NORTH BATTLEFORD — The 2022 provincial budget is getting a thumbs-up from the MLA for The Battlefords, Jeremy Cockrill.
In speaking to SASKTODAY.ca this week, Cockrill spoke in favour of the budget, pointing to its theme of getting the province’s finances "back on track."
“Generally speaking, what we provided yesterday in the budget — obviously ‘back on track’ is kind of the tagline or the theme of this year’s budget, and really that’s what this budget is all about. We have an improved financial picture, a $2.1 billion improvement over last year, and a much clearer plan to get back to balance in 2026-27.”
In terms of what’s in the budget, Cockrill pointed to the "economic strength of the province, which allows the government to pay off some of their operating debt in the current fiscal year and also continue to make record investments in what he called the human services files in the province such as health
"I’m really excited about the $3.5 million increase in physician recruitment and retention initiatives. We know that especially in rural Saskatchewan, attracting physicians and other health care professionals can be a challenge. Our government recognizes that, and that is why we are increasing funding to that end.”
Cockrill also pointed to $470 million towards mental health and addictions programs. He says he was pleased to see that, saying “we understand that coming out of the last two years, mental health is a major challenge in every one of our communities, and our families and our workplaces.”
The funding will mean more access to counselling and treatment and access to beds around the province, he said.
Cockrill also likes the public safety commitments in the budget. He said it stems back to commitments made in the throne speech in the fall when the Sask. Party announced additional resources to crime reduction teams, warrant enforcement and suppression teams, the trafficking response team, as well as efforts in the justice system towards getting more aggressive with the proceeds of crime.
“What this budget does is confirm those budget commitments and I think we’re already seeing the positive effects of this. Just look at what the RCMP has been doing in recent weeks in the Battlefords in terms of enforcing search warrants, some of the arrests that have been made. So, it's really positive to see, specifically for Northwest Saskatchewan, some of those investments starting to pay dividends in terms of making our communities a safer place to live.”
Boost for Creative Saskatchewan
One of the major announcements is the infusion of $8 million into Creative Saskatchewan, providing a major boost to the film, TV and creative sector.
“I think that’s a really exciting initiative that this government is taking on. Obviously, we know that the film sector has changed over the last number of years. What this funding, the Creative Saskatchewan grants, are really targeted towards are more on the streaming side. So not necessarily targeting large-scale big movie productions, but targeting productions meant more for streaming services. And that’s really exciting, specifically for obviously the city of Regina because the soundstage is here and what that’s going to do there. But there (are) massive opportunities for increased activity in this sector all across the province.”
He pointed to an announcement by the Saskatchewan Motion Picture Industry Association that they were already getting calls about productions ready to go.
“The big point of emphasis, and I think why we decided to add this money to Creative Saskatchewan, is the fact that this is going to directly benefit the provincial economy, people in this province, because only Saskatchewan labour and services are eligible for support. That’s really about keeping as much of those dollars right here in the province.”
Battlefords initiatives
From a Battlefords perspective Cockrill pointed to two major projects. One is continued commitment to the John Paul II Collegiate major renovation project announced in last year's budget.
“The project is going ahead, it went to tender a few weeks ago so we’re really excited to advance that project."
The other project he pointed to is Villa Pascal renovation and expansion.
“Again, that was a commitment from last year's budget that we’re making good on,” said Cockrill, saying that renovation of that long-term care facility will be complete in the coming weeks and months.
Cockrill also pointed to the investment highways in the province, with 1,100 kilometres of highways being improved across the province. For the Battlefords, Highway 4 repaving will happen north of Territorial Drive this summer. “There’s already been some planning work on that done, we’re going to see that stretch improved,” said Cockrill.
As well, surface work will be done on Highway 378 north of North Battleford. “We know that’s a bumpy road and we looking forward to investing in that highway.”
Overall, revenues are up in this year's budget compared to before. “We’re up $2.7 billion in terms of revenue from last year's budget. Expenses increased as well obviously to a smaller degree, but as I said right off the top it’s a much-improved financial picture. The improvement overall is $2.1 billion and that really helps us with our fiscal plan back to balance.”
While the province's revenues are up, it is still running a deficit with a view to balance in 2026-27. Cockrill pointed to the need to provide important services to match the investment coming into the province.
“We’ve seen significant private investment coming out of the province over the last couple of years. And we understand that, as a provincial government, we need to match that investment from the government side in terms of the services — health care, education — that we are providing.”
The decision to expand the PST to entertainment events is one item that has caused considerable chatter, but Cockrill defends the move,
“That decision to apply PST to entertainment and events is really about improving our provincial revenue stability ... it also matches what’s being done in other provinces and federally with the GST. And if we think about in the budget document it outlines about $21 million in PST revenue. If you look at what we’re doing on the surgical wait time initiative, which is a very key part of the budget, those numbers are about equal. So those are kind of the challenging decisions when we put this budget together.
"We understand that there may be some people unhappy about the PST being applied to different entertainment events, but that allows us as a provincial government to invest in the government services that are so important to people right across the province.”
Next steps
The process now for the budget, now that it has been delivered by Finance Minister Donna Harpauer in the legislature, is for MLAs to spend the following week and a half in the legislature to respond to the budget. Cockrill believes he will be able to give his response to the budget next Monday.
After that, the legislature moves to the estimate process where each legislative committee reviews the estimates from the corresponding ministries, followed by the passage of the budget later on in the session.
Cockrill is upbeat about what the budget will do to support private sector investment and create permanent jobs across the province.
“Saskatchewan has one of the highest … rates of job growth in Canada and just last year we had 30,000 new jobs provincewide. How it relates to this budget is: our provincial economy is back on track. Provincial finances (are) back on track, and that allows government services to get back on track. This budget protects and strengthens our province, and really it helps ensure that the investments that we’re making today are going to be sustainable into the future.”
