THE BATTLEFORDS - The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce held the first of six Chamber on Tap events in the Battlefords on March 30, at the Co-op Marketplace, with Hon. Jeremy Cockrill, (MLA for the Battlefords) and Ryan Domotor, (MLA for Cut Knife-Turtleford) discussing how the recently passed budget will affect north west Saskatchewan.
“We are in a pretty exciting time in the province,” Cockrill said, speaking at the event, adding that, “our province is growing faster than it has in over a century. That is incredible when you think about it.”
Cockrill cites a ‘fairly large legislature as proof that there were expectations that Saskatchewan would be home for millions.
“We have some really exciting days ahead of us … When you have a strong economy, it enables us to invest in services, in the key areas that we all use each and every day, and it allows us to pay down provincial debt,” Cockrill said.
Healthcare was top of mind for Cockrill who cited additional training opportunities, nursing incentives, increased security funding for Battlefords Union Hospital, and new full-time physicians arriving in the Battlefords this year due to the Saskatchewan government's 2023-24 budget.
“We’ve come out of a difficult number of years in terms of what the healthcare system looks like,” Cockrill said, who mentioned nearly $4,000 worth of money in the budget to improve security at BUH.
Cockrill also touched on early conversations centred around rejuvenating the Battlefords District Care Centre, which began with informal conversations with Battleford mayor Ames Leslie.
But Cockrill also noted that besides paying for services, the government is focused and mindful of paying down the debt.
“At the end of the day, there is a cost to borrowing money … over the pandemic, we had to take on some extra debt to ensure services can continue as much as possible,” Cockrill said.
Cockrill believes that the retirement of two billion dollars of debt between this budget and the next saves the provincial government $44 million a year in debt servicing costs and allows the province to put money into healthcare, education, highways, public safety, or various other services.
“I won't speak for our federal counterparts … but certainly in this province, it’s a priority,” Cockrill said, noting that they’re only able to pay down debts to the strength of Saskatchewan's economy.
“I think it’s a pretty exciting time in the province, and I think it’s a pretty exciting budget”
MLA Ryan Domotor
Domotor began his comments by speaking to the agriculture-heavy topics prevalent in his constituency, noting later that many people living in the constituency often utilize services in the Battlefords.
“I’m gonna probably speak to more of what benefits the Cut Knife-Turtleford constituency,” Domotor said, which includes more agriculture and the being able to offer $446 dollars back on coverage per acre on insurance.
Domotor also highlighted the $297.9 million for municipal revenue sharing announced at SARM, and the expansion of rural internet with SaskTel, which offers increased speeds to several communities within the Cut Knife-Turtleford constituency.
The budget includes $98.8 million for the recruitment of healthcare professionals, which Domotor feels will help the constituency, highlighting Wilkie’s struggle since Dr. Kemp’s retirement at the end of 2022,
“... they’ve been struggling to get a replacement,” Domotor said, adding that the additional RNs from the Philippines will also help Saskatchewan, the Battlefords and rural Saskatchewan.
Domotor also noted that daycare facilities are taking advantage of new funding in Wilkie and Meota.
“I think that benefits them in a good way,”
After their official remarks, the floor was opened up to questions including the retention of physicians, plans for small businesses in Saskatchewan, and concerns over the possible new Saskatchewan Revenue Agency.
Healthcare and BRCC
“Competition for physicians is intense. It’s like a bidding war between provinces…” Cockrill said on the retention of physicians.
“The best thing we can do is get them here,” Cockrill said before telling the audience that the people of the Battlefords have to show incoming physicians the quality of life in the Battlefords while also understanding that now everyone is going to stay.
“We do have some room to improve in how we engage new people.”
Speaking on the rejuvenation of the BRCC and timelines for its implementation, Cockrill said community involvement will be key over the coming months as the project is planned and scoped out.
“If there is large support in the community … hopefully, we can move this along as fast as possible,”
Cockrill said that conversations need to be had within the community, and considerations have to be made to ensure they are building something reasonable to staff. Cockrill also noted that it’s the oldest building in the province providing patient care.
“...I think that speaks directly to the staff and management.”
Small business and PST
Chris Odishaw noted that there are struggles in the makeup of small businesses in Saskatchewan, and while education and healthcare are important, he wonders what’s being looked at for support of businesses.
“...it’s not about the money sometimes. I hope our government will be able to help us out, maybe, in the future,” Odishaw said, noting struggles with succession planning, worker retention, the carbon tax, and the loss of smaller, independent businesses.
Cockrill noted that he wouldn’t want the government involved with succession planning for businesses, with Odishaw suggesting the government could create a better environment for businesses to make those decisions.
Cockrill added that the government's large surplus can be attributed to high potash and oil prices and that as the government finds a better structural revenue system, there is hope that the PST can be lowered at some point.
“The approach we’re trying to take is to find the right spot,” Cockrill said to concerns that PST is now applied to too many products and services, ranging from golf courses, restaurants, and fruit trays at the grocery store.
Saskatchewan Revenue Agency concerns and minimum wage
Linda Machniak, CAO for the chamber, raised her concerns over the Saskatchewan Revenue Agency floated by the government that would offer duplicated services of the Canadian Revenue Agency.
“At this point, the Sask Revenue Agency is purely exploratory,” Cockrill said, citing the Minister of Finance’s frustrations with the CRA. Cockrill said that every time the government changes the tax code, the government has to pay the CRA.
When asked if rising inflation and cost of living would justify an increase in minimum wage past $15 dollars in 2024, Cockrill said that they are watching inflation, optimistic that they’ve come through the peak of inflation.
“There is no plan to adjust that strategy,” Cockrill said.
Domotor reminded Cockrill that the government continues to index the personal exemption every year, unlike other provinces.
“...for folks that are making close to minimum wage [it] does make an impact,” Cockrill said.
