REGINA – While 2024 was a turbulent year at the Legislature due to a provincial election, 2025 proved to be a different type of turbulent.
The upheaval came from south of the border from President Donald Trump, and from across the Pacific in Asia, as tariffs and trade dominated the news cycle in 2025.
But it was not the only major story. Here is a look back at some of the big stories seen this year at the Legislature.
2025-26 Budget surplus turns into a deficit
The budget saw a major swing in 2025. When it was brought down in the spring, Finance Minister Jim Reiter reported a $12 million surplus.
But Opposition critic Trent Wotherspoon immediately questioned those numbers and said the budget was not worth the paper it was printed on, and put the budget document in the shredder.
By the end of the year the forecast surplus had turned into a $427 million deficit.
Separatist sentiments challenged
With Saskatchewan mostly shut out again in the federal election, separatist sentiments started popping up in Alberta and also Saskatchewan. Opposition Leader Carla Beck tried to put a stop to the separatist activities with the Keep Saskatchewan in Canada Act, aimed at tightening up the rules in which a referendum petition can be successful. But she was unable to get the bill passed before the end of the 2024-25 session.
Wildfires
The wildfire response in northern Saskatchewan drew criticism from opposition New Democrats in 2025, with devastation resulting in Denare Beach and East Trout Lake. The opposition was critical over four firefighting aircraft that were grounded, and over the handling of evacuations. They called for a full independent public inquiry into the response, but those attempts were shot down.
The province, which provided millions in aid towards the reconstruction, pointed to MNP conducting their own investigation into the response, which will be completed in the new year.
Health care
Issues of overcrowded ERs and closed rural facilities continued to make headlines in 2025. Following a series of notification screwups in which patients were redirected to ERs that were actually closed, the SHA announced changes to the way notifications go out on service disruptions, after the NDP's Jared Clarke announced plans for a private members bill to change the notifications system.
Meanwhile, overcrowded conditions in the hallways outside the ER at Royal University Hospital made headlines.
$10 a day child care extended
A hot issue throughout 2025 was $10 a day child care. Saskatchewan initially did not sign on to the extension early in the year, prompting criticism and demands from the Opposition to get a deal done. Finally the province and the federal government signed the deal in November.
Compassionate Intervention Act
One final piece of legislation introduced at the end of 2025 was a controversial one to introduce compassionate care in Saskatchewan with the Compassionate Intervention Act. Under that Act it would compel involuntary addictions treatment for those individuals with severe addictions who are not capable of seeking help on their own.
