During the 2007
Saskatchewan provincial election the Saskatchewan Party made approximately 124 promises. Leader Brad Wall released his party’s platform
Securing the Future – New Ideas for Saskatchewan on
October 19, 2007. It covers the fiscal years 2008-2009 to 2011-2012.
In
Sask. Party on the money (SP Oct. 20, 2007) StarPhoenix columnist Randy Burton noted the following:
“Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall’s election platform calls for new spending of $1.29 billion over four years, along with tax cuts totalling $407.4 million, a combination that would produce very thin budget surpluses in the $30-million to $40-million range.
Accordingly, the party’s forecasts call for no significant debt reduction beyond a $250-million payment in its first year of government.
After that, it would devote half of future surpluses to debt reduction, with the other half going to infrastructure spending and tax cuts. As a result, the party expects its debt servicing costs to remain at about $540 million in each year of its term.”
Murray Mandryk, the
Leader-Post political affairs columnist, said the Saskatchewan Party’s platform “adds to previous announcements by committing to annual balanced budgets, proposing a modest debt paydown plan and spending 3.5 per cent more during a Sask. Party government, which will be limited by law to four years.” [
Sask. Party has advantage -- on paper (SP Oct. 20, 2007)]
Mandryk also pointed out that “there are any number of reasons to criticize the Sask. Party’s 44-page plan -- not the least of which is the fact that it seems to be rolling every available government fund (including the Building Communities Fund and the much-maligned NDP government’s Fiscal Stabilization Fund) into one fund that will now be used to balance a budget.”
In
Campaign platform released (LP Oct. 20, 2007) Liberal leader David Karwacki said if the Sask. Party is putting forward balanced budget legislation then “they can’t add.”
Promises such as tuition rebates and the hiring of nurses will cost much more than the Sask. Party contends, Karwacki said.
The Liberal leader expanded on his concerns a few days later.
In
Sask. Party math way off: Karwacki (SP Oct. 23, 2007) Karwacki said there were 29 “uncosted promises” in the Saskatchewan Party platform that could lead to a deficit.
His party’s
Oct. 22 news release was accompanied by a detailed
six page backgrounder outlining the “29 promises that are uncosted with few implementation details.”
Karwacki criticized the Sask. Party for its low cost estimates and what he called an unrealistic platform.
“(The Sask. Party) is going to break their own balanced budget within the first year,” Karwacki said.
“This, in our view, is unacceptable.”
The Sask. Party platform fails to include $500 million in unaccounted spending over four years, according to Karwacki, and leaves an unaddressed $358-million deficit.
Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall said Karwacki was “absolutely wrong.”
Wall said items in the platform that don’t have specific costs assigned to them are calculated as a 1.8 per cent increase to annual spending in the platform. (It should be noted that the Saskatchewan Party platform does not appear to contain this information.)
The overall spending increase, including costed items, is three per cent annually.
Karwacki said he noticed “glaring weaknesses” within the Sask. Party’s vow to hire 800 registered nurses. Karwacki said there is an estimated shortfall of about $133 million over four years and said he saw no plan of retention for current nurses.
From this point onward media interest in the apparent shortcomings in the Saskatchewan Party platform raised by Karwacki seemed to fall by the wayside.
In
Campaigns focus on promises (LP Oct. 25, 2007) Murray Mandryk noted “the Sask. Party spending about $1.7 billion on its new election promises over the next four years compared with the…$1.5-billion, four-year NDP platform.”
“However, what should be noted is that Sask. Party new spending includes the seniors’ drug plan costs. The NDP platform doesn’t include that cost component, which works out to more than the $200-million difference,” Mandryk said.
Mandryk didn’t mention the $500 million in unaccounted spending over four years in the Saskatchewan Party platform that Karwacki claimed to have found.
Following the election it seems that Karwacki’s observations may have been on the mark.
In
Business groups happy, labour leery (LP Nov. 9, 2007) Lee Harding, the new Saskatchewan director of the
Canadian Taxpayers Federation, “expressed concern that as many as 29 of the Sask. Party promises remain “uncosted” and could prove a financial burden to the province in future years.
“There is a lot of spending in this platform,”' Harding said.
“The only consolation is that it budgeted for oil at $65 (
US) a barrel, rather than $100 (
US) a barrel that it’s at now.”
The following is a list of the promises made by the Saskatchewan Party in its 2007 election platform. Additionally, on November 8, 2007, the
StarPhoenix published a short compilation of promises which include two that were made during the campaign but are not shown in the platform. These appear at the end.
Monitoring the progress of the promises should be relatively easy in some cases while others will likely prove harder to track. Over the next four years it is hoped that as many as possible can be marked as either kept, broken or unchanged. Anyone wishing to contribute an update on any of them can do so by contacting: saskpartypromises@yahoo.ca
Saskatchewan Party 2007 Election Promises Page 6 New Ideas to Keep Young People in Saskatchewan:1. Under the Saskatchewan Party Plan, an average of 11,000 post-secondary graduates each year will be eligible for a rebate on the cost of the tuition they’ve paid. Refundable tax credits will be paid out to graduates each year for seven years if they stay in
Saskatchewan, up to a maximum of $20,000 per graduate.
