Legislative Report
November 16, 2023

Saskatchewan GDP Growth Highest in Canada

Saskatchewan’s strong and growing economy continues to lead the nation. Our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 6.0 per cent and led the nation in 2022. The total dollar value was $76.7 billion, led by an impressive 45.6 per cent increase in the agriculture sector, along with strong increases in mining, oil and gas extraction, accommodation and food services, construction and manufacturing. Our government will continue to support the economic development of Saskatchewan as we build and protect our communities.

Our strong and growing economy is being recognized around the globe. Recently, our Premier and Minister of Trade and Export Development received the Canada-India Business Council (C-IBC) Member of the Year Award for our longstanding relationship with the C-IBC and the strengthening of economic and social ties between Saskatchewan and India.

India is a major export market for Saskatchewan producers; in 2022, we exported $1.4 billion of products to India, an increase of over 130 per cent from the previous year. This increase contributed significantly to the GDP growth Saskatchewan saw last year.

Creation of New Child Care Spaces

A growing economy allows our government to invest back into Saskatchewan, building and protecting the programs and services that make Saskatchewan strong. We recently announced the creation of over 2,300 new regulated childcare spaces in the province through a joint provincial and federal investment of $23.5 million. A total of 51 organizations in 41 communities will use the funding to build new facilities or expand existing ones.

Among these organizations is Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, which will be acquiring land to open two 90-space childcare centres in Saskatoon and Regina. This investment will provide families greater access to affordable, high-quality early learning and childcare opportunities and support positive childhood development, early literacy and student achievement.

Collection of Carbon Tax by SaskEnergy

Our government recently introduced The SaskEnergy (Carbon Tax Fairness for Families) Amendment Act to protect Saskatchewan families from the unfair and unaffordable federal carbon tax.

On October 30, Premier Scott Moe announced that SaskEnergy will stop collecting the carbon tax on January 1, 2024, in response to the federal government’s decision to stop charging the carbon tax on home heating oil, which primarily benefits families in Atlantic Canada. The Premier was clear that the federal government should extend this exemption to all forms of home heating, but if they refused to do so, Saskatchewan would stop collecting the carbon tax on SaskEnergy bills.

This legislation will give our provincial government and the Minister of Crown Investments Corporation (CIC) the sole authority and responsibility for decisions regarding the collection and remittance of the federal carbon tax on SaskEnergy bills, while also protecting SaskEnergy employees and board members.

This policy will save the average Saskatchewan family $400 in 2024. Our government still believes, and has always believed, that the carbon tax should be removed on everything, for everyone. But until that happens, with this legislation, our government is taking the necessary steps to protect Saskatchewan families’ ability to afford to heat their homes this winter.

As our government continues its work to build and protect Saskatchewan, we look forward to hearing from you! Conversations with constituents help shape government policy and allow us to represent your best interests in the Legislature. To reach my constituency office, you can contact me using the link provided on this web page.