Premier Brad Wall said the Throne Speech, delivered during the fourth session of the 26th Legislature, sets out the provincial government's agenda to keep Saskatchewan moving forward.
"Saskatchewan is growing and Saskatchewan people are enjoying the benefits of that growth," Wall said. "Our government is working hard to ensure this continues."
Initiatives outlined in the Throne Speech include: planning for a significant expansion of emergency medical services in co-operation with the helicopter-based Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service (STARS) program, with the new process being led by Melfort MLA Rod Gantefoer; 100 new long-term addictions recovery spaces; creation of a new health ombudsman; a successful proposal to be chosen in early 2011 to begin clinical trials of MS liberation treatment; new measures to protect the Great Sand Hills in the southwest and Saskatchewan's pristine northern boreal forest lakes; doubling wind power capacity to 400 megawatts by 2015; construction of 1,000 new affordable homes over the next five years; a new Saskatchewan Program for Athletic Excellence to support high performance athletes in our province; anda new national advertising initiative to tell the Saskatchewan success story and attract investors, ex-patriots and skilled workers to the province.
The government's legislative agenda includes: new legislation authorizing the monitoring of telephone conversations by inmates in correctional facilities to strengthen the fight against gang activity, drugs and organized crime; whistleblower protection legislation for provincial government employees; legislation to reduce court delays and increase transparency and accountability for complaints against provincial court judges; new human rights legislation to streamline the complaints process and improve efficiency; increased penalties for those who mistreat farm animals; establishing four-year terms for municipal governments and giving municipalities the authority to require photo ID when conducting local elections; and legislation requiring voters to produce photo ID when voting in provincial elections.
Wall said the government will also fulfill its promises to fully implement the new municipal revenue sharing formula based on one point of the Saskatchewan Sales Tax (PST) and to fully implement the final phase of the government's education property tax reduction plan.
