The new session of the Legislature officially opened on Wednesday and public safety and addictions treatment will be a major focus.
The Speech from the Throne was delivered by Lieutenant Governor Bernadette McIntyre on Wednesday afternoon outlining the priorities of Premier Scott Moe and his government. In speaking to reporters in an embargoed news conference, Moe said the “priorities that we will be putting forward in this year’s Speech from the Throne on behalf of what we have heard from Saskatchewan people will be to ensure that Saskatchewan remains strong, remains safe, and remains secure.”
As has long been speculated, one of those will be the introduction of compassionate care or compassionate intervention — or what critics have referred to as “involuntary treatment” of addictions issues.
Such moves had been introduced in other provinces including neighbouring Alberta and now the issue will officially come to the Saskatchewan Legislature.
“During this session, we will take the next step to provide the support, compassion and care those struggling with addictions need by introducing The Compassionate Intervention Act,” the text of the Throne Speech reads.
“There are some people with addictions problems who are simply unable to seek the treatment they need on their own. Individuals whose addiction is creating a threat to themselves and others will be required to enter an addiction treatment program, ensuring they get the help they need while keeping our communities safe and secure. Giving someone struggling with addiction more drugs is not the answer.”
The other legislation coming related to public safety is introduction of The Response to Illicit Drugs Act, which the Throne Speech states will to take further action to protect Saskatchewan families and communities from illegal drugs and crack down on those who profit from them. Once again, a tougher response to illegal drugs was something the government and Premier Moe had long signalled it would do.
The government is also pledging this session to release a renewed and expanded Provincial Approach to Homelessness, and provide a “significant increase in support by providing outreach services, enhancing public safety and increasing the supply of supportive housing,” according to the Throne Speech.
Also expected to be a major focus will be the economy, tariffs and trade. The Throne Speech pledges the government will “continue to make every effort to work collaboratively with the federal government toward our shared goals of a strong and growing Saskatchewan within a strong and united Canada.”
On interprovincial trade, the Throne Speech states that a “new Saskatchewan Internal Trade Promotion Act will encourage freer trade within our own country and strengthen our Saskatchewan and Canadian economies by reducing interprovincial trade barriers for goods and services.”
The government is also committing itself to energy security, with the Throne Speech including a commitment to the Saskatchewan First Energy Security Strategy and Supply Plan which was announced Monday.
“My government has listened to Saskatchewan people who have told us they want to ensure our province’s energy security. For SaskPower customers, energy security means reliable, affordable electricity now and in the future. It means extending the life of coal-fired power plants and developing nuclear energy in Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan First Energy Security Strategy and Supply Plan will do just that.
“Those who would oppose both of these electrical generation sources would sentence Saskatchewan people to skyrocketing power bills and an unreliable supply of electricity. My government will not let that happen.”
On agriculture, the province will amend The Animal Protection Act. Changes will include the creation of new animal welfare inspector positions to provide education on animal care, and to establish a code of conduct for animal protection officers.
The Throne Speech also pledges strengthening of penalties for contravention of The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act, to ensure compliance with farmland ownership rules and protecting communities from foreign farmland ownership.
The province also outlined priorities for “people, parks and parties.” One piece of legislation being introduced that has been rumoured for some time will be The Tailgating Act.
“In collaboration with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, a new regulatory framework will be created that will allow tailgating events at Mosaic Stadium prior to games. A new permit type under Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming will be ready before the start of the 2026 football season.”
Also coming this fall is the introduction of The “From Many Peoples, Strength” Act to will allow for permanent recognition of the special days, weeks and months requested by the various cultural groups.
The government had previously indicated at the close of the last Session that it would bring forward this legislation in the new Session, so that various cultural groups would not need to make annual applications to get a proclamation.
There are a number of priorities on education with the most notable new commitment being introduction of The Building Schools Faster Act.
According to the Throne Speech it will require municipalities to acquire and service sufficient land for the construction of new schools where municipal reserve space is not able to cover the land needs of new schools. The Throne Speech also states a defined cost contribution for the joint purchase of land by the province and municipalities will be developed.
This is likely in response to the highly publicized delays seen to previously announced school projects in those rapidly growing parts of the province, most notably with the second Harbour Landing school project in Regina that has only now begun construction.
There is also a commitment to enter into a new multi-year funding agreement with post secondary institutions.
On health care, the Throne Speech states that the government is committed to performing 450,000 surgeries over the next four years. They note the list of patients waiting longer than 24 months is nearly eliminated and the number of people waiting more than 12 months is down nearly 25 per cent.
There will be continued implementation of the Healthcare Human Resource Action Plan, and a commitment to hire more nurse practitioners and creating a new physician assistant designation. There is also a commitment to bullding more urgent care centres to reduce pressure on emergency rooms, as well as other options including virtual healthcare and making sure everyone has access to a healthcare provider regardless of where they live.
In other areas of the Throne Speech the government has reiterated its election commitments and pledges from the previous session.
On affordability, the Throne Speech reiterates the ongoing affordability measures from the Saskatchewan Affordability Act introduced last session, including the reduction in personal income tax, raising the seniors supplement, raising the First-time Homebuyers Tax Credit, and other measures.
“These are not one-time measures. They are ongoing measures to make life more affordable for everyone in Saskatchewan every year, year after year. Our government will ensure Saskatchewan continues to be the most affordable place in Canada to live.”
And on infrastructure, the government pointed to this year’s budget for infrastructure being the highest in the province’s history at $4.6 billion.
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