2. The maximum tuition rebate per student will be tied to the cost of their program. Graduates in one-year certificate programs will be eligible for a $3,000 tuition rebate, graduates from two-year programs will be eligible for up to $6,400 in rebates, graduates from three-year undergraduate programs will be eligible for $15,000 in rebates, and graduates from four-year programs in Saskatchewan will be eligible for up to $20,000. Students must have graduated from an accredited
Saskatchewan post-secondary institution from 2006 onwards to be eligible for tuition rebates.
3. 2006 and 2007 graduates will still be eligible for the current Graduate Tax Exemption for this year. Beginning in 2008, the Saskatchewan Party Graduate Tuition Rebate will replace the Graduate Tax Exemption.
4. A
Saskatchewan Party government will keep tuition affordable for students by increasing operating funding to post-secondary institutions by $125-million over four years – a 28% increase in funding.
5. Designate $3-million per year in increased postsecondary funding for the creation of a
Saskatchewan scholarship fund, to be matched by scholarship funding raised by post-secondary institutions.
6. Work with post-secondary institutions to create more co-op and applied learning opportunities.
7. A
Saskatchewan Party government will help young people to start a business or a career in
Saskatchewan, by allowing young entrepreneurs and self-employed youth under 30 to earn $10,000 per year tax free for five years.
8. A
Saskatchewan Party government will work with local school boards, the business community and community based organizations such as Junior Achievement, to enhance business literacy, entrepreneurial and career education in
Saskatchewan schools.
Pages 9-11 Writing a Prescription for Better Health Care:9. A Saskatchewan Party government will work with health care stakeholders to develop a 10 year comprehensive health human resources plan to get health care back on track.
10. A Saskatchewan Party government will work in partnership with the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses and other nursing stakeholders to create a recruitment and retention program that works for nurses and benefits patients, while investing an additional $200-million over four years to:
a) Hire 800 Registered Nurses, by filling the existing 600 Registered Nurse vacancies and hiring an additional 200 Registered Nurses within the first term of government.
b) Ensure that new graduates have permanent fulltime employment opportunities.
c) Undertake a significant recruitment campaign to bring non-practicing RNs and LPNs back into the health care system.
d) Recruit expatriate nurses back to Saskatchewan.
e) Recruit more immigrant nurses.
f) Provide incentives for senior nurses to stay in the workforce longer such as recognizing long-term service and providing opportunities for mentoring new grads and immigrant nurses.
g) Establish a bridging program to make it easier for LPNs to become RNs.
h) Provide assistance and training opportunities for professional development such as obtaining the specialized skills required in intensive care units, emergency rooms, and operating rooms.
i) Increase the use of nurse practitioners.
j) Improve workplace conditions for nurses by improving nurse/patient ratios, addressing safety issues, and providing up-to-date equipment that works.
11. A Saskatchewan Party government will work with the province’s post-secondary institutions to fast-track the Integrated Health Sciences Facility at the University of Saskatchewan and provide almost $40-million over four years to work towards the goal of creating 300 new Registered Nurse education seats in Saskatchewan over the next four years.
12. A
Saskatchewan Party government will invest almost $33-million over four years to create 40 new physician training seats at the
College of Medicine over four years and fund 60 additional residency training positions. This will provide
Saskatchewan with a comparable number of physician training seats to
Manitoba and restore the residency ratios to former levels to allow more opportunities for doctors to do their residency training in
Saskatchewan.
13. A
Saskatchewan Party government will work with stakeholders, including the Saskatchewan Medical Association, to strengthen recruitment and retention efforts to increase the number of doctors in
Saskatchewan by:
a) Enhancing efforts to recruit expatriate physicians back to Saskatchewan.
b) Taking steps to facilitate the transition phase for foreign doctors, including opportunities to take upgrading in the province.
c) Increasing the number of doctors working in rural areas, including locums for relief situations.
d) Increasing the number of specialists where shortages exist.
e) Implementing physician exit surveys to improve future retention rates.
14. A
Saskatchewan Party government will hold quarterly meetings between the Premier and/or Minister of Health and health care worker representatives to discuss workplace issues such as new graduate integration, ratios of part-time and full time workers, and other work-related issues that affect health care providers.
15. A
Saskatchewan Party government will conduct patient exit surveys to measure the quality of a patient’s experience with the health care system. The information will be compiled and made public in a ‘report card’ and will be used to help improve the health care system.
16. A Saskatchewan Party government will provide a $15 per prescription cap on prescription drugs covered under the province’s drug plan for all children aged 14 and under, as well as seniors with net incomes under $64,043. The income threshold of $64,043 is the same threshold at which seniors qualify to claim a full or partial federal age tax credit. Under the Saskatchewan Party plan, 95% of
Saskatchewan seniors will be eligible for the $15 cap on prescription drugs.
17. In addition to continuing to increase funding for the provincial drug plan on an annual basis, a Saskatchewan Party government will provide an additional $40 million over four years to expand the number of drugs covered under the provincial formulary.
18. A
Saskatchewan Party government will provide an additional $40-million over four years to strengthen cancer care in
Saskatchewan and provide additional funding for approved cancer drugs.
19. A
Saskatchewan Party government will work with the federal government and health care providers to strengthen cancer prevention strategies in
Saskatchewan.
20. A
Saskatchewan Party government will work with other Western provinces to collaborate on the research, planning and implementation of an inter-provincial approach to radiation therapy.
