Saskatchewan’s Finance Minister is projecting revenue will rise by over 18 per cent in the next fiscal year, which begins April 1st, and a chunk will be carved out of the deficit. Revenue is forecast at $17.2-billion and a deficit of just under $463-million by the end of the 2022-23 fiscal year. That’s compared to the deficit right now, which is at $2.18-billion. he budget projects getting rid of the deficit by 2026-27.

Minister Donna Harpauer notes that there is an extra $21.6-million in health care funding to reduce the surgical wait list, and total health care spending is $6.8-billion. $309.6-million will go towards early learning and child care. This includes funding from the Federal-Provincial Early Years Agreements. Some of the other highlights include establishing a Saskatchewan Indigenous Investment Finance Corporation, and an $8-million increase for the Creative Saskatchewan Production Grant Program for film and television.

Health

The 2022-23 budget for the province includes an increase of 4.4 per cent for the health sector. $21.6-million will go towards addressing the surgical wait list. Finance Minister Donna Harpauer states that this is the first of a three-year plan to deliver the largest volume of surgical procedures in the province’s history. $12.5-million will be used for 11 additional ICU beds, bringing the provincial total to 90. A $17-million increase goes to supporting seniors, including $4.8-million for home care services and $6.5-million for an additional 116 continuing care aid positions. Harpauer adds that the budget includes a new, independent agency for recruiting and retaining health care workers, and funding for physician recruitment and retention initiatives, particularly targeting family doctors for rural areas. The budget also includes recruitment initiatives for health workers from the Philippines, to help fill critical and hard to fill positions.

The Finance Minister notes a 9.5 per cent increase for mental health and addictions funding, including the addition of new addictions treatment spaces with $2.1 million to support the first year of a three year commitment to add 150 spaces across Saskatchewan, and funding to improve access to detox services to support the operation of additional spaces.

PST

The next fiscal year’s budget, tabled by the Finance Minister, includes expanding the PST to match the federal GST base for admissions and entertainment events. As of October 1st, the PST will apply to sporting events, concerts, museums, fairs, movie, gym memberships, and green fees, among others, but there will be exemptions for children’s activities, amateur events and events run by schools and non-profits.

Harpauer explains that the government doesn’t want to completely rely on resource revenue, because although things like gas and potash are up right now, that’s not always the case. She suggests that annually, this will add $20-million in revenue, which is similar to what the province is investing to reduce surgical wait times. She compares the two, saying if people knew that the PST from going to a Rider game and a few concerts would be going to reduce surgical wait times, she believes Saskatchewan residents would choose to pay that extra PST.

Education

Wednesday the Province announced an 8.3 per cent increase in spending, including an additional $6-million for learning supports for students. Yesterday’s provincial budget saw an increase for education of $219.9 million. The overall budget comes in at a record setting $2.88 billion.  While the numbers touted by the government in terms of the education budget may be considered a record high, in terms of the operational budget, the Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation says it falls short by more than 3 per cent. The STF has said that an increase of 4.7 per cent was needed to simply maintain the status quo of programming and services and in terms of the operational budget, and that did not happen.

A new $7-million fund will allow school divisions to hire up to 200 additional full-time educational assistants in the next school year. Harpauer says school divisions will receive $1.99-billion in school operating funding, which is a 1.5 per cent increase. The province will invest $95.2-million to support the ongoing planning and construction of 15 new schools and the renovation of five others. The Finance Minister adds that a new minor capital renewal program will be created to allow school divisions to address structural repairs, to prolong the life of these schools. Funding for early learning and child care includes $4.3 million to create 6,100 new child care spaces in centres and family child care homes as part of the province’s goal to create 28,000 new regulated spaces over the next five years.

Capital Investments/Revenue Sharing

The budget includes investing $3.2-billion in hospitals, schools, highways and other capital projects. Almost $54-million is dedicated to ongoing capital projects including the redevelopment of the Prince Albert Victoria Hospital, the replacement of the Weyburn General Hospital, new Urgent Care Centres in Regina and Saskatoon, and long-term care centres across the province.

Some of the budget’s over $168-million for education capital will go to 15 new schools and the renovation of five others, and a new minor capital renewal program that will allow school divisions to address structural repairs, renovations, and additions to prolong the life of these schools.

But, revenue sharing with municipalities will be less by 3.6 per cent. Harpauer suggests it has been offset partially by an increase in police grants.

Funding for Saskatoon SPCA

Something new in the provincial budget is an increase of $800,000 for the Agricultural Ministry, to support Animal Protection Services expanding to include the City of Saskatoon. APSS, the City and Saskatoon Police Service are collaborating to provide enforcement as of April 1st, as APSS ramps up to take over full enforcement by the fall.

Last fall, the Saskatoon SPCA told City Council it might have to close its doors without emergency funding. The shelter operates pound services, which covers the first four days of an animal’s stay,
As of April 1st the Saskatoon SPCA will no longer officially be providing protective services as of April 1st, and it will be handed over to the APSS. The SPCA’s Board says the animal shelter will continue to provide adoption programs, pet safekeeping, pound services, lost and found, humane education and volunteer programs.

For the rest of the budget information, check out the government’s website by clicking here.