Legislative Report

On June 30, 2010 Highways Minister Jim Reiter announced an updated Five-Year Capital Plan for improving Saskatchewan's transportation network. Part of this newly updated five-year plan includes the grading and paving of Highway 15 between the junctions of Highway 11 at Kenaston to the junction of Highway 2. This stretch of Highway 15 is sorely in need of renewal, so I am very pleased to see that it is now a priority under our new provincial government plan. With Highway 15 now designated as a high-volume east-west transportation corridor, these improvements are definitely on the horizon.

“Over the past three construction seasons, our government has invested $1.7 billion, including $113 million in federal stimulus funding, for maintenance and new construction on our provincial highway system,” Reiter said. “Our current highway's capital budget of $250 million is going to continue that momentum.” I will be working closely with Minister Reiter to ensure this highway and other highways across Arm River-Watrous Constituency are effectively maintained until our rebuilding process begins.

Our government is proud to support the Saskatoon Children’s Hospital that is proceeding as planned. We have already committed $200 million in project funding and architects and a project manager have been hired. A site has already been selected by the Children’s Hospital Foundation. Most importantly, the funding has been set aside and will be there when it is needed.

Help is on the way for prairie farmers dealing with excess moisture and flooding through the largest and fastest AgriRecovery relief package to date. Governments of Canada, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba, will make up to $450 million available to help farmers take immediate steps to protect and restore damaged cropland. Under the Canada-Saskatchewan Excess Moisture Program (EMP), producers will receive $30 per acre in assistance to adopt measures to protect, rehabilitate and manage affected cropland.

In addition to this assistance, existing federal-provincial Business Risk Management programs, such as AgriInsurance (crop insurance), AgriStability and AgriInvest, will significantly help farmers manage the impact of this natural disaster as the first lines of defense to address income shortfalls. Please contact your nearest Sask. Crop Insurance office toll free at 1-800-935-0000 or online: www.saskcropinsurance.com for more info. Applications are also available at RM offices. The deadline to apply for EMP is September 30, 2010. Producers not enrolled in Crop Insurance must apply by July 31.

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Past Legislative Reports