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REPORT FROM THE LEGISLATURE
This week marked the start of the spring sitting of the Saskatchewan Legislature. As we gathered to open the Assembly for the first time this year, Ukraine fights for their right to enjoy the same democratic process. Pins, flags and buttons with blue and yellow emblems could be spotted throughout the building this week as our hearts and minds remain focused on Ukraine.
Saskatchewan stands with our friends and family in Ukraine as they face an attack on their homes by Russia. A motion introduced by Premier Scott Moe was approved, calling for Russia to stop their unprovoked aggression towards neighbouring Ukraine.
Communities across the province have been coming together to show support through vigils, prayer events and protests against the violence. These events held in unison with thousands more around the globe are sending a message that the world will not tolerate this act of war.
We have made several commitments to help those who need assistance, including a $100,000 donation to support humanitarian efforts on the ground. SaskTel has waived long-distance and texting fees from Canada to Ukraine. We are working with post-secondary institutions to determine the impact on our international students. The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority has delisted Russian products from their distribution centre and removed them from retail stores.
And most importantly, we are committed to providing a safe place for those fleeing the brutal attacks. Around two million people have fled the country so far. To put that into perspective, the entire province of Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia would have to pack up what they could carry and leave. Europe will not be able to help all of those people alone. They need our assistance.
The Government of Saskatchewan has met with Ottawa to let the federal government know that we will accept an unlimited number of Ukrainians fleeing the violence. Priority will be given to Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee applications received from Ukraine.
Our government is working with community members to ensure support, programs and services are ready for when our friends arrive. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress of Saskatchewan will receive $335,000 in funding for dedicated community coordinators to provide information and assistance to individuals or groups who want to help our new neighbours. They will assist Ukrainians with settlement and language services, along with potential employment opportunities.
Saskatchewan is ready, willing and able to help in this global effort to stand against tyranny.
As the Spring Sitting progresses, our government will outline plans for 2022 and beyond. Plans that will show the world that Saskatchewan has the people, resources and drive to lead the nation. Great progress has been made in recent months, and we will keep on track to ensure that hard work will benefit everyone who calls Saskatchewan home.
The forestry sector is an example of the work that goes on over the course of several months and, in some cases, years. Sales in 2021 increased 60 per cent over 2020, reaching an all-time high of $1.8 billion. We are on track to achieve our goals of doubling forestry growth by 2030 and substantially increasing the value of our exports.
These gains are just the beginning, as we anticipate over 2,600 more jobs in the sector thanks to timber allocations announced last fall for four major projects. These projects include an oriented strand board mill for Prince Albert, expansion of the Carrot River sawmill, upgrades to increase lumber production at the Big River sawmill, and the re-opening of the Prince Albert pulp mill totalling nearly $1 billion in capital investment.
And we were pleased to welcome the newly elected MLA for Athabasca, Jim Lemaigre to the Legislature this week. Jim was chosen by the people of Athabasca in a by-election last month. This will be the first time the constituency has been represented on the government side of the Assembly since 2007. It’s great to have such a strong voice for northern Saskatchewan on our team.
GOVERNMENT OF SASKATCHEWAN INTRODUCES MOTION OF SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE
The first day of the sitting, March 7, the Government of Saskatchewan took another step in its support for Ukraine by introducing a motion to support Ukraine and condemn Russia in the legislative assembly.
Introduced by Premier Scott Moe, the motion, if adopted, will be sent to the Ambassador of Russia to Canada and the Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada.
"Saskatchewan stands united with the people of Ukraine," Moe said. "Your courage and determination are an inspiration to us all. We unequivocally condemn this unprovoked and illegal invasion. Democracy and freedom are under attack and it is our hope that the whole world will stand up to Russia and say no."
The motion reads as follows:
That the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan express its unwavering support for Ukraine's people, sovereignty and territorial integrity and that this Assembly condemns Russia's wholly unprovoked and wanton invasion of Ukraine and calls on Russia to cease and withdraw all military operations within Ukraine immediately.
The government is seeking unanimous support for the motion.
I was honoured rise in the House to speak to this motion.
Please take a moment to go to my facebook page to watch the video of my support of this motion.
SASKATCHEWAN COMMITS $335,000 FOR SETTLEMENT SUPPORT FOR DISPLACED UKRAINIAN FAMILIES
March 8, the Government of Saskatchewan announced the intent to work with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress of Saskatchewan (UCC) as part of its commitment to assist displaced Ukrainian families resettle in Saskatchewan.
Through this partnership and $335,000 in funding, there will be dedicated community coordinators who are available to provide information and assistance to individuals and groups who are wanting to provide help, and to individuals and families from Ukraine who are seeking assistance. The community coordinators will help families connect to resources such as settlement services, language training, and employment services to integrate into the province and workforce.
