Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union (SGEU) President Tracey Sauer is expressing disappointment in Wednesday’s provincial budget and questioning its lack of support for workers in the province.
“Amid promises to expand services, today’s budget didn’t address the stagnating wages and challenges facing Saskatchewan workers—including the SGEU workers that keep our province functioning,” said Sauer.
“Dozens of collective bargaining agreements are expiring or expired for thousands of workers in SGEU. Instead of planning for these expected and justified wage increases, I am afraid that our members will once again be the scapegoated for costs that should have been budgeted for in advance.”
In September, SGEU condemned the government for attributing its larger-than-anticipated deficit to its contract with the Public Service/Government Employment (PS/GE) bargaining unit, which represents members across government ministries and agencies.
In February, the government announced almost $1 billion in special warrants, partially due to “increased costs due to the ratification of various collective bargaining agreements.”
“With the skyrocketing cost of living over the past several years, these expenses shouldn’t come as a surprise. The theme of this budget is ‘Delivering for you,’ but it fails to improve conditions for those who are actually going to be delivering these services: Saskatchewan workers.
“Health providers in Saskatchewan have been without a contract for two years as of March 31, and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency (SCA) has been without a contract for a year now. Part of the government’s recruitment and retention strategy should be to ensure timely and fairly negotiated collective bargaining agreements that provide a compensation package and protections that health care workers deserve.”
While Sauer acknowledged increased funding for the SCA, she emphasized the need to address the concerns of SCA workers.
“As the government well knows, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency workers are overworked and under-resourced. Our members are in crisis. And yet there was no funding announced to provide the badly needed expansions to SCA workspaces, where workers are crammed into spaces meant for far fewer workers. The minister of health promised that the funds from the tobacco settlement announced last week would go to cancer care and prevention. Safe and usable workspaces need to be at the top of the list.”
Finally, Sauer questioned the budget’s lack of measures to address and protect workers from the impacts of tariffs.
“There are no measures here to protect workers from the impacts of tariffs. Workers from all sectors are going to be impacted by Trump’s trade war. The government has a responsibility to provide supports to help Saskatchewan workers weather these uncertain times.”
The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) recognized the provincial government's dedication to agriculture in the face of international trade uncertainties and announced increases in support for the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC).
APAS President Bill Prybylski stated, "We commend the government's commitment to agriculture, particularly with the ongoing trade uncertainties that pose risks to our sector." He continued, "The government acknowledges potential challenges from U.S. tariffs such as inflation and job losses and takes proactive steps to help mitigate these risks."
The government's budget highlights efforts to continue expanding trade opportunities and attract investments, despite the prevailing tariff-related challenges. "By placing an emphasis on expanding export opportunities, the government is showing a commitment to the long-term growth and sustainability of Saskatchewan's agricultural sector," remarked Prybylski.
Furthermore, APAS expressed appreciation for the reduction in the education property tax mill rate for agricultural land, relieving farmers of heavy financial burdens due to higher property assessments.
However, APAS also highlights missed opportunities by the government to correct some longstanding irritants to farm and ranch families, while providing a measure of relief from tariff disruptions.
"While we congratulate the Minister on his continued efforts," stated Prybylski, "we also believe there are areas that need to be addressed, such as refining the PST system to eliminate it on farm insurance premiums, and the red-tape nightmare of the farm exemption list, which could ease both financial and administrative strains."
Prybylski also called for enhancements to crop insurance that would offer stronger yield protection and adaptability through tools, such as enhanced yield cushioning policies.
In addition, addressing interprovincial trade barriers is crucial for improving collaboration and efficiency within the national agricultural economy. Standardizing meat inspection, food processing, labeling, packaging, and trucking regulations across provinces would simplify operations, reduce costs, and ease compliance burdens. These improvements would facilitate smoother, more cost-effective transportation of agricultural goods across the country.
"Despite the challenges, APAS look forward to working with the province to further identify and develop solutions tailored to the needs of farm and ranch families, reinforcing their resilience in these chaotic times," concluded Prybylski.
