The new session of the legislature opened Wednesday with the first speech from the throne from the new lieutenant governor.
Honourable W. Thomas Molloy read the throne speech in the legislature in Regina, outlining the priorities of Premier Scott Moe’s government.
There were no major surprises in the address. The government outlined intentions to continue to stay the course in their efforts to fight a carbon tax and support pipeline development, as well as maintaining and improving trade relations.
“While our economy and the province’s finances are showing signs of improvement, we are still facing challenges due to the threat of a damaging federal carbon tax, continued sanctions from the United States on our steel and uranium industries, and a deeply discounted price for our oil caused by a lack of pipelines,” said Premier Moe in a statement.
“This throne speech outlines our commitment to stand up for Saskatchewan by growing our economy and continuing to deliver important programs and services for the people of the province.”
A number of items in the throne speech mentioned North Battleford directly, including the anticipated completion of the new Saskatchewan Hospital.
“My government is nearing completion of the new provincial psychiatric hospital in North Battleford,” it states.
“Once complete, the new state-of the-art hospital will be among the most innovative mental health treatment centres in the country and ensure those facing significant mental health needs receive the best treatment available.
“Through a phased-in approach, 188 mental health beds will be available to deliver mental health care and support and an adjoining correctional facility will provide 96 beds for offenders living with mental health challenges.
“The new long-term care facility in Swift Current and Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford both used a P3 model, allowing my government to save more than $100 million throughout the life of these two contracts – money that instead can be invested in other projects or to improve frontline services.”
North Battleford was also mentioned in the province’s pledge to improve access to mental health service.
The throne speech states “crisis teams pairing a police officer with a mental health professional will be fully operational this winter in Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Yorkton and Prince Albert. Multi-disciplinary Community Recovery Teams, made up of 40 new full-time employees, will be offering services in eight communities by the end of this year, to support people with complex and persistent mental illness.
“This winter, a pilot program to engage youth in mental health promotion will be launched in schools located in the communities of North Battleford, Sandy Bay, Regina and Balgonie.”
As expected, a good portion of the throne speech focused on pipelines and the carbon tax.
“Today, the courts have blocked the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion while the federal government is effectively ending the possibility of any future pipelines being built in this country through Bill C-69, which will make approval of future pipelines virtually impossible.
“Without pipelines to get our oil across the country, Saskatchewan must sell nearly all of our oil to one market – the United States – for sometimes as low as half the global price.
“My government will stand up for the jobs our oil and gas industry creates by continuing to press the federal government to take immediate action to get the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion built and to withdraw Bill C-69.”
The Moe government also pledged to continue its court challenge on the carbon tax.
“My government is taking action to stand up for Saskatchewan communities, families, businesses and jobs by challenging the federal carbon tax in court.
“Saskatchewan believes Ottawa does not have the constitutional authority to impose a tax on some provinces, but not others, based on whether or not the federal government agrees with the province’s climate change plan.”
As for their own efforts to curb emissions, the government pledged to implement the Prairie Resilience Climate Change Strategy.
“This plan includes commitments to reduce annual emissions by nearly 12 million tonnes by 2030 by reducing emissions from electrical generation by 40 per cent, decreasing methane emissions from upstream oil and gas production by 40 per cent and implementing output-based performance standards for heavy industry.
The government’s concerns about trade were outlined, with continued “protectionist threats” from the U.S. government cited.
“Our province continues to face the threat of tariffs on Saskatchewan softwood lumber and steel,” the throne speech states.
“This is in addition to the United States Department of Commerce’s spurious investigation of Saskatchewan uranium as a threat to U.S. national security, and possible tariffs that may arise from that investigation.”
The government also expressed its desire for improved trade with China and India. Premier Moe will be leading a Saskatchewan business delegation on a trade mission to India.
“My government will be part of a Saskatchewan business delegation going to India this November to encourage investment and strengthen the relationship with this large trading partner.
“The premier recently completed a trade mission to China. Unfortunately, Saskatchewan remains reliant on our federal government to negotiate international trade agreements, and Canada’s trade relationship with China has stalled as our country has not started formal free trade discussions as expected.
“The Government of Canada has also not indicated a willingness to expand uranium exports to China – an initiative that would benefit northern Saskatchewan mines and workers.”
Crime continues to be a focus of the provincial government. The throne speech touted the success of the recently created Protection and Response Team (PRT), in which conservation officers and highway patrol officers have assisted with more than 1,300 PRT-related actions since launching in April.
Upcoming changes include an amendment to The Police Act to enable rural municipalities and municipalities with populations under 500 to join regional police services.
Also coming are changes to the Seizure of Criminal Property Act, aimed at making “crime less profitable."
“These changes will make it easier for property to be seized if it has been acquired due to or used in unlawful activities such as serious firearms offences or sexual offences involving children,” the throne speech states.
“The federal government has committed at least $10 million over the next five years towards Saskatchewan’s Guns and Gangs Strategy, that will merge and enhance investigative and enforcement efforts to make our communities safer.”
Saskatchewan is also to become the first province in Canada with Clare’s Law, to provide a framework for police services to disclose information about someone’s violent or abusive past to intimate partners who could be at risk.
In a news release Wednesday, the government outlined other highlights of the throne speech, including the following:
A pledge to deliver a balanced budget for 2019-20;
Expand interpersonal violence leave to include sexual violence of any kind;
Amend the Saskatchewan Employment Act to create a new critically ill adult leave to allow family members of critically ill adults to take up to 15 weeks leave to care for their family member;
Expanded parental leave from 37 weeks to 63 weeks, plus an additional week of maternity leave;
An apology to Sixties Scoop survivors impacted by historical government policies of child apprehension and adoption;
Changes to improve commercial driver training;
Increased funding for intersection safety;
Improved cellular service in 50 rural communities as part of a plan to increase 4G LTE coverage in 100 Saskatchewan communities;
The safe regulation of the sale and distribution of cannabis through a private model;
Legislation on trespassing laws to better address the balance between members of the public and the rights of rural land owners; and
Free hunting and fishing licenses to Canadian military veterans.
