Donna Harpauer MLA Website

Legislative Report

10 March 2010

Spring Session Commences

Balanced.

Forward-looking.

Responsible.

During the spring session of the legislature, your Saskatchewan Party government will take action to keep our economy strong and our province moving forward.

On March 24, we will announce our third consecutive balanced budget. It will be balanced by controlling spending, not through tax hikes. Operating funding for municipalities will be maintained at a 43 per cent increase over what they received under the NDP. We will continue working toward our goal of reducing surgical wait times to three months or less. Our government will take action to ensure Saskatchewan stays strong.

Making Saskatchewan stronger has been a priority for our government since we took office. So far, we have:

Reduced the province’s debt by $2.8 billion, or 40 per cent;
Introduced historic income and property tax cuts, removing 80,000 lower-income people from the tax rolls;
Invested $2.3 billion in highways, hospitals and schools neglected for far too long;
Increased the Seniors Income Plan for the first time in 16 years;

We are seeing the results of those investments. Our population is at a record high of more than a million people. Major economic forecasters are predicting Saskatchewan will lead the country in economic growth this year and next. Average weekly earnings are at a record high. Saskatchewan has the lowest unemployment rate in Canada. The RBC says people here are leading the country in terms of their optimism about the economy.

The NDP, on the other hand, are anything but optimistic. Through their arrogance and negativity, they continue to run our province and her people down. Saskatchewan people are known for their humble, down-to-earth attitudes. Our government respects that, and is working hard to reflect it in the actions we take. While the NDP remains stuck in the past, we are looking to the future.

If you have a question about this Legislative Report or any other matter, just Contact Donna.

Past Legislative Reports