoon opened with a first ever pipe ceremony and a 15 gun salute on the Legislative Grounds. 

As was hinted in Scott Moe’s “State of the Province '' address in Saskatoon two days earlier, much of the Throne Speech focused on what the Premier considered to be the government's major accomplishments. Much attention focussed on economic development and continued plans to foster it. 

The Speech did acknowledge the hardships brought on by both COVID and the drought, and Mirasty read an expression of gratitude for the health care workers and service providers on the front lines. He recapped the government’s efforts to address the situation, most recently the evolution of the Emergency Operations Command Centre in coordinating agency efforts. Staying with health care, the Speech recognized strides in provincial support including a new $2.5 million CT scanner for Melfort; coverage provided for Trikafta, a breakthrough medication to combat cystic fibrosis; and the development of urgent care centres to offload stresses of ERs in Regina and Saskatoon. 

The Speech also reflected the government’s bullish outlook on the economy, citing over $10 billion of capital investment secured in the ag, mining, and forestry sectors. It also recognized the tech hotbed in Saskatchewan, citing 7shifts, Coconut Software, and SMedia, and giving a nod to tech and growth innovators like Vendasta CEO Brendan King. The announcement of an additional $7.5 billion capital injection by BHP to the Jansen Mine Project Stage 1 was the lynchpin for the investment recap.

The Speech also recognized developments in the restoration of the Paper Excellence pulp mill in Prince Albert set to reopen by 2023. The government promised additional initiatives to support Indigenous workers’ entry into the industry which now shows a 30 percent Indigenous workforce. Also noted were four new foreign economic development offices coming on stream in London, Dubai, Mexico City, and Ho Chi Minh City. They are expected to aid in the sale of emerging markets in lithium, helium, and rare earth elements. 

In education, the Speech recounted the recent opening of Legacy Park Elementary School in Weyburn and the impending construction of 16 school projects including the new integrated school in Lanigan. The Speech looked toward increasing funding in K-12 for hiring educational assistants and supports, the “Take A Break” initiative to guide students in a healthy and safe relationship with social media, and an expected $60 million increase in funding for post-secondary. 

The Speech acknowledged a trend of increasing rural crime over the past five years. Promising 60 new officer positions and 11 civilian positions to support its initiatives, the government intends to attack the problem with a new provincial protective services unit. The unit, largely comprised of members from existing agencies, will coalesce under a single command, heralding the potential for a provincial police force, Mirasty read in the Speech. 

On the infrastructure front, the government remains committed to reaching a $30 billion investment bar by 2030 for roads, health care facilities, and energy distribution. The Speech acknowledged the establishment of new long term care facilities, including one in Watson; and the continued development of twinning and passing lane projects on highway, including 5 and 16. As for energy initiatives, the Speech looked forward to the development of the new 360 megawatt (MW) Great Plains clean power station at Moose Jaw, the development of 585 MW worth of wind generated power, and large scale solar projects in conjunction with Cowessess, George Gordon, and Starblanket First Nations.

The Speech concluded with a recognition of the tragedy of residential schools and the recent discovery of unmarked graves at Cowessess First Nation and other sites. In the Speech, the government promised additional support for further investigations. At the same time, the Speech acknowledged the historic agreement with Cowessess FN on its assumption of child welfare services. It also recognized an agreement to establish an online gaming site to be developed and operated by the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority.

The Throne Speech heralds what is expected to be a spirited fall sitting with the opposition calling for accountability on the government’s decisions, particularly this summer and fall, around the handling of COVID.