What to Expect
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan’s finances will be front and centre this week, as the first quarter fiscal update saw a fiscal surplus thanks to elevated commodity prices (see below for further details). To help with rising costs–and because of this revenue windfall–the government will be issuing $500 cheques to residents. The merits of this policy will likely be hotly debated.
There will also be heated rhetoric against Ottawa this week, as the story of federal employees allegedly trespassing to test water (a provincial responsibility) plays out. On Monday, Minister for the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency Jeremy Cockrill wrote a letter to federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Guilbeault asking for an explanation.
Manitoba
The Manitoba government has announced its plan to increase the minimum wage to $15 by October 2023. According to Premier Stefanson, the minimum wage will go up to $13.50 on October 1, followed by an increase of 65 cents to $14.15 on April 1, and rise again to $15 by next October. This will drive political discussions in the province, with businesses arguing the goal is too high, and others–especially the NDP opposition–arguing the measures are not strong enough.
The Week That Was
Saskatchewan
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to provide up to 3,000 elective orthopedic surgeries per year in Regina. There are currently about 8,000 patients waiting for joint replacements in Saskatchewan.The Government of Saskatchewan will allow all temporary residents arriving under Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) with a valid work permit to be eligible for Canada-Saskatchewan Job Grant (CSJG) and Re-Skill Saskatchewan Training Subsidy (RSTS) funded training.
Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Donna Harpauer released the province’s first quarter financial update today. At first quarter, Saskatchewan is forecasting a surplus of $1.04 billion for 2022-23, a $1.51 billion improvement from budget. The surplus increase, largely due to higher revenue from non-renewable resources, will be used to help residents with the rising cost of living and will be implemented through the government’s new four-point affordability plan.
Manitoba
Manitoba Health has confirmed the first case of monkeypox in the province. A public health investigation, including contact tracing, is ongoing but indicates acquisition likely occurred outside of the province.
On August 19, 2022, Environment, Climate, and Parks Minister Jeff Wharton announced that the Manitoba government’s $45 million, sixteen-year remediation project at the Ruttan Mine is now complete.
