PREMIER SAYS SHORT BUT PRODUCTIVE FALL SITTING WILL KEEP SASKATCHEWAN MOVING FORWARD

Premier Brad Wall today said the eight-day fall sitting of the new Legislative Assembly was brief but very productive.

"Our government laid out our vision for a growing, vibrant province in the Throne Speech and we introduced 36 pieces of legislation," Wall said. "Most importantly, we have already kept a number of the promises we made in the recent election campaign, and most of the others will be completed in next year's budget. We made some very clear commitments during the election and we have already kept many of those commitments.

During the short session, the government kept its promises to:

• improve assistance for persons with disabilities by increasing benefits and expanding the number of people covered by the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program;
• improve services for persons with diabetes;
• introduce the First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit, effective January 1, 2012;
• expand the Active Families Benefit to cover all children under 18, effective January 1, 2012;
• introduce legislation to standardize the start of the school year on the Tuesday following Labour Day each year; and
• introduce legislation to extend the notice period for rent increases from six months to one year for property owners who choose not to participate in the tenant assistance initiative created by the Saskatchewan Rental Housing Industry Association.

The legislative session will resume in the spring with further debate on the new legislation and the presentation of the 2012-13 provincial budget.

"Saskatchewan is on the right track," Wall said. "In the past few days, we have seen many independent forecasters say that Saskatchewan's economy was strong in 2011 and will be again in 2012.

"Our government will work hard to keep the Saskatchewan advantage and keep Saskatchewan moving forward."

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For more information, contact:

Kathy Young
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0425