REGINA – The Opposition NDP call them “must haves” – funding to set minimum standards in long-term care and end to the health strategy known as LEAN.
NDP leader Cam Broten says local health administrators provide more than the $40-million contract offers.
“When I’ve heard front-line health care workers talk about this, they say the good aspects of LEAN are when the knowledge from the front-lines is actually listened to and implemented,” Broten said.
Broten also calls for a plan to reduce class sizes.
Meanwhile, Premier Brad Wall has already tempered expectations, saying resource revenues are down and the government will have to make “difficult decisions” around expenditures.
Wall says spending will likely only grow about 3 per cent.
Compare that to the University of Regina’s student population, which has increased nearly 20 per cent – the institution’s purse strings are already getting tighter, according to school president Vianne Timmons.
“I’ve taken the opportunity over the last four years to take every position freed up when someone leaves or retires as an opportunity to look at efficiences,” Timmons said. “We have not filled a lot of positions and we’ll continue to do that.”
The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce wants more tax relief for businesses – but it won’t get behind a plan to increase the education property tax to pay for public infrastructure, which Wall has suggested to reporters.
“By taking a portion of what we know as education property tax and starting to pay for roads and bridges, yes we need them, but not through this funding,” said Steve McLellan, chamber CEO.
That position is one of Broten’s priorities, too.
“There are more resources available to this government than any in the history of this province,” the NDP leader said. “They should be able to get the job done with those revenues.”
If the budget is as tight as the premier has hinted at, there may not be the dollars available for initiatives like the Saskatchewan Futures Fund, which was proposed in the fall.
We’ll find out if there’s any spare change to be put away when the budget is delivered on Wednesday.
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