Throne Speech goes on despite protest outside Legislative Building

But that protest was relegated to a space across the street while a larger and louder protest took shape comprising people against the COVID-19 vaccine and public health orders.

By 1 p.m., more than 100 people lined the edges of the cordoned-off area in front of the legislature steps with signs and chants.

A protest was held at the Legislative Building before the reading of the Throne Speech on Oct. 27, 2021. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

Shortly thereafter, the reading of the Throne Speech went ahead as planned.

Mirasty read it on behalf of Moe’s government, with some mention of the COVID-19 pandemic but more emphasis on other aspects of the Saskatchewan Party’s plans.

“Our government is working to build a better Saskatchewan — a stronger, safer, healthier, better-educated and more independent Saskatchewan,” Moe said in a release. “That starts with a strong and growing economy that provides the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all Saskatchewan people.”

The NDP, meanwhile, said before the speech was read that it will focus throughout the session on the government’s handling of COVID.

“We will be spending every day of this session prosecuting the failures of this government and their broken promises, because we are a year out from this election and Saskatchewan people are angry because they were sold a bill of goods by a premier who consistently takes the people of Saskatchewan for granted, who treats the people of Saskatchewan as if they didn’t know what they were doing,” NDP Leader Ryan Meili said.

Here are some of the topics covered in the speech.

Health

Moe said his government has invested $530 million so far to support the fight against COVID.

While he laid out many of the things the government has done to date — from launching the largest vaccination program in Saskatchewan’s history to creating a proof-of-vaccination policy — Moe didn’t offer any insight on changes that might be coming to the province’s COVID strategy.

There is one piece of COVID-related legislation coming in the session: A bill to prevent demonstrators from restricting access to hospitals.

Aside from COVID, Moe said his government will continue its support for eight projects to improve patient flow and reduce emergency wait times in Saskatoon and Regina, and for previously announced hospitals and long-term care facilities around the province.

The government also is planning to introduce legislation that will allow hygienists, therapists and dental assistants to practise independently of dentists.

Mental Health and Addictions

As announced in the budget, over the next three years, the government plans to add 150 treatment and detox spaces in the province by working with charitable organizations and third-party providers.

It also is looking to create more accessibility to take-home naloxone programs, and to launch three new community wellness buses to provide professional support and harm reduction supplies.

Economy

Moe noted Saskatchewan’s economy is recovering from COVID, with employment in the province back to more than 99 per cent of its pre-pandemic level.

As well, the province’s exports are up 35 per cent and projects worth nearly $10 billion have been announced.

To continue the recovery, the government will be enhancing its Saskatchewan Value-Added Agriculture Incentive, a non-transferable tax rebate on investments in new or expanded value-added agriculture facilities in Saskatchewan.

To help projects run by First Nations, Moe’s government is to create the Saskatchewan Indigenous Investment Finance Corporation. Its goal is to invest up to $75 million to help the Indigenous business sector.

The government will create the Helium Action Plan as the province looks to produce 10 per cent of the world’s helium by 2030.

Moe’s government also plans to launch a new Sustainable Saskatchewan brand, which will promote the quality and environmental sustainability of products produced in the province.

Education

The pandemic sent many students home to study. While most have returned to school this year, Moe said the government plans to create a new learning policy to help students who continue to learn online.

The government remains committed to the federal government’s plan to reduce daycare costs to $10 a day, and Saskatchewan also plans to increase wages for child-care workers by up to $3 per hour.

As construction continues on 16 new schools across the province, the government announced it will be providing funding for the hiring of more educational assistants to work in the system.

It also is developing the Parent Teacher Home Visit Pilot Project, through which 400 students and their parents will meet in their homes with teachers at least twice during the school year.

Policing

The government plans to add 60 new police positions and 11 civilian positions to support police initiatives in the province.

It also will create a new Provincial Protective Services unit, which is to comprise 325 conservation officers, Highway Patrol officers, Provincial Capital Commission community safety officers, Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods officers and deputy sheriffs.

As well, the Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team will be created to pursue people who transport drugs and weapons into the province. The team will include 30 RCMP officers, six municipal police officers and two criminal analysts.

There also will be a new Warrant Enforcement and Suppression Team, a team of eight officers who are to target dangerous offenders with outstanding warrants. In the same vein, the government will give courts the option to order GPS electronic monitoring for repeat offenders who have committed serious crimes.

New Crime Reduction Teams will be established in Meadow Lake, La Ronge, Lloydminster and Moose Jaw.

Other legislation will be introduced to combat money laundering, trespassing, harassment and withholding spousal and child support.

Truth and Reconciliation

In the wake of the discovery of 751 unmarked graves on the Cowessess First Nation, the government is to provide $2 million to the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations to investigate undocumented deaths and burials on residential school sites.

The province also is expanding the Opikihiwawin program to offer culturally appropriate child welfare services to Indigenous families.

A new online gaming agreement with the FSIN also is planned.

The Office of the Treaty Commissioner has asked the government to install signs to mark the boundary between Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 lands to raise awareness of the treaties in Saskatchewan.

Autonomy

Moe said the province will examine ways to build provincial autonomy. Those include taking back from the federal government the collection of corporate income tax and the creation of a provincial police force to complement the RCMP and municipal police forces.

In a referendum last week, Alberta residents voted to remove equalization from the Constitution. As a result, the federal government has to negotiate with the provinces on that topic – and Moe said his government will be “a full participant” in those talks.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Lisa Schick

by 6CKOM News