The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), alongside its member rural municipalities (RMs), highlights both the positive aspects and concerns regarding rural communities across the province in this year’s provincial budget.
“Today’s budget includes several priorities that our members have been advocating for, although there is still room for improvement. We believe that these initiatives will significantly support our RMs and the people living in rural Saskatchewan,” says Bill Huber, SARM President.
Budget Highlights
Municipal Revenue Sharing
SARM is pleased with the increase, recognizing that RMs are a key component in driving our economy.
“The increase of 6.3 per cent from last year is always welcome; RMs have a major responsibility to provide the infrastructure that drives the major sectors of Saskatchewan’s economy,” says Huber.
The municipal revenue sharing model is unique to Saskatchewan. The model provides a more consistent flow of dollars to rural municipalities, which is greatly appreciated by our members. Recognizing that RMs are a key component in driving our economy will be imperative as the province works towards achieving its 2030 growth plan goals. RMs will need continued and increased support going forward.
Agriculture
Agriculture is the backbone of rural Saskatchewan and SARM is pleased with the investment in the Ministry of Agriculture this year. SARM supports the direction the province is taking, with SCAP receiving a $89.4M investment this year. The program is in its third year; it has been a strong program to date.
Changes to the grazing formula will provide relief for producers renting crown land. The calculation will be more straightforward, and there will be a 20% cap on rental fees. There will also be a $37M investment in agricultural research to help producers stay competitive in other markets. These are all positives to note for this year.
Rural Integrated Roads for Growth (RIRG)
Funding for rural road and bridge infrastructure is imperative for RMs to continue to provide key economic sectors with a strategic transportation network that is effective and well maintained.
While SARM appreciates the increase in RIRG funding, the rising costs and challenges of maintaining rural infrastructure remain a pressing concern. SARM will continue to advocate for additional funding to ensure that RMs can adequately maintain and upgrade rural roads and bridges.
“While we recognize the challenges in balancing various priorities within budget constraints, we urge the government to ensure RMs have sufficient funding to maintain critical rural infrastructure across the province,” Huber remarked
Health Care
The need for increased support of rural health care is increasingly apparent. Ensuring that all residents have access to quality health care is not just a matter of convenience but a fundamental necessity that impacts the well-being and future of these communities. The virtual ER physician program and increases to EMS will improve response times and stabilize services across the province. The announced supports for 65 new and enhanced permanent full-time nursing positions in 30 rural and northern locations is also a welcomed opportunity for rural healthcare providers and our members.
The health care file is always a top priority for SARM, and our members see these as positive changes in improving rural health care in the province.
Policing and Public Safety
The bylaw court hub model announcement is a positive step towards our members being able to enforce local bylaws. SARM has been asking the province for increased measures to aid in bylaw enforcement, and the increase in courts will go a long way to providing that.
Increases to the Sask. Marshals program and the RCMP are welcome sights. SARM will continue to advocate for larger investment in rural policing and safety and supports all policing options available to rural Saskatchewan.
Moreover, SARM emphasizes the need for continued collaboration between the provincial government and RMs to address ongoing issues such as agricultural sustainability, health care, rural policing, and rural infrastructure investments.
As Saskatchewan’s association of rural municipalities, SARM remains committed to advocating for the interests and concerns of its members, working alongside the government to foster the development and prosperity of rural Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation is encouraged by Budget 2025-26. Based on a preliminary review, it reflects commitments made in the Throne Speech and will make some gains towards restoring per-student funding.
“This is another step in the right direction,” says STF President Samantha Becotte. “In last fall’s election, the STF asked parties to invest in public education and called for per-student funding to be restored. We know a decade of cuts can’t be addressed with one budget. We are cautiously optimistic this will be the start of continued investments in public education with predictable, sustainable funding that meets the needs of a growing student population.”