21. A
Saskatchewan Party government will provide an additional $4-million over four years in funding to strengthen provincial efforts to promote wellness and preventive care through education, nutrition and physical activity.
22. A
Saskatchewan Party government will work with school boards to increase healthy food options in schools.
23. A
Saskatchewan Party government will work with school boards towards the goal of ensuring that children and youth in schools engage in 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily.
24. A
Saskatchewan Party government will work with Regional Health Authorities, community based agencies and seniors organizations to create a seniors care strategy for
Saskatchewan that will focus on:
a) Identifying and addressing gaps in the current continuum of care provided through homecare, community care and long-term care.
b) Developing an intermediate and long-term care facilities plan that addresses the care needs of our aging population.
c) Improving the coordination of long-term care beds to allow senior couples to stay together.
d) Supporting non-profit agencies that provide long-term Care.
e) Working with the federal government to increase long-term care capacity on First Nations reserves.
f) Undertaking a pilot project to provide government funding for Level Three and Level Four beds in personal care homes to reduce waiting times for long-term care beds.
25. A
Saskatchewan Party government will work with Regional Health Authorities to develop a 10-year capital plan for health care, and make construction of an integrated health sciences facility and a children’s hospital a priority. The 10-year plan will also include investments in new emergency medical equipment such as an air ambulance helicopter.
26. To ensure greater efficiency and accountability in health care spending and improve front line care, a Saskatchewan Party government will undertake a Patient First Review of the health care system, with input from health care professionals, to determine how best to:
a) Reduce surgical wait times and ensure patients get more timely access to the care they need.
b) Direct more of your health care dollars from bureaucracy to front-line care.
c) Create quality work environments for health care professionals.
27. A
Saskatchewan Party government will take the politics out of health care by establishing an independent health care ombudsman who reports directly to the legislature. The Health Care Ombudsman will:
a) Provide a clear independent authority for patients to turn to when concerns arise about the health care system.
b) Assess whether or not Saskatchewan Health fairly adjudicates its policies, including policies such as out-of-province medical coverage.
c) Act as an independent investigator to ensure patients are being treated fairly within the health system.
d) Identify systemic problems in the health care system and make recommendations for improvements.
e) Assist patients in navigating the system and getting the care they need in a timely way.
28. The Provincial Auditor has stated that Regional Health Authorities should be accountable for the services they deliver and report publicly on results and performance objectives in a timely way. A Saskatchewan Party government will ensure that Regional Health Authorities are responsible and accountable for the care they provide.
Pages 14-15 New Ideas for Families:29. A
Saskatchewan Party government will reduce the education portion of property taxes for
Saskatchewan families by doubling property tax rebates over four years. Once fully implemented, the Saskatchewan Party plan for property tax relief will:
a) Save the average homeowner with a $200,000 home more than $450 per year.
b) Save farm families with two sections of cultivated land $3,544 per year.
30. The
Saskatchewan Party plan to increase education property tax rebates is the first step in our commitment to achieve a fairer balance for education funding. A Saskatchewan Party government will work with school boards and consult with
Saskatchewan people to determine the best way to ensure K-12 education is properly funded and that the education portion of property taxes is further reduced.
31. A
Saskatchewan Party government will eliminate the PST on the purchase of used cars and trucks, if the PST has already been paid once on that vehicle in
Saskatchewan.
32. A
Saskatchewan Party government will assist families with the cost of their children’s participation in cultural, recreational and sports activities by providing a $150 per year/per child Active Saskatchewan Families Benefit for children aged six to 14.
33. A
Saskatchewan Party government will double the Caregivers Amount Tax Credit from $4,019 to $8,038 per year, saving families that care for aging parents and dependent family members living at home $884 a year.
34. A
Saskatchewan Party government will take action to strengthen K-12 education in
Saskatchewan, by:
a) Increasing K-12 education operating funding to school boards by 20% over four years – a $118-million investment in education.
b) Revising the Education Act to improve the consultation and assessment process before significant changes are made to school facilities.
c) Providing dedicated provincial funding for schools that meet stringent criteria as schools of opportunity or necessity.
d) Reviewing the foundation operating grant provided to school boards to ensure that it is fair, and achieves a better balance between classroom expenses and transportation costs when calculating per pupil funding.
e) Working with school boards to increase distance education and tele-learning opportunities in rural schools.
f) Making Treaty education mandatory in the K-12 curriculum.
35. A
Saskatchewan Party government will maintain funding levels for childcare and early childhood learning and development initiatives in
Saskatchewan – a $267-million investment in
Saskatchewan children over four years.
36. A
Saskatchewan Party government will provide an additional $2-million in over the next four years to community schools across the province for school lunch and anti-hunger programs.
37. In the wake of repeated instances where vulnerable children in safe houses have been neglected and placed further at risk by the NDP government, a Saskatchewan Party government will:
a) Request that the Provincial Auditor undertake an immediate audit of all service agreements with third-party organizations delivering services to children at-risk.
b) Request that the Children’s Advocate investigate and report publicly on the quality of care in facilities that deliver care to children at-risk.
c) Provide the Children’s Advocate with the authority to undertake random checks of safe houses and other provincially-funded facilities that provide services to children at-risk.
d) Reconvene the Saskatchewan Legislature’s Special Committee to Prevent the Abuse and Exploitation of Children Through the Sex Trade, which first provided recommendations to the government in 2002, to determine whether the recommendations have been effectively acted upon and identify further action that can be taken to prevent the abuse and exploitation of children through the sex trade.
