Battlefords MLA Herb Cox was happy to see the province hand down a balanced budget on Wednesday.
“Two budgets ago, we said we would get to this point today,” said Cox from Regina.
“We made that commitment and we had to make some tough decisions along the way, but we have got here and we have a balanced budget.”
Cox acknowledged there had been a lot of belt-tightening that went on, plus they had taken a $1 billion hit to their resource revenue. That meant decisions had to be made, and, Cox said, “we’ve done that.”
“This is not a destination, but it’s a journey”, said Cox. “Our next three budgets we’re also forecasting increasing surpluses in each of the next three years. I think that’s important if we are going to continue to provide services and aids to the citizens of Saskatchewan that we have in the past and we’re going to continue to do that.”
A standout for Cox was the considerable focus on mental health in the budget.
“That’s one of the things we’ve heard, and I’m very pleased the government has responded,” Cox said. Cox was referring to feedback received from organizations during the Caucus Committee on Crime discussions, which he chaired.
He was happy to see the province act on that committee’s recommendations. Cox also mentioned the Police and Crisis Team (PACT) created last November, and pointed to an as-yet undisclosed provincial announcement scheduled for Friday in North Battleford, which Cox planned to attend.
The considerable mention of Sask. Hospital in the budget was something Cox was pleased with.
“It is the largest infrastructure, largest spending for that matter in mental health that this province has ever seen,” said Cox. “It is an awesome facility, awesome people work there giving the type of care that people require. I’m happy to see a $13.7 million funding allocation happen for staffing.”
There were a number of other highlights in the budget that Cox touched on.
• Non-refundable tax credits for volunteer emergency responders. “That’s an awesome idea,” said Cox. “They take time off work, when they get called out in the middle of the night, whatever, so to be able to give them after 200 hours of volunteer service a $3,000 tax credit, I think is pretty substantial … I was very pleased to see something like that come into the budget.”
• Cox was pleased with the $10.5 million increase in municipal revenue sharing. “That funding, revenue sharing, is way greater than it ever was prior to this government having the honor to form government. Both SUMA and SARM have come out and said they are very pleased with the $10.5 million dollar lift in that budget.”
• Infrastructure, highway and roads are getting a lift in funding. “We’re working very seriously with $13 million this year as part of our five-year, $65 million commitment to intersection safety, to make our highway safer in the province. As well we have some funding in the budget for more passing lanes, which you know how well they’ve been received on highway 4 north between North Battleford and Cochin. It’s been a great safety feature on our highway and it’s going to continue to be.”
• On health care, Cox noted the feasibility studies for hospitals in Prince Albert and Weyburn and for the long term care home in Meadow Lake. “That’s part of our commitment to replace 13 long term care homes in this province.”
• In education, Cox pointed to a $19 million lift into the education budget. “In our own school divisions there in North Battleford, Living Sky School Division will be getting $60.9 million dollars, Light of Christ will get $19 million.”
• Finance Minister Donna Harpauer will be in North Battleford at the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce at noon Thursday to provide an opportunity for local residents to hear about the budget details and give feedback. “The budget document doesn’t just develop itself in a little while. They work on this budget for a year’s time and I have got the greatest respect for Donna and all of the Treasury Board for the work that they’ve done, not only this year but over the past years to get to the point we are now and continue having surpluses in that budget going forward
