Saskatchewan Minute: Issue 103

Saskatchewan Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Saskatchewan politics.

📅 This Week In Saskatchewan: 📅

• Saskatchewan’s government has unveiled its new Patients First Health Care Plan, aimed at improving access to primary care and reducing wait times across the province. Key elements include expanding the role of nurse practitioners with unlimited contracts, piloting team-based care models, and broadening access to virtual care, particularly in rural and Indigenous communities. The plan also includes scope-of-practice expansions for dietitians, optometrists, nurses, and potentially chiropractors, along with increased training capacity for nurse practitioners, adding 26 new seats across the University of Saskatchewan and University of Regina. Surgical and diagnostic targets for 2028 include 90% of patients receiving scans within 60 days, three-month surgical wait times, and completing 450,000 surgeries over four years, partly through publicly funded private clinics. Additional measures include more urgent care centres, 36 new acute care beds in Saskatoon, and neonatal ICU expansion in Regina. The Opposition NDP criticized the plan as largely a rehash of past commitments and pointed to reduced 24-hour staffing at Regina’s Urgent Care Centre as evidence of ongoing gaps. The government emphasizes the plan builds on its Health Human Resources Plan and aims to provide every resident with timely, appropriate care.
  
  
• The Saskatchewan government has rejected an NDP private member’s bill aimed at tightening restrictions on foreign farm ownership. Introduced by NDP Agriculture Critic Trent Wotherspoon, the bill sought to increase fines for illegal foreign ownership, allow courts to redirect proceeds from forced sales to the government, and remove limits on investigating older transactions. Wotherspoon argued the bill would respond to concerns from farmers, industry groups, and the provincial auditor, who in 2024 highlighted gaps in enforcement by the Farm Land Security Board. Agriculture Minister David Marit said the government is already consulting with stakeholders and has implemented all nine auditor recommendations, including requiring statutory ownership declarations for all farmland transactions. Since 2020, the board identified five instances of unauthorized foreign ownership and previously failed to collect declarations in half of the audited purchases. The government emphasized it will continue reviewing potential improvements to the Farm Security Act but will not support the NDP’s proposed legislation.
  
  
• The Saskatchewan government has announced a series of fee increases and new charges set to take effect in 2027, aimed at keeping costs in line with inflation and supporting provincial programs. Deductibles for standard SGI vehicle plates will rise from $700 to $950, with some vehicles seeing a 20% increase, while new administrative fees include $15 for vehicle registration or driver’s licence renewal and $2 per licence payment transaction. Electric vehicle road-use fees will also be indexed to inflation to align costs with traditional vehicles. Outdoor enthusiasts will face a new “habitat certificate” fee - $20 annually or $5 for a weekend pass - generating an expected $2.1 million annually, and hunters who fail to submit harvest surveys may incur a $15 penalty. Immigration applications under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program will now cost $500 for skilled worker streams, and alcohol-related penalties for violations by establishments will double, raising fines to $2,500 for selling to minors or intoxicated individuals and $1,000 for failing to check IDs. These measures are intended to address rising operational and enforcement costs while maintaining program sustainability.
  
  
• ​​Premier Scott Moe and his government have passed new legislation allowing owners of federally prohibited firearms to apply for exemption certificates, letting them legally retain and store their guns until Ottawa provides compensation. Moe framed the law as defending law-abiding gun owners against what he described as repeated federal “gun grab” efforts, while emphasizing that the province is complying with federal law. Applications are limited to licensed owners in good standing, and the law provides some protection from charges by designating owners as “acting on behalf of the province.” The federal government’s voluntary buyback program, which requires firearms to be surrendered by October 30th for payment, is intended to remove assault-style weapons from communities, but Saskatchewan officials say the provincial law ensures owners receive full compensation. The Opposition NDP supports the measure, arguing the federal focus should target criminals rather than lawful gun owners.
  
  
• Saskatchewan has officially passed its tailgating law in time for the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ season opener, allowing fans to enjoy pre-game celebrations with alcohol in designated areas near Mosaic Stadium. SLGA Minister Warren Kaeding highlighted the collaboration between the Riders, SGI, and other stakeholders to ensure responsible alcohol use and a safe, family-friendly environment. Season ticket holders have already secured spots through a lottery system, and Saskatchewan becomes the first province to allow tailgating at this scale, taking inspiration from North American fan experiences. Kaeding expressed excitement about seeing fans’ creativity in celebrating game day and confirmed he plans to attend the first tailgating event.

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