38. A
Saskatchewan Party government will work with community based organizations to improve the delivery of services to
Saskatchewan families by moving to long-term, stable and predictable funding for organizations, while increasing the role of the Provincial Auditor to ensure greater accountability for the dollars that are spent.
39. A
Saskatchewan Party government will empower community based organizations, by holding a summit of community based organizations within the first six months of a Saskatchewan Party government to develop a new social policy direction for
Saskatchewan.
40. A
Saskatchewan Party government will provide an additional $20-million over four years to food banks and community based organizations that provide life skills, development and employment training to under-skilled individuals.
Pages 18-22 New Ideas for Jobs and Economic Growth:41. A
Saskatchewan Party government will create
Enterprise Saskatchewan, a new public-private partnership between government, business, labour, First Nations, municipalities, post-secondary institutions and economic stakeholders.
Enterprise Saskatchewan will be
Saskatchewan’s central economic development agency.
42.
Enterprise Saskatchewan will act as the lead agency for developing a long-term provincial labour force development strategy to ensure
Saskatchewan has enough well-trained workers to fill jobs and sustain economic growth in our province.
Enterprise Saskatchewan will:
a) Facilitate direct partnerships between post-secondary institutions and industry to address training needs in growth sectors of the economy.
b) Develop a long-term provincial initiative between First Nations, post-secondary institutions and industry to increase the number of First Nations workers in the labour force.
c) Increase training and employment opportunities for apprentices, including reviewing the current journeyman to apprentice ratio in consultation with industry and labour.
43.
Enterprise Saskatchewan will act as the lead agency for enhancing the value-added potential of
Saskatchewan’s natural resources.
Enterprise Saskatchewan will:
a) Support research, development and the commercialization of innovation in activities related to energy, forestry, mining and agriculture.
b) Work with the federal government to increase the number of value-added initiatives for Saskatchewan’s natural resource industries.
c) Explore and identify uranium value-added opportunities.
d) Review and address tax measures, infrastructure barriers and export barriers to assist in the valueadded development of our natural resources.
44. A
Saskatchewan Party government will reinstate the Saskatchewan Mineral Exploration Tax Credit which was eliminated by the NDP, to encourage ongoing, sustainable development of
Saskatchewan’s mineral resources.
45.
Enterprise Saskatchewan teams will review key sectors of
Saskatchewan’s economy, to identify barriers to growth and make recommendations to government for their removal.
46.
Enterprise Saskatchewan will consistently act to measure and report on
Saskatchewan’s tax and regulatory environment to ensure that
Saskatchewan’s economy remains competitive within the New West.
47. A
Saskatchewan Party government will ensure that
Saskatchewan people reap the benefits of our energy resources, by:
a) Ensuring the continued, sustainable development of Saskatchewan’s conventional oil and oilsands resources.
b) Working with the federal government to develop a national energy grid to increase provincial revenues from power exports.
c) Ensuring Saskatchewan is a member of North American and international energy and economic organizations.
48. Through
Enterprise Saskatchewan, a Saskatchewan Party government will work with stakeholders and northern communities to strengthen
Saskatchewan’s forest industry, including identifying barriers to growth in the industry and initiatives such as:
a) Aiding in the construction of infrastructure necessary for the success of the forest industry.
b) Developing niche markets where the Saskatchewan forest industry could flourish.
c) Examining the benefits of co-generation for the forest industry, as well as other uses for left over wood waste, such as in ethanol production.
49. A
Saskatchewan Party government will provide a more defined accounting of our allowable sustainable cut. This government surveyed inventory will be aimed at finding where
Saskatchewan’s forest industry fits into the world forestry market.
50. A
Saskatchewan Party government will increase First Nations involvement by ensuring that government and industry consults with First Nations on forest industry projects.
51. A
Saskatchewan Party government will fully fund the provincial government’s share of the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization Program (CAIS) and new federal-provincial programs to replace CAIS, while pressing the federal government to increase its share of funding for farm income stabilization and disaster relief programs.
52. A
Saskatchewan Party government will maintain current levels of funding for crop insurance, while conducting an immediate review of the program to determine how to increase coverage and reduce premiums for producers.
53. A
Saskatchewan Party government will double property tax rebates on agricultural land over four years, saving farm families with two sections of cultivated land $3,544 per year once fully implemented.
54. A
Saskatchewan Party government will invest $1.8-billion over four years in highways and transportation infrastructure to rebuild our crumbling highways.
55. A
Saskatchewan Party government will establish a fair and balanced labour environment in
Saskatchewan that respects the rights of workers and employers by:
a) Ensuring a balanced labour environment in Saskatchewan that is fair to workers and employers and competitive with other Canadian jurisdictions.
b) Respecting the right of labour and management to negotiate collective agreements, by removing legislated limits on the length of collective bargaining agreements.
c) Protecting public safety by working together with the province’s public sector unions to ensure essential services are in place in the event of a strike or labour action.
d) Reviewing the Workers’ Compensation Board to ensure that it is responsive to the needs of both workers and employers.
e) Ensuring democratic workplaces by:
i) Requiring secret ballots on any vote to certify a union in a workplace and a 50% plus one result for successful certification.
ii) Ensuring freedom of information in the workplace during any unionization drive, by allowing unions and management the opportunity to fairly communicate with employees.
