Throne speech reveals remaining Saskatchewan government priorities
Angela Hall , Leader-Post
Published: Wednesday, October 22, 2008
REGINA -- A day after unveiling major tax initiatives, Premier Brad Wall's throne speech pledged to spread Saskatchewan's wealth a little further with help for low-income seniors and people with disabilities.
"We still have reason to be optimistic in the midst of market turmoil because of the very likely chance that we have for continued growth and momentum in our economy," Wall told reporters prior Lt.-Gov. Gordon Barnhart's delivery of the speech in the legislature.
"But it's also the understanding of this government that the resources that drive that growth don't belong to the government. They belong to the people of Saskatchewan and so people of Saskatchewan should be sharing in the benefits of the development of that resource."
A main component of the throne speech was the financial package the government had announced a day earlier, which included income tax reductions, richer low-income tax benefits, a debt paydown, a promise to spend more on infrastructure next year, plus nearly $2 billion left in the government's reserves.
The speech today also pledged to hike the benefit to seniors under the Saskatchewan Income Assistance program for the first time since 1992.
Low income seniors looking to make their homes safer will also be able to a get free home audit, and basic security devices such as deadbolts and window latches installed.
Wall said people with physical and intellectual disabilities meanwhile face an wait lists for support or housing programs that are too long.
"A wait list for these programs has grown to include over four hundred women and men," said the speech delivered by Barnhart.
"During this session, my government will announce a plan to address this wait list and ensure persons with disabilities receive the support they need."
The government said it will also provide in its next budget "equitable income support" for those with disabilities, as well has change the amount people can earn on social assistance before their support payments are reduced.
A large portion of the throne speech focussed on a commitment to crack down on crime stemming from gang activity.
Wall said the government will introduce a new Witness Protection Act that will help protect potential witnesses from threats of violence and intimidation. The premier said it will "complement" what the federal government has in place.
A new revenue-sharing formula to help municipalities meet the challenges of growth is expected to be in the 2009 budget, the speech indicated. However, the long-term solution to the education property tax issue may not be as near. Wall said the government would like to make the permanent changes sooner than the end of its four-year mandate, as was originally promised, but will be "cautious and prudent."
The speech also revealed the government's plans to introduce a "Saskatchewan first" policy that directs Crown corporations to focus on in-province investments, table legislation to pave the way for Senate elections and create a new agency called Innovation Saskatchewan to support research activities in the province.
NDP Leader Lorne Calvert said he couldn't argue with some components of the throne speech, saying the steps the government took in its financial package Tuesday could have been instituted by his own party.
But Calvert said the premier is basing the premise of the throne speech on the notion that "next year country" has arrived in Saskatchewan, while many families in the province are still waiting.
Some changes should be made today to help them, Calvert said.
"My criticism is not so much in terms of the substance of some of the directions in the throne speech, it is some of the timing," Calvert said.
"The price of energy is going up now. The price of rents are going up now. They don't wait for next year," he said.
"My question is why not move quicker, with greater determination, and now."
Calvert also questioned the premier's promise of a "Saskatchewan first" investment policy for the Crowns, saying that was in place under his previous NDP government. Some of the out-of-province investments that were made also proved lucrative for Crowns, Calvert said.
Other initiatives outlined in the throne speech include:
- the introduction of an "Arts Professions Act" to increase protection for artists and their intellectual property;
- improvements to the Graduate Retention Program, which currently provides a tuition rebate spread over seven years for graduates of post-secondary institutions who remain in the province; and,
- a scholarship program designed for immediate family of fallen soldiers.
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id=6d2967ce-a657-4689-9479-f94c7eae54e4
Angela Hall , Leader-Post
Published: Wednesday, October 22, 2008
REGINA -- A day after unveiling major tax initiatives, Premier Brad Wall's throne speech pledged to spread Saskatchewan's wealth a little further with help for low-income seniors and people with disabilities.
"We still have reason to be optimistic in the midst of market turmoil because of the very likely chance that we have for continued growth and momentum in our economy," Wall told reporters prior Lt.-Gov. Gordon Barnhart's delivery of the speech in the legislature.
"But it's also the understanding of this government that the resources that drive that growth don't belong to the government. They belong to the people of Saskatchewan and so people of Saskatchewan should be sharing in the benefits of the development of that resource."
A main component of the throne speech was the financial package the government had announced a day earlier, which included income tax reductions, richer low-income tax benefits, a debt paydown, a promise to spend more on infrastructure next year, plus nearly $2 billion left in the government's reserves.
The speech today also pledged to hike the benefit to seniors under the Saskatchewan Income Assistance program for the first time since 1992.
Low income seniors looking to make their homes safer will also be able to a get free home audit, and basic security devices such as deadbolts and window latches installed.
Wall said people with physical and intellectual disabilities meanwhile face an wait lists for support or housing programs that are too long.
"A wait list for these programs has grown to include over four hundred women and men," said the speech delivered by Barnhart.
"During this session, my government will announce a plan to address this wait list and ensure persons with disabilities receive the support they need."
The government said it will also provide in its next budget "equitable income support" for those with disabilities, as well has change the amount people can earn on social assistance before their support payments are reduced.
A large portion of the throne speech focussed on a commitment to crack down on crime stemming from gang activity.
Wall said the government will introduce a new Witness Protection Act that will help protect potential witnesses from threats of violence and intimidation. The premier said it will "complement" what the federal government has in place.
A new revenue-sharing formula to help municipalities meet the challenges of growth is expected to be in the 2009 budget, the speech indicated. However, the long-term solution to the education property tax issue may not be as near. Wall said the government would like to make the permanent changes sooner than the end of its four-year mandate, as was originally promised, but will be "cautious and prudent."
The speech also revealed the government's plans to introduce a "Saskatchewan first" policy that directs Crown corporations to focus on in-province investments, table legislation to pave the way for Senate elections and create a new agency called Innovation Saskatchewan to support research activities in the province.
NDP Leader Lorne Calvert said he couldn't argue with some components of the throne speech, saying the steps the government took in its financial package Tuesday could have been instituted by his own party.
But Calvert said the premier is basing the premise of the throne speech on the notion that "next year country" has arrived in Saskatchewan, while many families in the province are still waiting.
Some changes should be made today to help them, Calvert said.
"My criticism is not so much in terms of the substance of some of the directions in the throne speech, it is some of the timing," Calvert said.
"The price of energy is going up now. The price of rents are going up now. They don't wait for next year," he said.
"My question is why not move quicker, with greater determination, and now."
Calvert also questioned the premier's promise of a "Saskatchewan first" investment policy for the Crowns, saying that was in place under his previous NDP government. Some of the out-of-province investments that were made also proved lucrative for Crowns, Calvert said.
Other initiatives outlined in the throne speech include:
- the introduction of an "Arts Professions Act" to increase protection for artists and their intellectual property;
- improvements to the Graduate Retention Program, which currently provides a tuition rebate spread over seven years for graduates of post-secondary institutions who remain in the province; and,
- a scholarship program designed for immediate family of fallen soldiers.
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id=6d2967ce-a657-4689-9479-f94c7eae54e4
