Report from the Legislature
Report from the Legislature
December 9, 2015
Moving Forward with Shorter Waits for Surgery
In 2007, the Waiting Your Turn: Wait Times for Health Care in Canada report revealed that
Saskatchewan had the longest wait times for surgery in Canada. Today, the same report shows we have
the shortest. This is thanks to the many health care professionals across the province who continue to
work hard on wait time reductions through innovation and putting patients first.
One such innovation in Saskatchewan is the use of private surgical clinics within the public system. The
NDP would cancel private clinics on ideological grounds, taking the people of our province back to
languish on longer surgical wait lists. We believe patients will choose timely surgery over ideology every
single time. We've got more work to do, but we will keep moving forward.
Strong Job Growth in Saskatchewan Compared to the Rest of Canada
Saskatchewan is strong and moving forward with a diversified economy that continues to create new
jobs despite the challenges in our energy sector. That's a big change from a few years ago when a
downturn in one part of the economy would lead to job losses in every part of the economy.
Saskatchewan posted strong employment growth numbers in November, especially when compared to
the rest of the country. There were 7,200 more jobs year-over-year with a growth rate of nearly twice
the national average. Saskatchewan also has the lowest unemployment rate in the country.
Saskatchewan's First Uranium Shipment Arrives In India
India recently received its first shipment of Saskatchewan uranium under the Canada-India Nuclear
Cooperation Agreement, an economic milestone for our uranium industry and our province. While all of
Saskatchewan benefits from having this major new customer for our resource, this export news is
particularly welcome for uranium workers, nearly half of whom are First Nations and Métis.
Saskatchewan is the world's second-leading producer of uranium and is home to 100 per cent of
Canada's uranium mining industry. Saskatchewan's uranium industry employs more than 4,000 people
with almost half of its mining workforce residents of northern Saskatchewan. Our province's uranium
exports add approximately $1.2 billion annually to the Canadian economy.
The Journey Begins: Saskatchewan's Disability Strategy
In honour of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, our government announced six priority areas
of focus as we begin work on Saskatchewan's Disability Strategy.
Taken directly from the Citizen Consultation Team's (CCT) Final Report, People Before Systems:
Transforming the Experience of Disability in Saskatchewan these priorities are:
Availability of accessible and safe transportation in communities;
Respite services for families with children and adults experiencing disabilities;
Improving existing accessibility legislation or the development of new accessibility legislation;
Residential services for people experiencing disability;
Service co-ordination and navigation of services required for those experiencing disability; and
Awareness and understanding of the rights of people experiencing disabilities.
I am confident these priority areas will bring focus and move us forward in creating a Saskatchewan
where all can be included. By focusing on these areas first, we can begin building for the future so we
can effectively respond to the needs identified by citizens during the province-wide consultations.
Wolf Hunt Project Expanding to Address Livestock Predation
In an effort to push wolves back into their natural habitat and away from farms and ranches, the
Ministry of Environment will offer wolf hunting opportunities from December 15th to March 31, 2016.
The hunt, which helps control the wolf population and addresses predation issues, is restricted to
wildlife management zones 49 (Weekes/Hudson Bay area) and 53 (Big River/Shellbrook area).
This program will supplement the work of trappers, which is the primary method of controlling the wolf
population across the province. A total of 200 licences will be available to Saskatchewan residents on a
first-come, first-serve basis at Environment offices in Big River, Spiritwood, Nipawin, Hudson Bay and
Greenwater Lake Provincial Park. Each license will entitle the holder to harvest two wolves.
