PREMIER SAYS SESSION FOCUSED ON OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF GROWTH

Premier Brad Wall said the fall legislative session which ended today focused on meeting the opportunities and challenges of a growing Saskatchewan.

"Saskatchewan is growing at its fastest pace in more than 90 years," Wall said. "Our government is committed to ensuring that growth continues and to meet the challenges of a growing province."

Wall pointed to the recent decision to increase funding to eight of the province's fastest-growing school divisions.

"We are seeing school enrollments in some divisions increasing at an unprecedented level," Wall said. "That creates challenges in terms of classroom sizes, but growth also gives us the opportunity to deal with those challenges. Our growing tax base allows us to provide growing school divisions with the additional resources they need while still maintaining a balanced budget."

Wall said the balanced budget confirmed by Finance Minister Ken Krawetz in the Mid-Year Report was another highlight of the fall session.

"Saskatchewan continues to have the only balanced provincial budget in Canada," Wall said. "That is a huge advantage for our province, and again, it demonstrates the benefits of growth. Despite a decline in resource revenues, growth in other parts of the economy has allowed us to maintain a balanced budget."

Other highlights of the fall session include:

• A new Saskatchewan Employment Act that protects workers, promotes growth and clearly defines the rights and responsibilities of employers, employees and unions in the workplace;
• Major changes to modernize Saskatchewan's liquor laws and allow for new private liquor stores;
• Education Savings (SAGES), which helps families save for their children's post-secondary education by providing a grant of up to $250 per child per year toward their Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP);
• New legislation to improve safety in highway construction zones; and
• Legislation to facilitate growth in Information Services Corporation (ISC) through a public share offering.

Wall said the fall legislative session followed the direction laid out in the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth which was released just prior to the start of the session.

"The reason we seek growth is so we can continue to improve the quality of life for everyone in Saskatchewan," Wall said. "The Saskatchewan Plan for Growth spells out the principles of a strong and growing province, like balanced budgets, investing in infrastructure and skills training, increased trade and economic competitiveness.

"These are the principles our government followed during the fall session and these are the principles we will continue to follow to improve the quality of life for everyone in Saskatchewan."

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For more information, contact:

Karen Hill
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-2127
Email: karen.hill@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-529-9207