REGINA - The abbreviated Fall sitting of the Legislative Assembly is now at an end and the MLAs are headed home for the winter break.
The sitting, which began Nov. 25 and lasted a little over two weeks, saw the Sask Party government introduce several bills that will return in the spring, as well as pass their two key affordability bills. The first was the Saskatchewan Affordability Act with its income tax reductions, as well as the Carbon Tax Fairness for Families Act extending the carbon tax removal from SaskEnergy home heating. Both bills passed with no opposition last week and they received Royal Assent on Tuesday.
While the Saskatchewan Party got their affordability measures through the House, it was a different story for opposition New Democrats whose attempts at emergency motions have been stymied throughout the sitting.
They tried again to bring an emergency motion on one of their signature affordability pledges, with Regina Rochdale MLA Joan Pratchler proposing removal of the PST on children’s clothing in time for Christmas.
It was the sixth time this session that the NDP had attempted an emergency motion, and it met the same fate as the previous five. It failed to get the needed unanimous consent as Sask Party MLAs shouted no, stopping the motion from being introduced.
In speaking to reporters after Question Period, Premier Scott Moe was satisfied with how the sitting went. He pointed to the Sask Party government keeping its pledges on affordability, pointed to a renewed focus on health care and a commitment that everyone have access to a primary health care provider, and to education commitments including specialized support classrooms. He also pointed to the measures towards safer communities.
“People voted in the last election for the platform that we put forward, but they also voted for change. This session was largely about setting the foundation for both enacting our platform, but providing the change that Saskatchewan people have asked for, and we feel that we have done that, and we're going to continue to deliver on just those metrics as we look forward," Moe said.
Observers have noticed a more toned-down atmosphere in the Legislature during the two weeks, especially from the government side. Premier Moe spoke about what he believed was a changed demeanour this sitting.
Moe said what his caucus had discussed going into the session is that the “people of Saskatchewan have certain expectations of their government.
“We're not the opposition. We are the Government of Saskatchewan. We should conduct ourselves accordingly. And I would hope throughout this abbreviated session this fall that, you know, the people of Saskatchewan can be proud of the individuals, and I'll speak for the government caucus, how they conducted themselves in the Legislative Assembly, but also how they conducted themselves in putting forward the legislation and policies on behalf of the people that they represent.”
As for Opposition Leader Carla Beck, she was pleased with the work of the NDP’s expanded caucus in the Legislature.
“We're really proud of the session that we've had here, a chance to showcase the fantastic new MLAs that we have on our side,” said Beck. “A chance to continue to focus on the issues that Saskatchewan people tell us are most important to them.”
Beck spoke some more of why there was such a focus on affordability during this sitting. She said the concerns that were raised on doorsteps during the campaign “were often focused around cost-of-living issues.”
Beck pointed out that two-thirds of people in the province — “the highest highest proportion in the entire country,” she said — were reporting they were "struggling just to pay their bills."
“We hear from people who are you know saying they're they're not able to put their kids in hockey, they're struggling to put food on the table, and that they can't wait until 2026 for some relief," Beck said.
She also once again repeated her belief that the NDP measures would bring that relief right away, unlike the Sask Party measures.
"We continue to believe Saskatchewan people… need relief, but also that they need relief immediately. The measures that we've been putting forward, the government could enact. We've seen other jurisdictions enact measures such as the the gas tax rebate. It's something that we still believe the Saskatchewan people need and we will continue to focus on the things that Saskatchewan people tell us are most important to them.”
While the session is over for now, Beck said the work for her party continues and “we look forward to continuing that right up until Christmas and into the new year.”
