Premier Scott Moe announced a 2 year stimulus package of $7.5 billion on Wednesday. The plan represents a $2.5 billion dollar increase from the province’s existing capital plan to help in the COVID-19 pandemic recovery.

The Premier says the investment will go towards schools, hospitals, highways, crown utility projects, municipal infrastructure and other important capital projects. Scott Moe sees it as an important step in our province s economic recovery.

The government says the $7.5 billion stimulus package will be committed over the next two years and includes the $2.7 billion Crown and executive government capital spending already accounted for in the province s 2020-21 Estimates, and the $2.8 billion Crown and executive government capital spending projected for the 2021-22 fiscal year.

Allocation of $2.0 Billion to Build a Strong Saskatchewan

The $2.0 billion capital injection to build a strong Saskatchewan is allocated as follows:

• Approximately $1.37 billion for large infrastructure projects, including $103 million for health and $110.5 million for education, with additional allocations to be announced at a later date. SaskBuilds will provide oversight as well as project management and procurement expertise. Design, engineering, architecture, construction and project management costs are included in this total with the goal of ensuring projects are shovel ready by 2021-22.
• More than $300 million for highway projects for thin membrane surface upgrades, passing lanes including $46 million dedicated for upgrades to municipal roads and airports.
• Approximately $181 million for renewal projects to reduce deferred maintenance on provincial and third-party assets and reduce operating costs through energy efficiency. This includes new allocations of $100 million for health and $25.9 million for education, with the remainder addressing priority projects in various other ministries and agencies.
• $150 million in a per capita payment through a new Municipal Economic Enhancement Program to support infrastructure projects in communities across the province.

Capital Injection To Have Major Impact On Municipalities, Construction Sector and Job Creation

Over the next two years, more than $320 million will be provided for municipal infrastructure through the $150 million Municipal Economic Enhancement Program, the $130 million Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, and the $46 million targeted funding through the Ministry of Highways for municipal roads and airports. This is without considering Municipal Revenue Sharing and other various municipal transfers highlighted in the 2020-21 estimates.