Ensuring students have access to a well-funded, quality public education is the foundation to our province’s future, including continued growth, building a skilled labour force and working towards greater domestic capability as laid out in the provincial growth plan. Becotte adds, “Investing in public education will help ensure students have equal access to the supports that they need within their PreK-Grade 12 education, which will lead to increased probability of achieving government’s priorities.”
For over a decade, per-student funding in Saskatchewan has been on the decline after adjusting for inflation. In 2024-25, there was a slight increase but a gap of about $2,450 [1] per student remained.
With this budget, the gap per student is about $1,850 [2]. Fully restoring per-student funding to 2012-13 levels, when adjusted for inflation, will require an additional $375 million in the 2025-26 budget.
“There is still more work to do, and teachers are committed to working collaboratively with government to ensure the best outcomes for students,” says Becotte. “But we can’t do it alone. Budgets reflect priorities and investing in public education is an investment in the future of our province. Saskatchewan has one of the best performing economies in the country. Saskatchewan students and families deserve access to a properly funded public education system that meets students’ needs.”
The STF is committed to continuing to advocate for a well-funded PreK-Grade 12 public education system in Saskatchewan and working with government, parents and other education partners to ensure students have a high-quality public education.
[1] Adjusted for inflation.
[2] Based on government projections, this assumes 2% inflation rate and 1% enrolment growth.
The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce is pleased with the investments to support businesses in our province in the Government of Saskatchewan’s 2025-26 Budget.
The Chamber is encouraged by the commitments in the Budget that align with its long-standing advocacy efforts, including:
The creation of a 45% credit for equity investment for small and medium enterprises in certain sectors.
Permanently maintaining the small business tax rate at 1%
A $285,000 investment to establish a Young Entrepreneur Bursary, administered by the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, providing $5,000 grants to 57 eligible young entrepreneurs.
The Chamber has consistently advocated for tax policies that enhance affordability and support talent attraction and retention. The announced income tax reductions will provide much-needed relief for families. Any tax reduction is a positive step, particularly as affordability remains a key concern for both residents and businesses.
Further, the 20% increase in the Graduate Retention Program’s tax credit benefits will play an important role in encouraging graduates to build their careers in Saskatchewan.
“We are pleased to see the government’s investments in business priorities. The announcements made today will help to fuel growth of SMEs, promote entrepreneurship and strengthen Saskatchewan’s economy for the future,” said Prabha Ramaswamy, CEO, Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the Saskatchewan government to cut spending and stop borrowing money after increasing the debt by $2.4 billion in Budget 2025.
“It’s irresponsible for the government to continue to borrow more money and pile debt onto taxpayers,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director. “Taxpayers can’t afford to keep having the government waste millions of dollars on debt interest payments every year.”
The government is increasing the debt by $2.4 billion compared to last year’s budget. By the end of the year, the debt will be $23.5 billion.
Interest payments on the debt will cost taxpayers $878.4 million this year, working out to $705 per Saskatchewanian. Debt interest payments will cost taxpayers more than $2.4 million per month.
The government is spending $909 million more this year, compared to last year’s budget. The government is also taking in $1.2 billion more in taxes. The budget increases spending in all departments but one.
Tariffs could decrease the government’s revenue by $1.4 billion, according to the budget.
“The government is increasing the debt by more than $6.5 million every single day,” said Haubrich. “If tariffs hit Saskatchewan hard, taxpayers will be stuck paying higher debt interest payments to cover even more government loans.”
The Saskatchewan Party says that one of its guiding principles is the “steady, gradual reduction in government spending and taxation while maintaining a firm commitment to balanced budgets.”
Regina – Today, the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association (SHCA) reacted to the 2025-26 provincial budget.
“The SHCA thanks Highways Minister Marit for his commitment to ensuring that infrastructure needs for the province were addressed in this year’s budget,” said Shantel Lipp, SHCA president. “As we know the Saskatchewan economy is reliant on exporting our goods outside of our provincial borders and the current challenges that the province faces means that we have to prepare to expand our reach beyond traditional trading partners. And to reach that goal we have to have reliable and safe infrastructure. Today’s budget helps to reach that goal.”