"The Government of Saskatchewan stands with those around the world condemning the unprovoked attack of Ukraine by Russia, and we have informed the federal government of our readiness to receive an unlimited number of displaced families fleeing Ukraine," Immigration and Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison said. "This partnership, which is over and above other supports that we are already offering, will provide the displaced Ukrainian families who choose to come to our province access to helpful settlement resources they need to rebuild their lives here in Saskatchewan."
The project will be administered by UCC Saskatchewan, who will work with their UCC member groups, as well as existing settlement, employment, and language service providers across the province.
For individuals or families in need of assistance or anyone wanting to offer some assistance, UCC Saskatchewan can be contacted at 1-888-652-5850 or info@ucc.sk.ca.
As of March 8, the number of refugees fleeing Ukraine has reached 2 million.
SGI CUSTOMERS TO RECEIVE $100 REBATE PER VEHICLE
This spring, SGI customers will receive a $100 dollar rebate for each vehicle they had registered as of March 9, 2022.
Everyone who registers a vehicle pays into the Auto Fund, Saskatchewan's self-sustaining, not-for-profit basic vehicle insurance program. The Auto Fund does not take or receive money from the Government of Saskatchewan. The Auto Fund has a Rate Stabilization Reserve (RSR) that acts as a "rainy day" fund to cushion customers from sudden increases in their vehicle insurance.
"Our government is pleased to deliver this benefit back to the people of Saskatchewan," Minister Responsible for SGI Don Morgan said. "The Rate Stabilization Reserve has a surplus that was largely generated by its well-performing investment portfolio. We believe it’s fair that all Auto Fund customers benefit equally, regardless of how long their vehicle was registered or the premium they pay for that vehicle. All drivers are facing higher fuel costs, regardless of what they’re driving."
Rebates of $100 will be provided to the owner of each vehicle or motorcycle that was registered as of March 9, 2022. All classes of vehicle (private, commercial, farm etc.) are eligible. Trailers and snowmobiles are not.
Initial estimates put the total cost of the rebates at approximately $95 million dollars. Rebates will be issued to the person or entity listed as the registered owner. Customers who had multiple vehicles or motorcycles registered as of March 9, 2022, will receive rebates for all vehicles combined into one cheque.
Over the next number of weeks, SGI will prepare more than 700,000 rebate cheques. Customers are encouraged to ensure their mailing address is up to date with SGI before mailout occurs later this spring at a date to be determined.
ANGLERS: IT'S TO REMOVE ICE FISHING SHELTERS
With ice fishing season winding down, anglers should plan to remove their ice fishing shelters before the deadlines - March 15 south of Highway 16 and March 31 north of the highway.
Spring weather is unpredictable and it can be easy to overestimate how much time you have to safely remove your ice shelter. Every year, shelters end up abandoned on the melting ice, posing a danger to boaters, water skiers and others enjoying our lakes. Leftover debris can also wash up on shore, causing litter and potential environmental hazards.
Anglers: It's Time to Remove Ice Fishing Shelters | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan
GRADUATE RETENTION PROGRAM ON YOUR TAX RETURN
Do you have questions about claiming your Graduate Retention Program (GRP) on your income tax return?
If you are a recent graduate or have not yet claimed GRP on your income tax, you will need to file your GRP certificate. The certificate will have been emailed or included with your other graduation documents. If you did not receive a certificate, please contact the Student Service Centre at 1-800-597-8278.
If you have been graduated for over a year and previously filed your GRP certificate, you only need to indicate this year’s Saskatchewan tuition credit amount found on your last year’s Notice of Assessment.
Please visit our website for more detailed information on claiming the GRP on your Saskatchewan tax return: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/.../filing-your-tax-return
SASKATCHEWAN CONTINUES ITS STRONG ECONOMIC RECOVERY WITH BIG JOB GAINS, LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
Unemployment Rate Drops to 4.7 Per Cent as 30,100 New Jobs Gained in February
Today, job numbers released by Statistics Canada for February 2022 show Saskatchewan added 30,100 jobs, an increase of 5.6 per cent, compared to February 2021. Of these, 19,500 were full-time jobs. Month-to-month seasonally adjusted employment increased by 7,400, an increase of 1.3 per cent, the highest employment growth rate in Western Canada. Through the first two months of 2022, Saskatchewan had the second highest rate of job growth in Canada at 2.3 per cent.
Unemployment rate fell to 4.7 per cent, the second lowest among provinces. It was down from 7.3 per cent a year ago, down from 5.5 per cent a month ago, and well below the national average of 5.5 per cent (seasonally adjusted). The unemployment rate of 4.7 per cent was the lowest for Saskatchewan since April 2015.
