What to Expect
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan MLAs will return to the legislature on March 6.Until then, Premier Moe and the Saskatchewan Party government will focus on, as they have been since the end of the pandemic, economic growth, especially in the resource sector. This will include the tough line the government has taken with Ottawa. Budget deliberations will also continue early in the new year. The mid-year financials released by the Finance Minister at the end of November showed that revenue had increased from the budget. This will be the second last budget for the Saskatchewan Party before the next general election in 2024, and while we don’t see dramatically increased spending on the horizon, the government will likely look to move forward on the priorities of the electorate.
More immediately, look for some agriculture-related announcements this week, as the Western Canadian Crop Production show runs from January 9 to 12 in Saskatoon.
Manitoba
This year marks the beginning of an election year. Manitobans are expected to go to the polls in October, and with a number of ministerial resignations and low polling numbers, Premier Stefanson and the governing Progressive Conservatives will focus on addressing the core needs of voters to strengthen their position. The Legislature will return in March, leaving the first two months of the year for good news announcements by the government.
The Week That Was
Saskatchewan
With the dedication of an additional $3 million in funding, the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC) will be better able to support the YWCA Centre for Women and Families project.
November 2022 saw an increase in merchandise exports of 44.5 per cent compared to the previous year, valued at more than $5 billion for the province.
According to Statistics Canada, Saskatchewan saw the addition of 7,700 jobs for the month of December 2022 when compared to the same time in 2021. Saskatchewan also set several record highs for the month of December:
- Saskatchewan Employment: 573,600
- Saskatchewan Full-Time Employment: 462,800
- Saskatchewan Female Employment: 271,700
- Off-reserve Indigenous Employment: 60,400
- Off-reserve Indigenous Full-Time Employment: 49,500
Manitoba
Manitoba Progressive Conservative and former Cabinet Minister Cathy Cox has announced that she does not intend to seek re-election for the upcoming provincial election in October 2023.
CancerCare Manitoba’s CAR-T therapy program is set to receive $6.6 million in provincial funding, which is intended to offer new close-to-home care options.