Funding announced in today’s provincial budget for highways is set at $777 million with $421 million dedicated to capital projects.
“The SHCA looks forward to working with the government and Minister Marit on the Saskatchewan Construction Roundtable discussions to move the conversation forward on the importance of investing in infrastructure to keep our economy growing,” said Lipp. “These discussions are an important step in the right direction to make sure that our industry remains a key driver of the Saskatchewan economy.”
The SHCA represents over 200 member businesses in the heavy construction industry in Saskatchewan. The industry generates more than $5 billion in provincial GDP out of a provincial economy of $73 billion or roughly seven per cent of the total economy and employs close to 30,000 workers, making the industry one of the largest employers in the province.
Canadian Union of Public Employees
Today’s provincial budget by Scott Moe failed to invest in fixing Saskatchewan public services, his health care crisis or his broken education system. Scott Moe has shown Saskatchewan people that his promises to focus on health care and affordability were not worth the paper they were printed on.
“We called on Scott Moe to use his budget as an opportunity to keep his word and fix his education crisis and his broken health care system. He has failed to do so.” said Kent Peterson, president of CUPE Saskatchewan. “Just because Scott Moe has given up on fixing our health care system doesn't mean we're giving up. Hard working health care workers have gone over three years without a raise and that is unacceptable. We're going to keep fighting for the workers of Saskatchewan.”
Scott Moe’s budget failed, once again, to make investments to address understaffing and retention in health care, provide learning supports to children in the classroom, or add capacity to Saskatchewan’s long-term care system. The provincial budget also failed to invest in public services that have suffered from years of cuts and privatization.
“Scott Moe’s inaction on the tariff war has meant uncertainty for workers and their families,” added Peterson. “Saskatchewan deserves the certainty of hospitals, schools, and strong public services when they need them. We need public investment, not cuts.”
CUPE Saskatchewan’s 31,000 members provide services in health care, education, municipalities, universities, community-based organizations, childcare, libraries, boards and agencies, and social services.
Tracey Gramchuk
Saskatchewan NDP
REGINA - The Sask. Party budget is not focused on the future. In fact, it’s not even based in the reality of the serious challenges facing Saskatchewan today.
“Scott Moe and the Sask. Party are asleep at the wheel,” said Carla Beck, Saskatchewan NDP Leader. “They can’t just close their eyes and hope our problems magically go away.
“This budget has no plan to defend against tariffs or build our economy, and it actually cuts education and healthcare, where we already rank dead last in the country.”
Last year, the Saskatchewan government spent $8.022 billion on health and is now only planning to spend $8.004 billion, a cut of $17.1 million (page 27).
Beck noted that, despite the existential threat of the Trump trade war, the Sask. Party have refused to debate and develop a plan on the trade war for months.
“Now it's clear why — they don't have a clue,” Beck said.
Alberta, New Brunswick and British Columbia have all delivered contingency funds to protect their provincial economies from tariffs in recent budgets.
Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Finance Minister Trent Wotherspoon said the Sask. Party has increased the debt by nearly $30 billion and already spent three-quarters of a billion more than they said they would during the October election.
“This budget isn’t even worth the paper it’s written on. They have a fiscal record that can’t be trusted,” he said. “And what do we have to show for it? Families can’t make ends meet right now, but the Sask. Party’s promised tax cuts don’t produce real savings this year.
“The Sask. Party should have listened to the people and cut their unfair taxes on everyday essentials, like groceries and children’s clothes. Why would they continue to pile taxes onto families who already can't make ends meet?”
The budget also fails to address affordable childcare, offers no serious relief on cost of living until 2026 and does nothing to tackle the growing addictions and mental health crisis in Saskatchewan, which claims hundreds of lives every year.
“The people of Saskatchewan want a government focused on the future, and this budget does nothing but take us backwards,” Beck said.
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