Finance Minister Jim Reiter will unveil the provincial budget on Wednesday afternoon, though he and other government officials have already dropped a number of hints about its contents. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

By Glynn Brothen

BUDGET DAY IN SASKATCHEWAN

Provincial budget boosts health care investments, warns of potential tariffs

Mar 19, 2025 | 2:35 PM

It’ll be a balanced budget for the provincial government, but with a caveat: the numbers are only in place if a 25 per cent tariff doesn’t last for the whole year.

Saskatchewan’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance Jim Reiter tabled the 2025-26 budget today, declaring the province’s financial strength “leaves room to help our province weather the impact of potential tariffs imposed by the United States.”

“The tariff situation is currently fluid and changing daily. Regardless, we developed the 2025-26 Budget with the best information we had at the time, even though the situation around tariffs may change by the time our budget is tabled on March 19,” the document said.

Read the budget documents, here.

If implemented, the tariffs would reduce the value of Saskatchewan exports to the U.S. by $8.2 billion or 30.4 per cent, impact real GDP by up to $4.9 billion or 5.8 per cent, and decrease revenue to the province by up to $1.4 billion.

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“The U.S. is Saskatchewan’s largest and most important trading partner. Saskatchewan will continue to work diligently alongside federal, provincial and U.S. counterparts to find common ground in a mutually beneficial North American trade relationship,” the document said.

An overview

• In light of the affordability struggles faced across Canada, this year’s budget introduced and expanded existing tax saving measures. The basic personal exemption, spousal and equivalent-to-spouse exemption, dependent child exemption and senior supplementary amounts will increase by $500 in each of the next four taxation years.
• The education sector received over $5 billion to meet enrolment needs. Within that amount, $130 million was earmarked to fund the new teacher bargaining agreement and to deliver 50 more specialized support classrooms in the province.
• A $2 billion investment in community safety was made since 2024-25, with the province highlighting approximately 100 new municipal police officer hires and 14 officers hired to focus on crime reduction by targeting nuisance properties.
• The Sask. Party also noted its fiscal priority to balance its budget with a $12 million surplus, highlighting it holds the second lowest debt-to-GDP ratio of Canadian provinces.
• The province’s health care sector will receive the largest funding amount after receiving $15.7 billion since the 2024-25 budget.

Health care

Prince Albert and the Battlefords will receive substantial health care funding with plans for urgent care centres in each community although no timeline is given on those projects. The Victoria Hospital’s redevelopment received a large amount in previous budgets, with a total of $322 million from provincial funding.

While the budget documents list the cost of the Victoria Hospital expansion at $322 million, the project cost was upgraded to just under $900 million because of pandemic-related inflation.

Enhanced pediatric care and programs were specifically highlighted, with specialized recruitment efforts underway for specializations in endocrinology, respiratory, rheumatology, and palliative care. The budget set aside funding for additional staff and physicians in pediatric gastroenterology, allergy and immunology, and cardiology programs. There will be enhancements to physician staffing at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Prince Albert.

Patient demand for kidney health and dialysis services closer to home led to funding for 30 full-time positions in Meadow Lake, North Battleford, and Tisdale.

Overall there will be more dedicated funding to mental health and addictions treatments with $624 million, an increase of $20 million from last year. That will add 500 addictions treatment spaces across Saskatchewan and increase access to virtual appointments.

The province designated $94 million for various long-term care facilities, including ones in La Ronge, Regina and Grenfell.

Mental health and addictions treatment will benefit from development of a central intake and navigation system that patients can contact and self-refer for treatment. There will be further funding for a HOMEBASE site at Sturgeon Lake First Nation. The program provides youth services, including mental health and addictions services, physical health, peer supports, education, employment and training supports and cultural and traditional supports.

Education

A $176 million amount was set aside for school capital projects in Prince Albert, Balgonie, Carlyle, Saskatoon, Corman Park, Regina, Moose Jaw, Lanigan and Swift Current. That amount will include $6 million to preplan new schools in Saskatoon and $29 million for relocatable classrooms to address enrolment.

There will be a $28 million increase in funding for Saskatchewan Polytechnic, primarily for increased staffing and expended programming.

The Carlton Trail College will receive Technical Facility expansion with $1 million worth of funding for the property in Humboldt.

North West College is set to expand to North Battleford with planning for the campus receiving $470,000.

Housing

The Saskatchewan Housing Corporation will receive $14 million to repair and renovate provincially owned housing units and develop new units with third parties. The organization owns 285 units in Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert.

First-time homebuyers will receive an increased tax credit from $10,000 to $15,000 for eligible home purchases. The amount is effective from Oct. 1, 2024. This increase, paired with federal tax credits, will make these purchasers eligible for a $3,075 reduction in income tax.

There will also be PST rebates in place for new home construction.

Parks

Capital improvements in provincial parks will receive $13 million. Included will be a new visitor reception centre at Danielson Provincial Park, a service centre replacement at Candle Lake Provincial Park, and water system renovations at Makwa Lake Provincial Parks. Further improvements will be made at Pike Lake, Regina Beach, Saskatchewan Landing, the Battlefords, Meadow Lake, Greenwater Lake, Good Spirit Lake, Fort Carlton, Douglas, Cannington Manor, Buffalo Pound, Blackstrap and Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park.

Infrastructure

Saskatchewan’s capital plan has a growth target of $30 billion in infrastructure spending by 2030. This year will include $4.6 billion worth of spending on new schools, roads, hospitals and other infrastructure.

Of this year’s amount, $436 million will be delivered to various projects under the Ministry of Highways. An amount of $250 million will be transferred to municipalities. Humboldt will receive part of that transfer for water system upgrades.

Of further note

According to Statistics Canada, the province’s population hit a record in 2024 with numbers close to 1.25 million people. The year-over-year population growth is 26,989 or 2.2 per cent.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com