Calling it the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth, the throne speech, delivered by new Lieutenant Governor Russ Merasty Wednesday afternoon, outlined the steps the government plans to take in order to achieve 1.4 million people and 100,000 more jobs by 2030. The province plans to introduce 30 pieces of legislation during the fall sitting and says it will table a budget during the spring sitting that is expected to make significant investments in infrastructure.

Specific goals outlined in the Throne Speech include:

• Creating a fund of up to $10 million to assist Estevan, Coronach and surrounding areas transition to new economic development opportunities for workers affected by the federally-mandated phase out of coal-fired electricity by 2030;
• Introducing and funding a plan to reduce surgical wait times;
• Introducing legislation for the regulation of vaping and vaping products;
• Taking measures to improve the safety and well-being of First Nations children and reduce the number of children that need to come under the province s care;
• Opening the new Regina Bypass;
• Introducing tougher penalties for cell phone usage while driving;
• Continuing the constitutional challenge to the federal carbon tax in the Supreme Court;
• Continuing to explore the potential for small modular reactors to produce emissions-free electricity using Saskatchewan uranium;
• Implementing Clare s Law, which allows police to disclose information that could help protect potential victims of interpersonal violence;
• Introducing a new Fisheries Act to provide greater protection against invasive aquatic species;
• Amending The Lobbyists Act to address recommendations made by the Registrar of Lobbyists in his recent annual reports;
• Strengthening the enforcement of maintenance orders for child support payments; and
• Amending The Saskatchewan Employment Act to increase parental leave by eight weeks to ensure that employees who are entitled to the new shared parental Employment Insurance benefit have job protection while using the new leave benefit and to extend employment leave to individuals who are running for election to a First Nations Band Council.