$788 MILLION FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS LIKE HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS AND HIGHWAYS

Capital Investment up $193 Million or 32 Per Cent From Last Year

The 2012-13 Budget boosts capital spending on schools, hospitals, highways and other infrastructure projects by $193 million or 32 per cent to $788 million.

The total for facilities owned by government will be $522.4 million, up $106.8 million or 25.7 per cent from the previous budget.

The total spent on grants to third parties such as post-secondary institutions and Regional Health Authorities will be $265.3 million, up $86.1 million or 48 per cent from the previous budget.

"We are continuing to meet the needs of Saskatchewan communities and Saskatchewan people," Finance Minister Ken Krawetz said. "This budget makes a number of key investments in roads, schools and health care facilities. It creates new child care spaces and it improves our post-secondary institutions. It is helping us keep the Saskatchewan Advantage."

Within a total Highways budget of $581 million, there is $275.3 million for government-owned highways capital, including $91.7 million for new bridges and highway upgrades, and $183.6 million for a number of projects such as completing the twinning of Highway 11, work on the West Regina Bypass and others.

There is $42.7 million to begin construction of seven previously announced Long Term Care facilities in a new provincial government shared ownership model, as well as additional grants for six other facilities already underway. Planning and design work for hospitals in North Battleford and Moose Jaw will continue.

The school system will receive $38.6 million to begin new school projects around the province, also under a shared ownership model. An additional $50.1 million will be allocated for 15 major school capital projects.

There is $11.8 million to meet the commitment for parks infrastructure, $48.4 million for various federal-provincial infrastructure programs, and $2.8 million for Building Communities recreational infrastructure.

"These investments are helping us meet the challenges of growth," Krawetz said. "These infrastructure investments will help keep our economy strong and our growing economy will ensure we have the revenues we need to keep making these kinds of investments in the future."

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For more information, contact:

Randy Burton
Finance
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6578