The Saskatchewan legislature began its spring sitting Monday in Regina, and it was obvious members of the legislative assembly were anxious to share their thoughts on what had transpired over the previous few months.
During members’ statements, the MLA from Moose Jaw Wakamow, Greg Lawrence, noted the much-publicized international incident that erupted when a city in Norway attempted to take the “world’s tallest moose” title away from their beloved Mac the Moose. Lawrence’s remarks, and all the other remarks in the legislature Monday, were recorded in Hansard.
Mr. Lawrence: — … Mr. Speaker, Norway has come forward with offerings of peace and songs of celebration, but we here in Moose Jaw are not going down without a fight. There’s nowhere to go but up… Whether it’s a larger set of antlers or a pair of stilettos, Mac the Moose will reclaim the title as the world’s tallest moose again.
Mr. Speaker, I think Mayor Fraser Tolmie said it best, and I quote:
You don’t tell Canadians that Hockey Night in Canada is a chat show. You don’t tell Canadians that you can’t put syrup on your pancakes. You don’t water down Canadian beer. And you don’t mess with Mac the Moose.
Finally, Speaker Mark Docherty rose for the start of question period.
The Speaker: — I think everybody’s been waiting for the last three months. Yes, it is time.
Opposition leader Ryan Meili stood to ask his first question, which was on the film industry.
Mr. Meili: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s great to be back here for what is named the spring session but doesn’t feel much like a spring session yet. And in the spirit of democracy, what we’ve done as New Democrats, we’ve asked people across the province to share some of their questions that they have for the government with us.
Our first such question comes from Jason Rister of Regina. Jason points out to us the boom that’s going on in the Canadian film and television industry right now. Across the country, so much activity is going on in production of film and television, except here in Saskatchewan where we have a purpose-built sound stage that sits idle most of the time and we have people here in the province having to leave to find work elsewhere because that industry has been totally starved…
Will the Premier, in this budget, reintroduce the film tax credit and get us back to work in Saskatchewan?
It was Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport Gene Makowsky who replied.
Hon. Mr. Makowsky: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Here we are in 2019 and we’re talking about the creative sector in our province, Mr. Speaker. Of course in Saskatchewan we have Creative Saskatchewan, which does support the film industry, Mr. Speaker. …
That is one area where we have had to make some tough choices on this side, Mr. Speaker. We notice on the other side of the House, they don’t make choices. Of course, they’re in opposition; they can say they’re going to spend a whole bunch of money on whatever they want. I know the member opposite, the Leader, has promised billions and billions of unfunded spending, Mr. Speaker…
The answer left Meili unimpressed.
Mr. Meili: — … Very disappointing that we don’t hear a commitment to reinstate that tax credit and get us back to that source of revenue, source of jobs, and a way to tell our stories.
Mr. Speaker, one story we’ve been hearing from this government for the last three years is that they plan to introduce a balanced budget this spring. But then we’ve been hearing different rumblings, different stories from the Minister of Finance and the Deputy Premier — rumblings, musings that well maybe it’ll be a balanced budget, but the operating debt will increase. And so I don’t really understand what that might mean, Mr. Speaker. So I’ll put that to the Premier. Will he make it clear? Which will it be? Will the operating debt increase, or will it be a balanced budget? Or does he think there’s such a thing as a balanced budget where the debt goes up?
This time, Premier Scott Moe stood to respond. His remarks referred to a certain grand opening scheduled for the Battlefords later in the week.
Hon. Mr. Moe: — Mr. Speaker, three years ago this government set out on a path, a path to balance the budget on behalf of the people in this province, Mr. Speaker. And we are a government that does what we say we are going to do. We’ve been on track to achieve that balance, Mr. Speaker, and we continue on track to achieve and introduce a balanced budget this spring, Mr. Speaker.
And I would put forward that what we will see this spring will be the right balance on behalf of the people of Saskatchewan, be the right balance of supporting our economy, Mr. Speaker, supporting the growth of our economy that we have experienced over the last decade so that we can continue to make investments in communities right across this province — investments in education, investments in education infrastructure, and investments in the people that are offering that education to our next generation, Mr. Speaker, and continue our investment in health care infrastructure in a children’s hospital in Saskatoon, Mr. Speaker.
And this Friday we’ll be happy to be in the city of North Battleford, Mr. Speaker, to open up that replacement facility of that 100-year-old facility. That represents the largest investment ever in mental health treatment in this province, Mr. Speaker, in the opening of the Saskatchewan Hospital at North Battleford.
The Speaker: — I recognize the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr. Meili: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That was a pretty convoluted answer to a pretty simple and straightforward question, so let’s try it again. You know, imagine if I went home tonight and I said to my family, hey I’ve got a great plan to balance our budget. We’re not going to make any more money. We’re not going to spend any less. We’re just going to take a second mortgage out on the house. I can imagine what kind of a response I’d get from the family for that idea.
Well the answer I just got from the Premier doesn’t respect the intelligence of the Saskatchewan people, and I’m asking him to do so and give us a simple answer. Which will it be? Will it be a balanced budget or will the debt go up?
The Speaker: — I recognize the Premier.
Hon. Mr. Moe: — Mr. Speaker, I’m not going to stand here and explain the difference between debt and deficit. I’m going to allow the members opposite to figure that out for themselves, Mr. Speaker. The fact of the matter is, is this spring we are going to introduce a balanced budget on behalf of the people of the province. That’s what we committed to three years ago, Mr. Speaker. That’s what we, in fairness, have made some very difficult and challenging decisions in the interim.
In the essence of being able to make these types of investments, Mr. Speaker, the types of investment and services that people of this province expect, not just today but to continue to make those investments into the future. Investments in mental health treatment, Mr. Speaker, in the replacement of that facility in North Battleford, investments in a children’s hospital, a service that this province, quite frankly, has not had over the last . . . ever, Mr. Speaker. And continue with our investments in education. Forty-two new schools have been built there, Mr. Speaker, and more to come in the days ahead.
We will balance the budget this spring, Mr. Speaker, a commitment that was made by this government three years ago and we’ll follow through on that shortly.
