Yesterday afternoon Finance Minister Donna Harpauer stood in the Legislative Assembly and presented the 2019-2020 provincial budget. After two years of budget deficits the Finance Minister revealed a modest surplus of $34.4 million. Health, Education, Social Services, Highways & Infrastructure, Municipal Revenue Sharing, and Agriculture are all seeing funding increase, with no new taxes or tax increases.

“It’s the right balance to keep our economy strong,” said Minister Donna Harpauer. “It balances much-needed investments with carefully managed spending in order to achieve a balanced budget that is affordable and sustainable.”

Healthcare Investment:

The largest budgeted increase is a $123 million investment in healthcare. The new budget has a very large investment in treating mental health. Funding for targeted mental health and addictions initiatives are seeing a increase of nearly $30 million across the province. This includes an increase to the new ‘Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford’ of $13.7 million.

“This budget makes the largest commitment to mental health services in our province,” Health Minister Jim Reiter said. “This includes funding for more than 140 news beds to treat individuals with mental health and addictions challenges.

Health Budget Highlights:

  • $558,000 to create a Provincial Organ Donor Registry by end of the 2019 year.

  • $8 million in additional funding for the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency

  • $15 million funding increase for increased physician visits and 15 new specialist contracts.

  • $420,000 for increase availability of vocational programming for individuals with mental illnesses.

  • An increase to home care support through the “Connected Care Program”

Education Investment:

Saskatchewan’s 27 school divisions will receive $1.9 Billion in operating funding for 2019-2020. This represents a $26.2 million increase over last year.

“We know the importance of education in our province,” Education Minister Gordon Wyant says. “We have heard from people across Saskatchewan about what they need in their communities.”

Other education budget highlights include:

  • $55.9 million for preventative maintenance, renewal and emergency funding

  • $6.4 million for relocatable classrooms

  • 1% funding increase to Saskatchewan’s public libraries

Highways and Infrastructure Investment:

This years budget contains funding to improve about 1,000 kms of provincial highway. There is also a commitment to invest $351 million in capital projects. An emphasis is being placed on safety improvements at highway intersections throughout Saskatchewan.

“The tragic accident involving the Humboldt Broncos put a spotlight on intersection safety in Saskatchewan,” Highways and Infrastructure Minister Lori Carr said. “Our government is committed to completing safety improvements throughout the province with a new developed multi-year safety improvement plan.”

Highway & Infrastructure highlights include:

  • 240 kms of repaving.

  • Twinning of Highway 7 at Vanscoy. Which completes twinning from Saskatoon to Delisle.

  • Construction of 2 passing lanes west of Rosetown on Highway 7.

  • 490 kms of pavement sealing

Revenue Sharing:

The Provincial government is also increasing their direct support for municipalities in the 2019 budget. The Municipal Revenue Sharing program is seeing an increase of $25.4 million or 6.2% over last year. A total of $71.7 million will be distributed directly to rural municipalities.

Municipal Revenue Sharing highlights:

  • $14 million for Municipal Roads for the Economy Program

  • $1.4 million for the Strategic Partnership Program

Additional resources have also been designated to provide more efficient and responsive emergency services to all Saskatchewan Communities.

Tax Changes:

The 2019-2020 budget contains only one new tax credit. Beginning in 2020 a non-refundable tax credit will be made available to volunteer firefighters and emergency responders across the province. Individuals with at least 200 hours of service a year will be able to claim a $3000 tax credit.

Details:

The government’s operational debt is not expected to increase in 2019-20. Revenue is forecasted at $15.03 billion, up about $787 million compared to last year’s budget. Expenses of $14.99 billion are projected, up from last year's budget by $382 million.