REGINA — Opposition New Democrats are once again calling for a new high school to be built in White City.
In a statement issued this past weekend, Opposition Leader Carla Beck reiterated her call for a new high school for the area — something that had been an election promise in her 2024 campaign.
“We have been advocating for this school for years, the community has been advocating even longer — clearly, the Sask. Party doesn’t care,” Beck said in a statement. “This is a government that wastes money like we’ve not seen in a generation, driving our provincial debt to $40 billion, and they refuse to invest in students and the schools families are desperately asking for.
“Our Saskatchewan NDP government will know the value of public education and having good schools close to home. We will get to work on Day 1 fixing public education and building our communities for the future.”
The statement came in the wake of news reports that Prairie Valley School Division has listed a new school for White City as a top priority in their latest capital request to the province.
The Opposition once again pointed out that White City, and nearby Emerald Park next door, are the largest communities in the province with no high school, and that White City is the only community with a combined population of 5,000 or more in that situation.
The NDP as well as officials in White City have previously pointed to the booming population growth of the area as highlighting the need for a new high school.
Right now, students in White City and Emerald Park are transported to high schools in nearby Balgonie or Regina. According to Prairie Valley School Division's website, Greenall High School in Balgonie is currently undergoing a "modernization and expansion" project, with renovations happening in 2026 and construction expected to be completed in 2029.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday at the Legislature, NDP Regina South Albert MLA Aleana Young was asked about the need for a high school in White City and she repeated the NDP’s pledge to build it during the first year of their government.
“In White City and Emerald Park, year one, Carla Beck in the Saskatchewan NDP will have those schools under construction, full stop.”
Young said there was "absolutely" a need there.
“This is one of the largest municipalities in Saskatchewan, I believe the largest municipality in Saskatchewan with no school. This is something we campaigned on proudly in the last election. If anything, that need has only gotten worse.”
She also pointed to the deteriorating state of schools in the province — an issue the NDP has been raising over the past number of weeks.
“We see 130 schools in the province in critical condition, thousands more students, 45 fewer teachers. Things are getting worse in White City, not better.”
In response, the Ministry of Education provided a statement in which they said they "continue to work closely with school divisions to address their top capital needs."
"Since 2008, the Government of Saskatchewan has committed approximately $2.8 billion toward school infrastructure. The 2025-26 Education Budget includes $140 million to support 26 new or replacement schools and three major renovation projects."
The ministry also stated that for Prairie Valley School Division specifically, "the Government of Saskatchewan addressed one of their top capital priorities in 2023 with a new renovation and expansion for Greenall High School."
