Saskatchewan Minute: Issue 108

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

📅 This Week In Saskatchewan: 📅

• We are hosting more “Pints & Politics” events in Saskatoon and Regina! There will be a panel discussion including several speakers in Saskatoon, while in Regina we will be joined by Sean Wilson, Saskatchewan's Minister of SaskBuilds and Procurement. The Saskatoon event will take place on April 21st at Blue Rhino Pub & Grill from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, while the Regina event is scheduled for April 22nd at Birmingham’s Vodka and Ale House, also from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Attendance is free, but you’ll need to RSVP due to limited capacity. You can register for the Saskatoon event by clicking here and the Regina event by clicking here.
  
  
• Premier Scott Moe announced plans to expand addiction recovery spaces from 300 to 500 by March 2027. This initiative supports a recovery-oriented system of care, providing treatment opportunities for individuals facing addiction and homelessness. Moe indicated that the Province may eventually exceed the 500-bed target based on future reviews of regional needs. The provincial government also expects to pass the Compassionate Intervention Act this spring, which would allow for non-consensual treatment. This expansion occurs as Saskatoon’s supervised consumption site, Prairie Harm Reduction, recently closed due to funding gaps and the loss of its federal exemption. Additionally, the Province aims to increase enforcement to remove illegal drugs from communities.
  
  
• The Brownlee Family Foundation pledged a $10-million donation to sustain full-day, five-day-a-week kindergarten in Saskatoon for five years. This offer requires the Saskatchewan government to match the funds. While Education Minister Everett Hindley expressed appreciation for the proposal, the Province has not yet committed to the matching requirement. The program currently operates in 29 classrooms across 26 schools. Supporters describe full-day kindergarten as a critical tool for addressing declining literacy rates and improving graduation success. Currently, Saskatchewan and Alberta are the only provinces without universal full-day kindergarten. The NDP Opposition is urging the government to accept the deal. They highlighted a previous instance where the Province initially rejected a private healthcare donation before reversing its decision.
  
  
• Saskatchewan Legislative Speaker Todd Goudy says the provincial assembly is not out of control, despite recent public concern about heckling and decorum in the chamber. In a media interview, he acknowledged he had recently urged MLAs to improve behaviour, but emphasized that Saskatchewan’s legislature compares favourably to others, including the federal Parliament in Ottawa. Goudy said he sees his role as maintaining balance and acting as a mediator, while noting that frustration can still arise during debates, particularly from opposition members who feel their questions are not fully answered. He also said he holds regular discussions with government and opposition house leaders, which he described as generally cooperative, and that, despite tensions, the chamber remains functional and professional.
  
  
• Saskatchewan is expanding its Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive (RRRI) program to 9 additional communities, bringing the total to 82 eligible locations. The provincial government allocated $8.7 million in the 2026-27 budget for this initiative. Qualified nurses may receive up to $50,000 for a three-year employment commitment, while technicians and assistants are eligible for incentives between $30,000 and $40,000. This program has already filled over 530 hard-to-recruit positions in areas at risk of service disruptions. By attracting both local and outside candidates, the Province aims to stabilize the healthcare workforce and reduce reliance on contract nursing. Participating communities have reported positive outcomes such as reopened acute care beds and fewer emergency room closures.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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