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS WITH PATHS TO MOVE TRAINING PROGRAM ONLINE
The Ministry of Justice and Attorney General and the Status of Women Office are partnering with the Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan (PATHS) to develop an online course to educate employers and staff on how to support colleagues experiencing interpersonal violence outside of the workplace.
"Investing in the development of online modules to educate the workforce on the complexities of interpersonal violence and abuse is a key step in prevention," Justice Minister and Attorney General Gordon Wyant said. "Educating employees and building awareness helps to ensure the health and safety of everyone in the workplace."
Together, the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General and the Status of Women Office have invested $59,000 to move the training online.
"Enhancing initiatives that address interpersonal violence and abuse is important work," Minister Responsible for the Status of Women Office Laura Ross said. "PATHS is leading the way on this initiative and I am pleased that the Status of Women Office has been able to support their efforts."
Government Partners with PATHS to Move Training Program Online | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan
$140,000 IN PROVINCIAL FUNDING HELP SASKATCHEWAN SCHOOLS SUPPORT TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
The Government of Saskatchewan is providing approximately $140,000 in grants to advance truth and reconciliation education in the province.
Each of the 27 provincial school divisions, one partnership school and one qualified independent school will receive up to $5,000 in funding to collaborate with local Indigenous communities and organizations in order to plan and implement actions that support reconciliation throughout the 2021-22 school year.
"These grants represent our government's commitment to advancing reconciliation in our communities," Education Minister Dustin Duncan said. "We are pleased to see these grants support collaboration and education on important topics, such as Indigenous histories, languages, arts, cultures and way of knowing as we continue on the path to healing."
$140,000 In Provincial Funding Help Saskatchewan Schools Support Truth And Reconciliation | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan
FORESTRY SECTOR SETS NEW RECORD WITH 41.8 BILLION IN SALES
Sales in 2021 Up 60 Per Cent From 2020
Saskatchewan's forestry sector reached an all-time high of $1.8 billion in forestry product sales in 2021, an increase of 60 per cent from 2020.
"These record numbers are more great news for Saskatchewan's economy and show we're fully on track to achieve our goals of doubling forestry sector growth by 2030 and substantially increasing the value of our exports," Energy and Resources Minister Bronwyn Eyre said. "Forestry is currently the largest sector in our province's north, supports nearly 8,000 jobs and relies heavily on Indigenous workers and businesses."
Saskatchewan Forestry Sector Sets New Record with $1.8 Billion in Sales | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan
SASKATCHEWAN LAUNCHES PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ON VIRTUAL CARE
Province Hopes to Collect Feedback From Thousands of Respondents
The Government of Saskatchewan is seeking feedback from patients and health care providers on their experiences with virtual care.
Saskatchewan quickly adopted new methods to safely connect patients to their doctor or another health care provider two years ago without stepping out their door, through virtual care.
Saskatchewan Launches Public Engagement On Virtual Care | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan
Please let me know if you have upcoming events you would like included in this newsletter!
Listening and responding to the needs of my constituents is the most important thing I do as your Member of the Legislative Assembly.
It has been a challenging two years. The resilience of Saskatchewan people has been amazing and I am proud to serve you.
I appreciate the opportunity to make a positive difference in our constituency. Your phone calls, letters, and emails make a big difference in keeping me informed on the issues that matter to you.
If you would like me to recognize anyone or have your event mentioned in this newsletter, please don't hesitate to call or email me.
93 Million Worth of Pavement Marking Completed | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan's Spring Runoff Report - Conditions Still Vary Across The Province | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan
Status Of Women Office Highlights Inspiring Women For International Women's Day | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan
Ready to Rock Out to Rod Stewart? What You Need to Know Before Buying Concert Tickets | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Drug Task Force Releases Consultation Results | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan
Province Proclaims March Rendez-Vous de la Francophonie 2022 | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan
Office of Residential Tenancies Launches New Online Public Access | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan
COVID-19 Weekly EPI Report | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan
March is Agriculture Literacy Month in Saskatchewan | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan
Legislation to Protect Contractors Takes Effect Today | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Announces $638,000 for Bridging to Employment Program | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan
To read additional government news releases: News and Media | Government | Government of Saskatchewan
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
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"From a Provincial Point of View" is a message from Ken Cheveldayoff, MLA Saskatoon Willowgrove. Your opinions are important and your letters, emails, and phone calls on any issues relating to the provincial government are welcomed.
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Copyright © *|2020|* *|Ken Cheveldayoff, MLA Saskatoon Willowgrove|*, All rights reserved. |
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