56. A
Saskatchewan Party government will increase operating funding for
Saskatchewan’s post-secondary institutions by $125-million over the next four years to build an innovative economy, increase training and educational seats and keep tuition affordable for students.
57. Through SaskTel, a Saskatchewan Party government will work with
Saskatchewan’s post-secondary institutions to develop the innovative telecommunications infrastructure that universities, regional colleges and technical institutes need to make
Saskatchewan an innovation leader.
58. A Saskatchewan Party government will create Innovation Saskatchewan, a new innovation and research authority within Enterprise Saskatchewan, to coordinate government support for research, development and the commercialization of innovation in six priority areas:
a) The life sciences, including biotechnology and the health sciences.
b) Environmental technology and sustainable environmental practices.
c) Mining and energy, including uranium.
d) Agriculture.
e) Synchrotron-related initiatives.
f) Information Technology.
59. A
Saskatchewan Party government will increase the research and development tax credit from 15% to 20% to encourage more private sector investment in R&D.
60. A Saskatchewan Party government will provide $22-million over four years to create a Global Institute for Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources, in partnership with post-secondary institutions and industry, to develop Saskatchewan’s research capacity in uranium and energy resources and build a skilled workforce in these important sectors of the economy.
61. A
Saskatchewan Party government will provide an additional $4-million in funding over four years for the Petroleum Technology Research Centre and the International Test Centre for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Capture at the
University of Regina.
62. A
Saskatchewan Party government will provide $300-million in five-year interest-free loans through the Saskatchewan Infrastructure Growth Initiative, to assist municipalities in developing the infrastructure needed to meet the demand for new housing, commercial and industrial construction.
63. A
Saskatchewan Party government will dedicate $140-million over four years from the provincial government’s share of the New Grade upgrader to improve road and highway infrastructure. A significant portion of this will go directly to municipalities to assist in the construction of road and transportation infrastructure.
64. A
Saskatchewan Party government will commit to negotiating a new revenue sharing deal with municipalities that will include a percentage of the provincial government’s own source revenue.
65. To provide immediate assistance to municipalities while a new revenue sharing agreement is being negotiated, a Saskatchewan Party government will commit to increasing funding for municipal revenue sharing by seven per cent annually. This will increase provincial government transfers to municipalities from $122.2-million in 2007-08 to almost $140-million in 2009-10.
66. A
Saskatchewan Party government will reduce interprovincial trade barriers, while protecting public ownership of
Saskatchewan’s Crown Corporations and the ability of municipalities and the Government of Saskatchewan to utilize new growth tax incentives to stimulate new economic growth.
67. A
Saskatchewan Party government will be an active participant in inter-provincial Western Canadian initiatives that expand economic opportunity, improve the effectiveness of public services and enhance security for
Saskatchewan people, including initiatives related to:
a) Protecting and furthering Western Canadian interests within Confederation.
b) Labour market development.
c) Post-secondary education.
d) Emergency response.
e) Joint purchase of pharmaceuticals.
68. A
Saskatchewan Party government will host a New West Summit within the first year of a Saskatchewan Party government to engage Western provincial governments, industry, post-secondary institutions and other economic stakeholders in a strategy to develop the New West.
69. A
Saskatchewan Party government will streamline and enhance the Government of Saskatchewan’s websites to create a one-stop “electronic embassy” that will promote
Saskatchewan and provide easy access to individuals and businesses seeking to locate in
Saskatchewan.
70. A
Saskatchewan Party government will work with the federal government to secure a Saskatchewan Energy Accord modeled on the Atlantic Accord, or its financial equivalent, to support economic growth initiatives in
Saskatchewan.
71. A
Saskatchewan Party government will work to establish a new partnership with the federal government focused on the following priorities:
a) Increased federal support for Saskatchewan’s economic growth agenda, including post-secondary education, infrastructure and agriculture.
b) Increased federal funding to support health care and protect the environment.
c) The development of a new partnership between the federal and provincial government and First Nations to improve health and educational outcomes for First Nations people in Saskatchewan.
Pages 25-27 Building Pride in Saskatchewan:72. A Saskatchewan Party government will dedicate all of the fuel tax collected in the province to highways, roads and transportation infrastructure, as part of a minimum four year $1.8-billion commitment to rebuilding Saskatchewan’s highway and roads that will include:
a) Establishing a rolling five-year plan for the province’s road construction and maintenance program to improve the safety of the province’s highways and invest in infrastructure that supports economic growth.
b) Placing an emphasis on quality construction and the implementation of new highway construction technology designed to meet the demands of Saskatchewan’s climate and large scale truck traffic.
c) Negotiating with the federal government to increase federal funding for road, highway and infrastructure investment, to push funding beyond the minimum $1.8-billion Saskatchewan Party commitment.
73. A
Saskatchewan Party government’s four-year $1.8-billion commitment to improve
Saskatchewan’s highway and transportation network will include the creation of a partnership between the Department of Highways and Transportation and the province’s post-secondary institutions to develop a Transportation Centre of Excellence.
a) The Transportation Centre of Excellence partnership will focus on developing new highways and road construction technologies and techniques to make Saskatchewan a world leader in road construction.
b) The partnership will include support for innovative urban road construction initiatives at the Communities of Tomorrow research centre at the University of Regina.
