Legislative Report
April 7, 2022

Budget Highlights for Education & Child Care

This year’s provincial budget focuses on providing high-quality services and programs Saskatchewan families need. Our economy is back on track, allowing us to deliver those programs to you.

Education is a key investment for the Government of Saskatchewan, with our 27 school divisions receiving $2 billion in operating funding for the upcoming school year. This nearly $30 million increase will provide an additional $6 million for student learning supports and fully funds the 2 per cent salary increase for teachers as part of the Teachers' Collective Bargaining Agreement. To support students and teachers in the classroom, a new $7 million fund will enable school divisions to hire up to 200 additional full-time educational assistants for the upcoming school year.

On the capital side of things, over $95 million will support the ongoing planning and construction of 15 new schools and the renovation of five existing schools. Our government has also created a $4.5 million Minor Capital Renewal Program to extend the life of educational facilities. School divisions are encouraged to look into the program and submit applications for next year's budget.

Since 2007, our government has invested in building schools throughout the province. This year's record investment builds on the 57 new or replacements schools and the 28 renovation projects already completed. That is in stark contrast to the past NDP government that closed 176 schools throughout the province.

Outside of our schools, early childhood learning and child care services will see continued improvement with this latest budget. This year, $4.3 million will provide 6,100 new spaces, working towards creating 28,000 new regulated child care spaces over the next five years. We are also working to make childcare more affordable with this budget. Fees for children under the age of six have been reduced by an average of 50 per cent, with a further reduction coming as soon as September 2022. By the end of March 2026, fees will be reduced to an average of $10-a-day.

Part of the nearly $310 million in funding for child care will help complete preventative maintenance and repairs to facilities. We are also expanding services for children with disabilities as part of this budget. Another $11.4 million will increase training initiatives and supports for early childhood educators.

Increased Funding for Emergency Medical Services

Access to medical care outside of major centres received a lot of attention as we prepared this budget. Improving access is a commitment that we have made, and this year we will see significant investment and expansion. A nearly $11 million funding increase will support stabilizing emergency medical services with more paramedics, more ambulances and more training. An additional 70.7 full-time equivalent positions will be added to address critical priority areas in 27 communities.

$1 Million in Supports for Communities Working Together

And as we kick off a new fiscal year, 23 municipalities will be receiving more than $1 million through the Targeted Sector Support initiative. This cost-sharing program will cover 75 per cent of the eligible costs for things like feasibility studies on safe water projects shared by neighbouring municipalities, governance training for councillors, drafting community plans or hosting capacity-building exercises between communities. 

Dedicated to improving life for everyone in Saskatchewan, we are investing in better education, better childcare, better health care and more support for our municipalities. Saskatchewan is back on track and our future is bright.