By Drew Postey
Apr 6, 2021 2:43 PM
Reaction is beginning to come in from around Saskatchewan after Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Donna Harpauer announced the 2021/22 provincial budget Tuesday afternoon.
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Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association:
Job creation and a step toward economic recovery are two key takeaways from the 2021-22 Saskatchewan budget for the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association.
The announcement on Tuesday from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways has $830 million, including $520 in capital, earmarked for dozens of projects throughout the province.
Many of these projects are multi-year initiatives that will enhance safety on Saskatchewan highways and ensure efficiency in the movement of products and services to and from rural and urban communities.
REGINA The 2021-22 provincial budget includes Saskatchewan’s largest education investment in history, with $2.66 billion to support Prekindergarten to Grade 12 classrooms early learning and child care, and libraries and literacy. It’s an increase of $59.6 million from 2020-21. Saskatchewan earmarked $1.96 billion for operating funds for 27 school divisions, which addresses a two per cent salary increase as part of the Teachers Collective Bargaining Agreement. This is a $19.2 million increase in school operating funding compared to last year. The province plans to use $101.9 million to build 16 new schools and renovate five existing schools. Child care is seeing an increase of $2 million, and the budget also includes funding to create 176 new licensed home-based spaces and 51 new licensed centre spaces, as part of the province s four-year commitment to create 750 new licensed child care spaces.
STF calls for Level 4 in all schools after Easter due to COVID-19
Saskatchewan Teachers Federation president Patrick Maze speaks in Prince Albert on Nov. 1, 2019. (Peter Lozinski/Daily Herald)
On Wednesday the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) called for the Government of Saskatchewan to move all schools to Level 4 (online) learning for a two-week period following the Easter Break, which began Friday.
Level 4 means all schools would transition to online, mandatory learning from Monday, April 12 through Friday, April 23.
“There is a steady increase of COVID-19 cases in schools across the province,” STF President Patrick Maze said in a release.
“This two-week period will serve as a buffer to help protect students, teachers and ultimately our communities in the event people travel or gather over the break.”
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The provincial government will have to juggle demands for new funding in the face of strong fiscal headwinds, as it prepares to table another deficit budget on Tuesday.
Premier Scott Moe has framed the 2021-22 fiscal plan as a “recovery budget,” while both he and his finance minister have signalled that the government is likely to jettison the four-year balanced budget pledge it made during election season.
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Jim Farney, head of the politics and international studies department at the University of Regina, doubts the reversal will prove especially damaging for the Saskatchewan Party.
Sask budget a balancing act even if balance a distant dream melfortjournal.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from melfortjournal.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.