It’s a balanced operating budget and capital expenditure plan for the 2020-21 fiscal year for the Saskatchewan Health Authority, with around $4-billion going out and $4-billion coming in.
CFO Robbie Peters says it’s a balanced budget that includes on the expenditure side ($131.9 million for its capital expenditure plan), advancing the construction process for the new Meadow Lake long-term care facility, electrical renewal projects and $15-million for the new Victoria Hospital in Prince albert.
More capital projects will be initiated thanks to $25-million recently announced by the provincial government.
The projects pending Health Ministry approval include plumbing, electrical, roofing and elevator upgrades among others.
The fiscal year, just like the provincial government, runs from April 1st to the end of March so this plan was done before COVID-19 really took hold.
CEO Scott Livingstone says, “the highest priority in recent months has been the pandemic response, but this budget is important to ensure we are still able to move forward the other work needed to strengthen all health services.”

The SHA is expected to record targeted investments in mental health and addiction services which it says will go to improving team-based care in communities and in hospitals and improved access to mental health and addictions services