REGINA — Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is set to face questions about affordability, health care and data centres when the legislature resumes Tuesday. The sitting begins with a speech from the throne outlining session priorities for Moe’s Saskatchewan Party government. After the speech, the Opposition NDP says the grilling begins, starting with affordability. “It’s getting more and more expensive for people to live their daily lives, whether it’s gas, groceries or property taxes,” Nicole Sarauer, the NDP’s house leader, said in a recent interview. Two years ago, after a re-election win, Moe’s government passed legislation that lowered personal income taxes. Moe has also argued Saskatchewan is one of the most affordable places in Canada. But Sarauer said the province needs to do more, such as eliminating the provincial sales tax on children’s clothing and grocery items like snack foods. New Democrats have also argued for rent control. Sarauer said another major concern is health care: hospitals are crowded, wait times are long, patients receive care in hallways and more primary care physicians are needed. “It’s an issue that the government is still continuing to not properly address,” she said. Moe has said there is progress. The province announced last week it has opened 80 acute care beds in Saskatoon. A new urgent care centre in that city is to open next year. Speaking with reporters last week, Moe said the throne speech will focus on investments in health care, education, community safety and affordability. The two sides are also expected to spar on homeless encampments in cities. Moe’s government is working to add addictions treatment spaces and hire more officers. Its marshals service — which assists the RCMP — has been operating for more than a year. Earlier this year, the province passed a law that can force drug treatment on those battling addiction. Its implementation won’t come into effect until next year. Data centres are also in the spotlight. New Democrats say there has been a lack of consultation about the Bell Canada megaproject under construction southeast of Regina. The company is building a $1.7-billion, 300-megawatt facility but plans to quadruple it to 1.2 gigawatts, which would cost $50 billion and require a dedicated natural gas plant. Members of the public, Sarauer, said, “don’t feel like they have been consulted whatsoever.” The NDP has called for a moratorium on large-scale data facilities. Moe has said the data centre is a significant investment that will provide jobs while ensuring Canadian data stays in Canada. He says town hall consultations are not required but feedback will be sought as the project proceeds. “We don’t hold town halls when we build a mine site,” Moe told reporters last week. Also on the NDP’s radar is Saskatchewan Party legislature member Kevin Weedmark taking a private jet for government business. Weedmark says he paid for the flights. But the NDP want to know if he paid the full commercial value of the flights, arguing that if not, it’s a prohibited gift. The NDP has asked the conflict of interest commissioner to look at it. Moe’s government holds a majority in the legislative assembly with 34 seats to the NDP’s 26. Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press
