Saskatchewan.

• Author: Park, Rob
• Position: Legislative Reports

The fourth session of the 27th Legislative Assembly resumed on March 2, 2015.

Budget Presentation

On March 18, 2015, Finance Minister Ken Krawetz presented the province's budget for 2015-2016. He indicated in his budget speech that this was his fifth and final budget. The budget entitled Keeping Saskatchewan Strong focused on keeping taxes low, investing in infrastructure, controlling spending and providing new incentives that will help create jobs. The government cited significant planned expenditures in health, education and social services.

Opposition Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon criticized the government for having record revenues but not passing the savings along to everyday families. On March 19, 2015, Mr. Wotherspoon moved an amendment to the budget debate motion that opposed the government's contention of record level spending as being full of waste and failing to deliver opportunities for young people, fairness and affordability for families, and dignity and security for seniors.

On March 26, 2015 the budget motion was passed in the Assembly and under the Rules and Procedures of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, the Estimates were automatically deemed referred to their respective standing committees. The rules provide for a vote to be taken on any remaining Estimates on the second last day of session provided the cumulative total time for debate on the Estimates is no less than 75 hours of debate.

The government identified one budget related bill in the Estimates book, Bill No. 178--The Income Tax Amendment Act, 2015. The Saskatchewan standing orders require that any new legislation required for the passage of the provincial budget must be identified by title in the government's financial plan, including details on the purpose of the bill and an explicit link to the Subvote or spending...