Sask. legislative session to start Monday with the most Opposition members in more than 15 years
Adam Hunter | CBC News | Posted: November 24, 2024 11:00 AM | Last Updated: November 24
NDP has 27 MLAs, 13 more than it did when the spring sitting ended
The new session of the Saskatchewan legislative assembly begins Monday with the election of a new Speaker and the government's throne speech, which will outline its priorities.
For the first time in more than 15 years, an Opposition party will have a significant number of seats in the House.
The NDP Opposition has 27 MLAs, 13 more than it did when the spring sitting ended.
It also has 25 of the 26 MLAs representing Regina and Saskatoon.
The Saskatchewan Party government represents the entire southern and central part of the province, outside of those 25 city seats.
WATCH | Sask.'s 1st post-election session begins Monday with much larger Opposition:
It is a new dynamic for a Premier Scott Moe.
New government House leader, Minister of Justice and Attorney General Tim McLeod spoke about the government's mandate on Thursday.
"We want to get right to business. There are a lot of important pieces of legislation that we're going to introduce to focus on the campaign commitments that we made with regard to the affordability of health care, education and community safety. We're anxious to start going to work for the people of Saskatchewan."
McLeod mentioned a few specific affordability commitments that folks can look forward to, including the active families benefit, support for people with disabilities and their caregivers, and raising the limits on personal income tax.
Some specifics will be revealed in the throne speech on Monday afternoon.
McLeod was also asked about the stark urban-rural split.
"The two largest cities certainly have the majority of members sitting on the NDP [side]. But remember that many of those seats were won by just a few hundred votes, which means there's a large contingent of people in both of those cities that are supporting the Saskatchewan Party."
There were 20 where the winner took more than 65 per cent of the vote. The Saskatchewan Party won 17 of those races.
Its overall vote share dropped to 52 per cent in 2024 from 61 per cent in 2020, while the NDP increased its share to 40 per cent in 2024 from 31 per cent in 2020.
"I would say across the province, we certainly have the majority of support for the Saskatchewan Party and we're honoured to form government. But as the premier said, we are going to be delivering a government that listens to all people of the province, not just one side or the other," McLeod said.
The fall session will begin with the election of a new Speaker. Recently sworn-in cabinet ministers and new government MLAs will not be in the running for the position. Former Speaker Randy Weekes lost a nomination for the Saskatchewan Party last December. Weekes later publicly ripped up his Saskatchewan Party membership card, accused government members and staff of bullying and threats, and endorsed the NDP in the election.
WATCH | CBC's political panel discusses the start of the fall legislative session:
Beck proposes gas tax cut and northern grocery price investigation
On Friday, Opposition Leader Carla Beck said her caucus will focus on affordability and health care.
Beck said the government's promises to address affordability through tax credits and the removal of the carbon tax on home heating are not enough.
"We've got to lower costs for people and we've got to lower them now. Families can't wait until tax season next year. People voted for action and we aren't going to waste a second."
Beck said the NDP will put forward an emergency motion to suspend the provincial gas tax. A six-month suspension proposed by Beck during the campaign would reduce the cost of gas by $0.15 per litre.
Beck mentioned Manitoba, Alberta, Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador, which have all suspended their provincial fuel tax over the last couple of years.
The Opposition leader said her caucus will also call for an investigation into northern grocery prices after a recent wave of scurvy in the region.
WATCH | Researchers diagnose 27 cases of scurvy in northern Sask. community: