A photo of Jeremy Harrison taken last April. (Lara Fominoff/650 CKOM)

By Kenneth Cheung

PROVINCIAL BUDGET

Jeremy Harrison talks new budget impacts on Meadow Lake

Mar 21, 2025 | 11:15 AM

More money, more services and more savings—that’s what Meadow Lake and northwest Saskatchewan can expect from the provincial budget says Jeremy Harrison, Meadow Lake MLA and Minister of Crown Investments Corporation.

The budget includes tax cuts, increasing the child, spousal and basic personal exemptions by $500 annually over four years.

“It’s going to result in, for many people, well over a $2,000 tax savings,” Harrison said. “That is a very, very significant tax cut. It’s the biggest tax reduction that we’ve been able to move forward within Saskatchewan since 2008.”

Healthcare funding includes more investment in Meadow Lake Hospital’s dialysis unit.

“We’re talking about millions of dollars for the dialysis investment and that will really be rolled out over the course of the year.”

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Policing will also see a boost, with an additional $700,000 for RCMP in the area.

“That’s about six to seven officers that are being funded from provincial resources for the RCMP,” he said.

The province is also continuing investment in Meadow Lake’s provincial park and arena complex.

“We put money consistently over the years into the provincial park, which is just a jewel for the entire province,” he said.

The budget includes a record $361.8 million Municipal Revenue Sharing. While the exact amount for Meadow Lake was not certain, Harrison said “there is a very specific amount that is allocated to the city.

“I can tell you there is a significant increase for every community in the province.”

Funding for Meadow Lake Provincial Park will continue, with money allocated for maintenance and upgrades.

“Upgrades to campsites, upgrades to boat launches. We’ve put a lot of resources into making sure that we’re keeping up with all those maintenance requirements that go along with that electrification of campsites.”

The minister said the province’s financial position is strong.

“We will have the only balanced budget in all of Canada,” he said. “That doesn’t just happen. That has happened because of a lot of hard work on the investment side.”

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Kenneth.cheung@pattisonmedia.com