74. A
Saskatchewan Party government will dedicate $140-million over four years to municipal road and highway infrastructure from the proceeds of the provincial government’s sale of its share in the New Grade upgrader.
75. A
Saskatchewan Party government will work to strengthen the partnership between First Nations and non-First Nations people in our province in the spirit of the Treaties. A Saskatchewan Party government will:
a) Honour and support the Bilateral Protocol between the FSIN and the Province of Saskatchewan.
b) Work with First Nations and Métis peoples to develop a protocol that will protect their rights and interests, ensuring the provincial government fulfills its duty to consult and accommodate.
c) Ensure that First Nations, through the FSIN, will be represented on the Board of Enterprise Saskatchewan, the new public-private economic development agency that will guide economic growth.
d) Consult with First Nations and Métis peoples in the development and implementation of all provincial legislation and policy that impacts or has the potential to impact their jurisdiction.
e) Make instruction in the history and content of the Treaties signed between First Nations and the Government mandatory in the provincial K-12 curriculum.
f) Establish a joint federal-provincial-First Nations partnership to improve the social, economic and health outcomes of First Nations people in Saskatchewan.
g) Work with First Nations’ leadership and elders to encourage the Federal government to provide funding for a map of traditional First Nations lands in Saskatchewan.
h) Work with the federal government and First Nations to establish a First Nations’ cultural centre that will serve as a “keeping house” for important, sacred and ceremonial artifacts.
76. A
Saskatchewan Party government will capitalize on our tourism advantage by immediately doubling funding for tourism in the province - an additional $32-million investment over the next four years for:
a) Additional marketing activities to promote tourism in the province.
b) Capital investment in ecological, paleontological, museum and heritage facilities.
c) Improved and consistent signage promoting tourist attractions on Saskatchewan highways.
d) Enhanced strategic partnerships with urban and regional tourism organizations in the province.
e) Support for First Nations tourism initiatives.
f) Increased northern and eco-tourism.
g) Greater support for event-hosting.
77. A Saskatchewan Party government will also work with the federal government to facilitate development of ecological and heritage attractions.
78. A Saskatchewan Party government will invest an additional $20-million in funding to parks in Saskatchewan over four years to:
a) Create an additional 1,000 electrified campsites in provincial parks.
b) Increase the number of non-electrified and seasonal campsites in our provincial parks.
c) Eliminate the “wiener roast tax” on firewood purchased at provincial campgrounds, saving campers over $1.4-million over four years.
d) Provide an additional $10-million over four years to improve park programming, improve park infrastructure, hire more summer students and increase security in our parks during long weekends.
e) Provide $2.4-million in long-term stable funding for regional parks over four years – triple the NDP’s current level of funding.
f) Work with communities and stakeholders to establish new provincial parks in Saskatchewan, including a new wilderness park to accommodate extreme camping.
79. To keep camping rates affordable for
Saskatchewan residents and extend free park entry to seniors for another four years, a Saskatchewan Party government will charge out-of-province residents more to camp in
Saskatchewan parks.
80. A Saskatchewan Party government will maintain funding for provincial arts organizations, and will work with stakeholders through Enterprise Saskatchewan to ensure that the arts and culture sector continues to grow in Saskatchewan.
81. A
Saskatchewan Party government will ensure that
Saskatchewan’s arts and cultural organizations are part of efforts to promote
Saskatchewan in the New West and across
Canada.
82. A
Saskatchewan Party government will amend the Status of the Artist Act to:
a) Protect the intellectual property rights of artists that contract with the Government of Saskatchewan and its agencies.
b) Require written contracts between engagers and professional artists.
83. A
Saskatchewan Party government will create a provincial capital commission in
Regina to preserve and promote the history and culture of our province and ensure that our provincial capital continues to remains a source of pride for the people of
Saskatchewan and visitors to our province.
Page 30 Publicly Owned Crowns that Work for Saskatchewan:84. A Saskatchewan Party government will keep our Crowns publicly owned and ensure that
Saskatchewan people continue to enjoy high quality utility services at the lowest cost.
85. SaskTel is a world leader in telecommunications infrastructure. Under a Saskatchewan Party government, SaskTel will increase investment in innovative communications infrastructure at our post-secondary institutions, while expanding high-speed internet access and improving cell coverage throughout
Saskatchewan.
86. SaskPower and SaskEnergy have an important role to play in helping
Saskatchewan people reduce energy and power consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Through the Saskatchewan Party’s Go Green plan:
a) SaskPower and SaskEnergy will work together to help homeowners, schools, hospitals and business Go Green, by providing low interest loans of up to $25,000 for Saskatchewan residents to install geothermal heating, solar power and small scale wind generation equipment. This will help homeowners to save up to 70% on the cost of a monthly heating bill, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and keeping electricity green and affordable through the use of renewable power.
b) SGI will provide a 20% discount on the cost to insure 2006 and later model hybrid and high-fuel efficiency vehicles, saving the average green driver $200 per year.
c) SaskPower will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by purchasing more renewable power, developing net metering to promote residential, commercial and institutional use of renewable power and making sure that new power generation facilities reduce Saskatchewan’s greenhouse gas emissions and keep power costs as low as possible for Saskatchewan people.
Pages 33-34 Making our Communities Safer:87. A Saskatchewan Party government will fulfill the NDP’s broken promise to hire 200 new police officers, while adding 100 new police officers — a total of 120 new police officers over four years.
