The first Saskatchewan legislative session since the provincial election on October 28th wrapped up on Tuesday, December 10th following a shortened 10 day Fall Session. The Legislature looks very different from the last time it sat as there are now 34 Saskatchewan Party members and 27 NDP Opposition members.
The Session began on November 25th with the election of a new Speaker. The Hon. Todd Goudy (Melfort) was the only name put forward for the election and was therefore acclaimed to the role with MLA Blaine McLeod being named Deputy Speaker. This was followed later that day with the reading of the Speech from the Throne from the Lt. Governor, the Hon. Russ Mirasty. The Throne Speech focused on outlining the legislative agenda of the re-elected Sask Party with many references to the campaign promises that Premier Moe had announced during the election campaign.
Premier Moe had promised that the government had clearly heard the message from the people of Saskatchewan that they wanted less political gamesmanship and more focus on affordability issues, healthcare, public safety and supports to the classroom for students.
As such, this truncated Session saw the government introduce and pass two Bills directly related to cost of living issues:
- Bill 1: The Saskatchewan Affordability Act, offering the largest personal income tax reduction since 2008; and
- Bill 2: The SaskEnergy (Carbon Tax Fairness for Families) Amendment Act, 2024 extending legislation to stop collecting the carbon tax on residential customers’ natural gas bills.
Several other pieces of legislation related to public safety were also introduced and are expected to be passed in the Spring 2025 session.
The Opposition NDP also attempted on several occasions to introduce “Emergency Resolutions” to offer up several of the measures that they recently campaigned on such as suspending the 15 cent provincial gas tax and eliminating the provincial sales tax on children’s clothing, but they were denied by the government.
As well, during the Session, Finance Minister Jim Reiter provided a fiscal update by releasing the Mid-Year Report which showed that the 2024-25 budget deficit is now forecast to be $743.5 million, some $470.4 million higher than forecast at budget time last March. Additional Crop Insurance costs as well as pressures in healthcare and public safety make up the primary drivers for the increased deficit.
The Legislature is expected to return in late February/early March of 2025.
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For more information and insights about what these developments mean for the political landscape in Saskatchewan, please reach out to our experts:
Darin Banadyga – Senior Strategy Advisor
darin@prairieskystrategy.ca
306.213.8211
Theo Bryson – Senior Strategy Advisor
theo@prairieskystrategy.ca
306.537.4465
Kevin Doherty – Senior Strategy Advisor
kevin@prairieskystrategy.ca
306.570.7123
Tom Lukiwski – Senior Strategy Advisor
tom@prairieskystrategy.ca
306.501.7933
Bronte Prosser – Senior Strategy Advisor
bronte@prairieskystrategy.ca
306.270.7405
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