The provincial budget has earmarked $3.5 million to alleviate the chronic shortage of family physicians in rural communities.
Martensville-Warman MLA Terry Jenson said the problem is particularly critical in the two fast-growing centres he represents in the Legislature.
“I’ve been working closely with the Minister of Rural and Remote Health to address the unfortunate shortage of physicians in Martensville and Warman,” said Jenson. “This budget includes the establishment of a new agency dedicated to recruiting and retaining health care workers, as well as $3.5 million specifically for physician recruitment and retention initiatives, primarily targeting family physicians to work in rural areas of the province.”
Jenson said the budget, released March 23 by Finance Minister Donna Harpauer, is aimed at getting the province “back on track” after two years of uncertainty.
A $6.8 billion investment in health care, including adding hospital beds and reducing surgical wait times to pre-pandemic levels by the end of March, 2025, are priorities for the government this year.
“We are making substantial investments in key areas that will benefit the people of Saskatchewan and build on the economic momentum we have been experiencing for the last number of months as we continue moving into the stage of living with Covid in our everyday lives,” said Jenson.
He noted education spending in the budget amounts to $3.8 billion, an increase of more than $47.2 million, or 1.3 per cent, over last year.
The province is also covering the cost of increased teacher salaries under the new collective agreement with the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation.
Jenson added that the budget boosted operating funds to each school division by $24.9 million over the previous year.
“Our government will continue to make education among our province’s highest priorities in the coming year as well as in the years ahead,” he said.
According to Jenson, an additional 200 full-time educational assistants will be hired this year, and over 6,000 new child care spaces are planned for the 2022-23 fiscal year as part of the provincial government’s goal of reaching 28,000 childcare spaces over the next five years.
Jenson said the province is considered a good place to invest by private companies.
“Over $13.5 billion in private investment was made last year,” said Jenson. “That’s very substantial, considering we were still in the midst of the pandemic.
“Companies such as BHP BIliton, Richardson International, Viterra, Federated Co-operatives and Cargill have all committed to new facilities or expanded operations in the areas of canola crushing, potash, and biodiesel production.”
He noted the government is hoping to kick-start the film and television industry in Saskatchewan through a $10 million grant program. Demand for Saskatchewan-produced material is on the way up due to increased streaming services.
The budget expanded the provincial sales tax (PST) to match the federal GST base for admissions and entertainment events, a move that is expected to boost provincial revenues by $10.5 million this year and add $21 million annually.
“While the PST is being expanded to some new areas that impact discretionary spending, our government has made life more affordable in other ways,” said Jenson. “Power bills were reduced by 10 per cent in 2021, SaskTel waived data overages for several months during the pandemic, we signed an agreement a few months ago to reduce child care to $10 a day, and Saskatchewan continues to have one of the highest tax-free thresholds in the country.
“A family of four pays no income tax on their first $52,250 of income.
“In the 2021-22 budget year, our government put an estimated $2.4 billion into the pockets of Saskatchewan citizens thanks to programs that make life more affordable for every person in this province.”