Spring session of legislature will focus on moving Saskatchewan forward The spring session of the legislature got underway March 8, 2010. Your Saskatchewan Party government will announce another balanced budget on March 24. We will also work towards keeping our promise to reduce wait times for surgeries to three months or less. Dwain Lingenfelter and the NDP, on the other hand, seem determined to continue to run down Saskatchewan and its people and preach their doom and gloom agenda. The first day of the legislature saw NDP MLAs, including Lingenfelter, make personal attacks on Premier Brad Wall. In a recent Leader-Post and Star Phoenix column entitled NDP politics get personal, Murray Mandryk questions the NDP's decision to personally attack Premier Wall: "The task of portraying Premier Brad Wall as unlikeable might seem like a tall order for the NDP this spring session.  Making it an especially difficult task for New Democrats is the contrast with their own leader, Dwain Lingenfelter. For whatever reason, Lingenfelter never did establish himself as a senior political statesman upon returning to Saskatchewan politics a year and a half ago and he has progressively seemed less likable." To read Mandryk's complete column, click here.

The findings of the much anticipated stadium feasibility study funded by our government, the Roughriders, the federal government and the City of Regina are in.  Those findings include: ·        The proposed multi-purpose entertainment facility would cost $386.2 million. ·        For an additional $45 million, a fully retractable roof could be added.  ·        The proposed design includes the fully retractable roof option, capacity for 33,000 spectators, the capability to expand to up to 45,000 spectators for major events and up to 53,000 for major concerts.

Saskatchewan definitely “owned the podium” at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.  Congratulations to the 11 Saskatchewan athletes who brought home medals: 9 gold, one silver and one bronze.   Corinne Bartel, Silver in Women's Curling Meaghan Mikkelson, Gold in Women's Ice Hockey Gina Kingsbury, Gold in Women's Ice Hockey Colleen Sostorics, Gold in Women's Ice Hockey Hayley Wickenheiser, Gold in Women's Ice Hockey Ben Hebert, Gold in Men's Curling Lyndon Rush, Bronze in Men's Bobsleigh Lucas Makowsky, Gold in Speed Skating Team Pursuit

The findings of the much anticipated stadium feasibility study funded by our government, the Roughriders, the federal government and the City of Regina are in.  Those findings include: ·        The proposed multi-purpose entertainment facility would cost $386.2 million. ·        For an additional $45 million, a fully retractable roof could be added.  ·        The proposed design includes the fully retractable roof option, capacity for 33,000 spectators, the capability to expand to up to 45,000 spectators for major events and up to 53,000 for major concerts. ·        Construction, which would take three years, would impact the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by almost $200 million, and create thousands of jobs. ·        It would service more than 500,000 people a year and have a $30.6 million annual impact on Saskatchewan’s GDP. Our government will now carefully study the report’s findings before we make a decision, which could come as early as late spring or early summer.  While there are a lot of positives, we will proceed carefully to ensure we do the right thing for Regina and the right thing for Saskatchewan. 

The delegation of Canadian Premiers led by Premier Brad Wall has concluded meetings in Washington with senior Barack administration officials and a historic joint session with the National Governors Association. The talks were described in an article in the Calgary Herald as a "huge step forward." The Business News Network interviewed Premier Brad Wall during the historic mission.  

"We choose a different path ... so that our strength will be lasting, and our future secure."  -Premier Brad Wall, Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, Feb. 17, 2010  

Dwain Lingenfelter:  when he's not running down the province of Saskatchewan and its people, he is running from his own words.  

Premier Brad Wall will lead first-time ever joint discussions between Canada's Premiers and United States Governors.  "One of the reasons that I have hope for open and fair trade between the two countries has a lot to do with state to province relationships. I think we are well served as a country when premiers and governors have a good relationship," Premier Wall told reporters at the legislature. The Council of the Federation, currently chaired by Premier Brad Wall, will meet in Washington, D.C., on February 19 and 20th. The meeting follows a recent agreement between the U.S. and Canadian governments to resolve an impasse over protectionist "Buy American" provisions in last year's U.S. stimulus package. The meetings with state leaders will focus on trade, energy and environment issues. To read the complete article, click here:

Saskatchewan is already shining at the 2010 Winter Olympics, and the games have only just begun.  Our pavilion is getting a lot of attention.  You can follow Saskatchewan’s presence at the games by going to www.saskpavilion.ca.  The site is a portal to our pavilion and includes such content as videos, pictures, blogs and Facebook and Twitter.  It’s about telling the Saskatchewan story and showing the athletes representing our province how proud we are of them.

Premier Brad Wall talks to NewsTalk Radio's John Gormley during Rawlco Radio's "Saskatchewan Day of Caring for Haiti."   Here are just a few of the charitable organizations taking part in relief efforts in Haiti: The Red Cross:  www.redcross.ca/helpnow   1-800-418-1111 Salvation Army: www.salvationarmy.ca/haiti World Vision:  www.worldvision.ca/Pages/Home.aspx Even a small donation will supply a family with basic necessities such as food and clean water.

