We all fared better in the 2018-19 budget compared with a year ago.
And notwithstanding that this is still very much an austerity budget, rural Saskatchewan especially fared better.
Consider that the Saskatchewan Party government found an extra $14 million for RCMP policing plus an extra $5 million for rural crime strategy.
If we are going to move forward from the Gerald Stanley verdict and other divisive events, it begins with understanding that there is a real-life problem with rural crime. And the government stepped up to address those problems in budgets.
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The 2018-19 also addressed other issues critical to rural Saskatchewan including $180,000 a year for the next year threes for funding for Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan that will police the new Saskatchewan Animal Protection Act.
There has been $258 million set aside to fund AgriStability, AgriInvest, Western Livestock Price Insurance and Crop Insurance.
Also, there’s $31.8 million for agriculture research budget and increased funding in the Ag-West Bio and Food Centre.
Rural municipalities will receive $68 million – less money, compared with nearly $73 million last year. This is directly attributable to the reduction in the municipal revenue pool.
For example, Yorkton will get $2.88 million this year compared with $3.08 million last year. Melville gets $800,000 compared with $860,000 last year.
Highways still fared well with its $924 million in infrastructure spending.
That will include the ongoing twinning of Hwy 7 between Vanscoy and Delisle, twinning and passing lanes on Hwy 6 and 39 between Regina and Estevan, passing lanes on Hwy 4 between North Battleford and Cochin, plans for passing lanes on Hwy 7 between Rosetown and the Alberta border and on Hwys 9 and 10 between Melville and Canora and repaving Hwy 5 between Hwy 2 and Saskatoon.
Also scheduled are 100 kilometres of upgrades including 24 kilometres of Hwy 4 between Val Marie and Cadillac, 25 kilometres between Hwy 18 and Willow Bunch, 21 kilometres on Hwy 255 south and west of Tobin Lake.
What this means in budget terms is a steady commitment to rural Saskatchewan infrastructure.
One might argue that rural Saskatchewan isn’t get its share of capital spending that includes a whopping $1.6 billion in Sask. Party’s capital plan spending this year followed by nearly a $1.8 billion capital spending commitment last year.
Let us be clear that one of the reasons we are seeing an additional $2.3-billion in public debt (it will be close to $20 billion by the end of 2019) is all this capital spending that is going to things like the Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon and bypass and Global Transportation Hub in Regina.
That said, it is often rural people and companies working on the building on these projects.
And regardless of where highways or interchange projects are located, including the new Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford, we all benefit.
Let us also be clear that this is likely all the Saskatchewan Party government could do this year under the current circumstances.
We are still seeing a $366 million deficit that would have been higher if not for the offset of pension liabilities reducing costs.
The Sask. Party government also had to tend to other spending priorities in often overlooked areas.
This included $700,000 full HIV drug coverage, funding for every child six years old or younger with Autism Spectrum Disorder and $11 million more for mental health initiatives.
This was all accomplished under the government’s theme of getting back to balanced books.
The government isn’t there yet, but it has made strides without having to raise taxes.
(Taxing used cars worth more than $5,000 is about the only tax increase.)
We may not be back “on track” as the budget boasts. But we may be getting there.
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