PREMIER, CABINET MEETING IN SASKATOON TO DISCUSS HOUSING AND OTHER PRIORITIES

Premier Brad Wall today said the province's unprecedented resource revenues are providing an opportunity to ensure all Saskatchewan people share in the province's economic growth.

Wall and his cabinet are meeting in Saskatoon today and tomorrow to discuss government priorities in the coming months. At the top of the priority list is the shortage of affordable housing.

"Cabinet will be discussing our government's response to the recommendations of the Task Force on Housing Affordability released last week," Wall said. "The Task Force report has been very well received throughout the province and now it's up to our government to take action to address the housing shortage."

Wall said the government is considering quick action on a number of recommendations for immediate action, including:

• Increasing the shelter allowance for social assistance recipients and indexing the allowance to the cost of living;
• Increasing the Rental Housing Supplement and index it to the cost of living;
• Increase the income threshold for seniors, making it easier for them to qualify for social housing; and
• Removal of the PST charged on building materials used to build affordable housing.

Wall said the growing economy and record resource revenues are also providing the opportunity to look at other ways to share the province's new prosperity, like debt reduction and tax relief.

"What can be done with potentially near to mid-term revenues that will have a lasting benefit for the province?" Wall said. "This is a very important question for all of us to consider. Reducing debt is one of the best ways to secure our province's future, and tax relief is one of the best ways to help Saskatchewan taxpayers and families deal with the growing cost of living."

Wall said he has asked all government MLAs to spend the summer listening to the priorities of their constituents and seeking their ideas on how the province's new prosperity should be shared with all Saskatchewan citizens.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Kathy Young
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0425
Email: kathy.young@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-526-8927