Premier Brad Wall joins John Gormley to answer calls and take questions from Saskatchewan people.     For part 2, click here.

During the fall session of the legislature, our government took action to ensure Saskatchewan continues to move forward. We promised that within four years no one will have to wait longer than 3 months for surgery. Our kids will soon receive further protection from second-hand smoke; thanks to legislation we introduced which bans smoking inside vehicles with children under the age of 16 in them.   Effective January 1, 2010, talking on a cell phone or texting while driving will be against the law. We introduced legislation that will better protect consumers from artificially-high ticket prices for concerts and other events. We also took action to address the challenge of lower potash revenues.  In the end, the budget remains balanced, historic tax cuts will stay in place and the provincial debt has been reduced by 40 per cent, all within two years.

So (Premier Wall) trying to dampen that concern, but I don’t blame him, because that’s what losers do.” Dwain Lingenfelter, October 22, 2009 (after Douglas Park by-election) “I am glad you raised that because it's important that people get to know that I didn't say a loser.” Dwain Lingenfelter, December 30, 2009 (year-end interview) “…when I refer to a loser I am not talking about anyone but Brad Wall.”   Dwain Lingenfelter, January 11, 2010 (news conference) What?? The first time Dwain Lingenfelter called the Premier a loser was last October.  When questioned on television about why he called the Premier a loser, Lingenfelter said he had never used the word when referring to the Premier.   Two weeks later, Lingenfelter said he was only referring to the Premier and no one else when he made his ‘loser’ comments.

Yorkton MLA Greg Ottenbreit  wishes constituents a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! For more Holiday Greetings from your Saskatchewan Party MLAs, click here.

During the fall session of the legislature, our government took action to ensure Saskatchewan continues to move forward. We promised that within four years no one will have to wait longer than 3 months for surgery. Our kids will soon receive further protection from second-hand smoke; thanks to legislation we introduced which bans smoking inside vehicles with children under the age of 16 in them. Effective January 1, 2010, talking on a cell phone or texting while driving will be against the law. We introduced legislation that will better protect consumers from artificially-high ticket prices for concerts and other events. We also took action to address the challenge of lower potash revenues.  In the end, the budget remains balanced, historic tax cuts will stay in place and the provincial debt has been reduced by 40 per cent, all within two years. Saskatchewan is moving forward.  How do we know that? Our economy continues to be one of the strongest in Canada.   We have the best job creation record in the country.  Saskatchewan has the lowest unemployment rate in the country.  Most economic forecasters are predicting Saskatchewan will lead the country in economic growth next year.  Our population has grown by 16,000 people over the past year.  That is the fastest rate of population growth in more than 50 years. In a new report, the Fraser Institute states Saskatchewan is closing the gap on Alberta in terms of being one of the best investment climates in Canada.  People moving to Saskatchewan, whether it’s for the first time or they’re coming home after years in another province, are finding they earn more and get to keep more of what they earn, thanks to historic income and property tax cuts.  They now live in a place where the government balances budgets and cuts debt.    Their children attend new schools.   The roads and highways they drive on are being fixed and upgraded. Since his return from Alberta, all NDP Leader Dwain Lingenfelter has done is run Saskatchewan down.    Lingenfelter uses words like “grumpy,” “freefall,” and “bust” when talking about Saskatchewan people and our economy.  Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, the NDP choose to focus on the negative.  Their old-style politics represents a time in Saskatchewan when our economy and population were shrinking. As we move forward, your Saskatchewan Party government will continue to keep promises and take action to improve the lives of Saskatchewan families.

Premier Brad Wall talks to CTV's Power Play about his meetings with American decision-makers in Washington, D.C.

Premier Brad Wall meets with decision-makers in Washington, D.C. From an article entitled "Who's the dude with John Kerry?" published Friday, November 20, 2009 in the Toronto Star: "It was raw power on the half-shell at one of the American capital's most exclusive seafood restaurants this week. The setting, Oceanaire on F Street, the scene, dinner for 12 at a table studded with senators and ambassadors – and the unlikely star of the show, a Canadian provincial premier. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, no less. How, you may well wonder, did the leader of a province few in Washington can even pronounce get so much traction with the movers and shakers in this town?

Following the release of the poll showing strong suport for Premier Brad Wall and the Saskatchewan Party government, Leader Post political columnist Murray Mandryk wrote:   "This is heart-stopping news for Saskatchewan New Democrats who need to do some serious soul-searching as to where they have gone wrong.  And that won't be particularly easy to do, because -- by every indication right now -- it appears their biggest tactical error has been selecting Dwain Lingenfelter as leader."   To read Mandryk's November 6, 2009 column entitled "MANDRYK: NDP running into solid Wall," click here.

Lloydminster MLA Tim McMillan introduces the Protection of the Wild Ponies of the Bronson Forest Act.