There was no mention of education funding and the plan to address overcrowding and the violence that ensues because of it in Wednesday’s Throne Speech. That point was brought up by NDP Leader, Ryan Meili during the first Question Period for the fall session. He cited that nearly half of Saskatchewan elementary school students say they have been physically assaulted, and adds that education assistants who answered their survey said they witness violence in schools at least every week.

Premier Scott Moe countered that the province is coming through a tight budget and yet experienced the largest investment in education in the history of the province at just under $2.5-billion. He says the number of language pathologists is up 41 per cent, occupational therapists up 26 per cent and English as an Additional Language teacher up 34 per cent since 2011.

Meili responded that hundreds of dollars less per student are spent under the current Premier and the Throne Speech didn’t even acknowledge the crisis in Saskatchewan’s classrooms.

Moe says the goal of the government and the Ministry of Education is to ensure that every student feels safe, and the Ministry has met with stakeholders to discuss the issue.