The Saskatchewan government will spend at least the next year consulting on how best to deliver public services.
The throne speech delivered May 17 said the upcoming budget will mark the beginning of “transformational change.”
Premier Brad Wall said that means asking stakeholders how to improve health care, education, social services and corrections services while being more efficient.
“Do we have the right number of health regions? Do we have the right governance ration in education?” he told reporters.
When asked if that could mean one super health board or one school board Wall said that should be considered.
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“We’re not going to come with that bias but that should be on the table,” he said.
Both the Saskatchewan Party and the NDP recently campaigned on reducing health administration costs in favour of front line spending. Wall said the right balance must be struck.
The answers won’t be in the June 1 budget but could be in the 2017-18 document once all stakeholders have had their say.
The throne speech reiterates the Sask. Party government’s election campaign promises, including $70 million in “surge” funding for highways and a legislative amendment to remove Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority from Crown corporation legislation.
During this session, the standing committee on human services will examine organ donation and recommend how to increase the rate in Saskatchewan.
Meanwhile, Wall also said he has asked for a risk analysis to be done on SaskTel after the Bell purchase of MTS in Manitoba.
He said it leaves SaskTel a small regional player.
“SaskTel already, because of CRTC rulings under the previous federal government, which were frustrating to us, has to share all of its infrastructure with its competitors,” Wall noted.
Taxpayers pay for the infrastructure but the corporation’s competitors get to use it. He said this doesn’t mean SaskTel is for sale. The government didn’t campaign on that and it is protected by legislation.
“I guess if there was a compelling case … there is the idea of a provincial referendum,” he said.
Contact karen.briere@producer.com
