Saskatchewan Legislature opened a new session on Wednesday with the Speech from the Throne, presented by Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty. The focus of the speech heading into the new session focused mainly on managing through the end of the pandemic, on economic development, and job creation opportunities in the province, but offered no new supports for the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This decade has not started the way anyone was expecting. Like every other province and country, Saskatchewan has been on an uncertain journey and we have more roads to travel. But we will complete our journey together and the 2020s will still be Saskatchewan's decade,” Mirasty said. 

Some of the economic projects that the government is seeing come to fruition include a potash mine, three new canola crushing plants, Canada’s first wheat straw pulp facility, and a new seeder assembly facility. 

The speech also included plans to address crime in rural areas through increased police presence and the increase of addiction treatment beds in the province. The government's plan is to add 60 new police positions as well as create a Provincial Protective Services Unit and Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team. The plan includes the creation of new Crime Reduction Teams in Meadow Lake, La Ronge, Lloydminster, and Moose Jaw. 

The province plans to introduce bills to combat money laundering and enact the Trespass to Property Act to increase penalties for repeat offenders and make it easier for landowners to seek damages against trespassers. 

A bill will also be introduced to prevent demonstrators from blocking access to hospitals. 

The session is scheduled to last until May 19th, with a winter break from December 10th to March 7th. The provincial budget is set to be delivered on March 23rd. 

-with files from Shawn Slaght