88. A
Saskatchewan Party government will work with municipal police forces, the RCMP and the Criminal Intelligence Service of Saskatchewan to develop a long-term policing strategy that clearly identifies the current and emerging needs of local police forces and guides provincial government support for crime fighting initiatives.
89. A
Saskatchewan Party government will provide an additional $4-million over four years -- almost a 50 per cent increase – to combat organized crime and gangs in
Saskatchewan.
90. A
Saskatchewan Party government will develop a Western Canadian partnership to reduce the presence of gangs in our cities, including the development of a Western Canadian gang member database to assist police in identifying gang members.
91. A Saskatchewan Party government will work to strengthen legislation and enforcement to allow the provincial government and police forces to seize assets that are used to commit crimes, are a proceed of crime or that pose a threat to public safety.
92. A
Saskatchewan Party government will toughen penalties for repeat drunk drivers, by directing Crown Prosecutors to seek the forfeiture of a vehicle for persons convicted of three or more drunk driving convictions under the Criminal Code.
93. A
Saskatchewan Party government will toughen security in prisons and make rehabilitation more effective by:
a) Hiring more corrections workers to eliminate drugs and gangs in jails.
b) Tightening security to stop drugs from coming into jails.
c) Re-charging offenders caught with drugs in prison.
d) Instituting mandatory drug testing for offenders.
e) Increasing treatment and counseling for offenders with addictions.
f) Banning gang colours and paraphernalia in jails by instituting jail uniforms.
g) Increasing life skills, education, trades training and job skill training for offenders in prison.
94. A
Saskatchewan Party government will support the federal government’s efforts to implement tougher sentences for serious crimes, crimes that involve use of a firearm and repeat dangerous offenders. A Saskatchewan Party government will also lobby the federal government to toughen sentences for sexual offenders who commit crimes against children, home invasions and crimes of violence against a police officer.
95. A
Saskatchewan Party government will strengthen services to women who are sexually assaulted or the victims of domestic violence, by providing a 25% funding increase -- $4-million over four years – for transition houses and sexual assault centres.
96. A
Saskatchewan Party government will provide $100,000 in annual funding to support the creation and operation of a provincial umbrella association for sexual assault services.
97. A
Saskatchewan Party government will undertake a four year $2-million initiative to provide free home security devices and home safety audits to low-income seniors and seniors who have been victims of break-ins or home invasions.
98. A
Saskatchewan Party government will increase the Victim Impact Surcharge on offenders by five per cent, to increase support and services for the victims of crime.
99. A
Saskatchewan Party government will ensure that restitution orders charged to criminals are enforced and a tracking system is put in place to collect millions of dollars in unpaid fines.
100. A
Saskatchewan Party government will provide an additional $16-million in funding over four years to:
a) Fund 100 new long-term addiction treatment beds operated by community-based and First Nations organizations.
b) Re-establish an independent provincial addictions agency to measure the results of addiction programs in the province, coordinate education campaigns about the dangers of drugs and alcohol and oversee FASD initiatives.
c) Provide increased funding for addictions treatment and counseling for youth and adult offenders.
101. A
Saskatchewan Party government will double existing funding for police resources and work with other provinces to share resources and develop a coordinated Western Canadian response to protect children from sexual exploitation over the internet.
Pages 37-38 New Ideas to Help Saskatchewan Go Green:102. A Saskatchewan Party government will more than double the Green Initiatives Fund by providing an additional $40-million over four years, for a total contribution of $70-million over four years, to support:
a) An additional $4-million in funding over four years for the Petroleum Technology Research Centre and International Test Centre for CO2 Capture at the University of Regina.
b) Programs underway through the Municipal Energy Efficiency Initiative, including energy efficient lighting and heating programs, assistance for energy efficiency in rinks and solar water heating.
c) Environmental awareness and sustainable community initiatives, including local recycling programs.
d) Research, development and the commercialization of environmental innovation through Innovation Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan’s new provincial research authority which will operate through Enterprise Saskatchewan.
e) Energy conservation initiatives.
103. SaskPower and SaskEnergy will work together to help homeowners, schools, hospitals and businesses Go Green, by providing low interest loans of up to $25,000 for Saskatchewan residents to install geothermal heating, solar power and small scale wind generation equipment.
104. A Saskatchewan Party government will extend current provincial initiatives to help improve energy efficiency in homes and businesses for another five years, including:
a) Providing low-interest loans to customers who install Energy Star qualified furnaces and boilers.
b) Rebating the PST for purchases of Energy Star qualified appliances and heating systems.
c) Energy efficiency initiatives for new, low income and affordable housing.
105. Through SGI, a Saskatchewan Party government will help
Saskatchewan drivers Go Green on the Road, by lowering the cost to register and insure a 2006 or later model hybrid or high fuel efficiency vehicle. This measure could save drivers up to $200 a year and will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the percentage of green cars and trucks on our roads over the next four years.
106. A
Saskatchewan Party government will develop
Saskatchewan’s biofuel industry through short-term loan assistance, new growth tax incentives and the infrastructure needed to support the development of biofuel facilities.
107. A
Saskatchewan Party government will require a mandatory 2.5% bio-diesel blend on diesel fuels sold in
Saskatchewan once provincial production capacity is capable of meeting demand.
