Battlefords MLA Jeremy Cockrill. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Provincial budget 2023

Battlefords MLA says budget offers more support for local region

Mar 24, 2023 | 5:28 PM

Battlefords MLA Jeremy Cockrill said the province’s new budget had a lot in store for Saskatchewan and the Battlefords area.

“It’s a really exciting budget for the province of Saskatchewan,” he said. “This is what happens when you have a growing economy: You can invest in key areas- like healthcare, education, supports for the most vulnerable, and you can still pay $1 billion off of provincial debt.”

On the Battlefords, he said a couple items stand out for him. The 13 per cent increase to municipal revenue sharing in particular will be good for communities.

“This is a program we started when we came into government back in 2007. Over time, we’ve been able to significantly increase the dollars that we share with municipalities from the PST,” Cockrill said. “Those dollars flow to municipalities, unencumbered, and municipalities are able to invest those dollars how they see fit.”

He is also glad to see the second Crime Reduction Team coming to the Battlefords.

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“Having a second provincially-funded Crime Reduction Team will certainly augment the work of the RCMP, and make sure that we can keep our community safe going forward,” Cockrill said.

Another bonus in the budget is the announcement the Battlefords District Care Centre, currently located in the Town of Battleford, will be replaced.

“You couldn’t wipe the smile off my face [Wednesday] when it came to the planning dollars that were announced in the budget,” Cockrill said.

“The Battlefords District Care Centre, it’s one of the oldest facilities in the province doing patient care,” he said. “So, it’s time for a replacement. It’s exciting to see that process start. Obviously, there is a lot more work to do. But it’s really exciting to see our provincial government recognized that replacing that building is a priority.”

NDP reaction

Saskatchewan Opposition Leader Carla Beck and Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon believe the budget misses the mark in a number of areas however. They said it fails to address the high cost-of-living and healthcare crises, and “admits the government will fall short” of its 2030 jobs target.

“If you’re a parent struggling to make ends meet, this budget does not help you,” Beck said in the release. “If you’re a young person in this province hoping for investments in your future, this budget does not help you. If you’re a burnt-out healthcare worker, this budget does not help you. If you’re a student in an overcrowded classroom, this budget does not help you. Budgets are about choices, and the Sask. Party chooses to neglect the issues keeping regular people up at night.”

The NDP added the budget provides no tax relief​, no new tax credits or benefits for families​, and offers no reversal of the Saskatchewan Party’s recent energy and power rate hikes.

The Opposition Party was also concerned about not seeing anything more in the budget to boost family physician numbers.

While the province introduced an enhanced incentive of up to $200,000 over five years to help attract more family physicians to rural and northern communities across Saskatchewan, the NDP wants to see more done to not only boost new physician numbers, but also to retain current doctors.

“Our health system is on the verge of collapse and we still don’t see funding to support family docs, team-based care or community health advisory networks,” Beck said. “They had a chance to bring forward an ambitious plan for our health system and they blew it. Instead, they’re ploughing forward with the same old plan that the provincial auditor lambasted.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow