Saskatchewan.

• Author: Woods, Margaret
• Position: Legislative reports

The Assembly began its spring session on March 14th and proceeded to consider a number of special debates. The first took the form of an emergency debate on the challenges faced by agricultural producers. Introduced by the Agriculture Minister, Mark Wartman, the motion called upon the federal government to provide a fair and equitable formula for the 2006 Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization program with a disaster component and a minimum one-time cash payment of $200 million to Saskatchewan producers. The amendment moved by the Opposition agriculture critic, Bob Bjornerud (Melville-Saltcoats), focused on the position taken by the provincial government by urging it "to take a leadership role in the future design of Federal and Provincial agriculture programs by attending the national negotiations as well as [by] properly funding the province's share of the programs". Several members participated in the debate before it was adjourned to be continued on a later day.

The following day, a second emergency debate was held. This motion concerned the urgency of the nursing shortage in the province and was introduced by the Opposition Health critic, Don McMorris (Indian Head--Milestone). The Health Minister, Len Taylor, responded with an amendment that recognized the challenges in the recruitment and retention of health care professionals and encouraged a united support for the recommendations of the "Working Together: Saskatchewan Health's Workforce Action Plan". At the hour of normal adjournment, the debate was unresolved and held over for further consideration on a later date.

On March 16th, the Minister of Learning, Deb Higgins, introduced a motion to recognize the importance of child care and to express the Assembly's dissatisfaction with the federal government's announcement to withdraw its support for families by canceling the early learning and child care agreements with provinces and to not fulfill commitments made by the previous federal government. Ted Merriman (Saskatoon Northwest) then moved to amend the motion by urging the federal government to continue to fund the current child care agreements in addition to implementing its new child care allowance. The debate continued throughout the day until the amendment was defeated on a recorded division. The motion in its original form was then agreed to.

Peter Prebble (Saskatoon Greystone) was appointed Deputy Chair of Committees on March 16th. Mr. Prebble had previously served in...