108. A
Saskatchewan Party government will invest in environmental innovation and energy conservation measures while working with industry and the province’s Crown Corporations to meet the province’s greenhouse gas emission reduction target to:
a) Stabilize greenhouse gas emissions by 2010.
b) Reduce greenhouse gases by 32 per cent from current levels by 2020.
c) Reduce greenhouse gases by 80 per cent from current levels by 2050.
109. A
Saskatchewan Party government will ensure that carbon offsets or penalties imposed by the federal government on heavy greenhouse gas emitters stay in
Saskatchewan and contribute to the Saskatchewan Green Initiatives Fund.
110. A
Saskatchewan Party government will ensure SaskPower plays a leading role in providing consumers with low cost power that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by:
a) Continuing to meet additional immediate and short-term power needs through renewable power sources such as wind and hydro, as well as lower emission power sources such as gas fired turbines.
b) Expanding the purchase of renewable energy and co-generated power from industrial sources.
c) Supporting the development of net-metering to support small scale renewable power generation and conservation.
d) Ensuring that new power supply developed to replace retired power generation facilities reduces Saskatchewan’s greenhouse gas emissions.
111. A
Saskatchewan Party government will work with municipalities and stakeholders across the province to protect and conserve our natural resources.
112. A Saskatchewan Party government will ensure Saskatchewan communities have access to safe and clean water supplies, enforce conservation standards to prevent overfishing in our lakes and work with farmers to improve conservation measures and implement green initiatives on agricultural land.
113. A
Saskatchewan Party government will ensure that environmental education, conservation and sustainability are taught in schools as part of the curriculum.
114. A
Saskatchewan Party government will work with municipalities and institutions across the province to ensure that new public buildings in the province are constructed to the Model National Energy Code.
115. A
Saskatchewan Party government will ensure that all new vehicles purchased by the provincial government are hybrid or high fuel efficiency vehicles.
116. A
Saskatchewan Party government will ensure that all government departments follow the lead of the Crowns in establishing measurable goals and targets to reduce their environmental footprint and report publicly on their initiatives.
Pages 41-42 More Accountable Government:117. A Saskatchewan Party government will establish fixed provincial election dates every four years to end political gamesmanship surrounding the timing of provincial elections.
118. A
Saskatchewan Party government will pay down $250-million of the province’s debt in the first year.
119.
The Saskatchewan Growth and Financial Security Act will be passed in the first legislative session of a Saskatchewan Party government, to:
a) The Saskatchewan Growth and Financial Security Act will require the budget to be balanced every year, instead of over four years as is now the case.
b) The Saskatchewan Growth and Financial Security Act will establish a fixed plan for budget surpluses, by ensuring that half of all surpluses are dedicated to reducing provincial government debt and half are dedicated to economic growth initiatives such as additional funding for infrastructure.
c) The Saskatchewan Growth and Financial Security Act will limit increases in the size of Saskatchewan’s civil service to the rate of population growth. For example, a one percent increase in the size of Saskatchewan’s population would provide the provincial government with the option to increase the net number of people working in the civil service by an equal amount.
d) In years when the population does not grow, the provincial government would ensure that there was no net increase in the number of civil servants employed by the provincial government. Population decreases would not necessitate a decrease in the size of the civil service under the Saskatchewan Growth and Financial Security Act.
As part of the
Saskatchewan Growth and Financial Security Act, government departments and agencies will be required to review all programs and services as part of the annual reporting process, to determine and document whether they are:
e) Serving the public interest.
f) Being provided efficiently and effectively.
g) Accountable to the taxpayer.
h) Achieving the goals of a healthy, safe, innovative and prosperous province.
120. A
Saskatchewan Party government will introduce legislation to restrict the amount and type of advertising a government can do in the four months preceding an election. Under the legislation:
a) Government advertising will be prohibited in the month leading up to the election campaign, except in the case of an emergency or compelling public safety concern.
b) Government could not increase the amount it spends on advertising in the four months leading up to an election and will have to provide complete public disclosure of the amount it is spending on advertising during that period. Additionally:
i) Advertising would have to be non-partisan and intended only to inform the public about programs and services for the public benefit of Saskatchewan people or public safety issues.
ii) Advertising intended primarily to promote the province could only be directed to audiences outside Saskatchewan.
121. A
Saskatchewan Party government will support the development of a professional public service by:
a) Ensuring that promotion in the public service is based on merit, not patronage.
b) Providing $1-million over four years for the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy to assist in professional development opportunities for public servants and help educate the next generation of public service leaders in our province.
c) Strengthening protection for public servants and whistle-blowers in the workplace by establishing a Public Integrity Commissioner.
122. A
Saskatchewan Party government will strengthen accountability and transparency in government by:
a) Placing all orders-in-council on-line, so the public can easily review government appointments.
b) Broadening the scope of the Provincial Auditor to ensure current service agreements (such as those with third party agencies relating to protective services for vulnerable children) are being complied with.
c) Ensuring Crown Corporations report to the legislature on a regular basis.
Additional promises as outlined in Promise keepers? (StarPhoenix, Nov. 8, 2007):123. Scrap the memorandum of understanding between the provincial government and Domtar to reopen the Prince Albert Pulp Mill as part of a new policy forbidding direct government investment in private businesses.
124. A referendum on daylight saving time in conjunction with the next provincial election.
