MLA Report: Prince Albert Carlton

Kevin Kasun, MLA
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MLA Report: Prince Albert Carlton

A strong and steady Saskatchewan allows your Saskatchewan Party government to invest in the areas that the people of this great province have said are important. On March 19th, our government presented the 2025-26 provincial budget to continue delivering for you.

As the MLA for Prince Albert Carlton, I am proud to share our commitments on affordability and safer communities delivered in this budget. We are also delivering on commitments addressing the challenges of growth in classrooms and health care access – all while having a balanced budget.

This year’s budget builds on our economy’s strong performance in 2024, bringing us to a strong financial position with a $12 million surplus. With this, our government ensures that the benefits of economic growth are invested back into the people through important programs and services.

The budget builds on The Saskatchewan Affordability Act introduced in December 2024, providing over $250 million in tax savings through income tax cuts and targeted reforms for residents, families and small businesses. Initiatives also support seniors, students, caregivers, first-time homebuyers and homeowners renovating. Combined with over $2 billion in affordability measures, these ensure Saskatchewan remains the most affordable place to live, work, raise a family, and start a business in Canada.

Prioritizing the need for more responsive care for Saskatchewan residents has always been top of mind for our government. This year, an $8.07 million investment delivers on key health care commitments, including improved access to acute and emergency care, team-based primary care, continuing care services, and programs that connect all residents to a primary health care provider. All of this will provide better health care access that Saskatchewan patients need and deserve.

In education, funding of $3.5 billion will support Prekindergarten to Grade 12 schools, childcare and libraries. This budget will fund the new teacher bargaining agreement and address pressures of growth and challenges facing today’s classrooms. It will also deliver 50 more specialized support classrooms to help address challenging behaviours and make investments to enhance kindergarten to Grade 3 literacy, as well as supports for early learning and childcare.

While we invest in the health of all and the wellbeing of our children, our government is committed to ensuring we have safe communities to live in. That’s why, in this same budget, our government has invested $2 billion into community safety over the past two years. We are delivering safer communities across the province by enhancing the presence of law enforcement.

Increases to the Municipal Police Grant Program will help frontline officers respond to more calls for service, while increased funding for the RCMP will support operations in the province and the RCMP First Nations Policing Program. To complement the increased presence of law enforcement personnel, the budget also includes funding to improve safety for correctional staff, offenders and the public, as well as to address capacity concerns at correctional facilities.

Being part of a government that remains dedicated to building a bright future for everyone is truly something I’m proud of. Our government’s commitment to strategically investing in the programs and services that matter most will remain the same – not only for the betterment of Saskatchewan, but most importantly, for the people of this great province.

As work continues for our government in the Legislature alongside my fellow MLAs with the spring sitting still ongoing, I look forward to hearing from you. If you have any questions about provincial programs, services or any concerns, please contact my constituency office at (306) 922-2828 or send an email to pacarltonmla@sasktel.net. You’re also welcome to stop by our office, located at Bay 4 – 406 South Industrial Drive.

MLA Report: Prince Albert Carlton

Kevin Kasun, MLA
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MLA Report: Prince Albert Carlton

As the MLA for Prince Albert Carlton, I take pride in being a part of a government that remains dedicated to building a bright future for everyone. Our commitment to strategically investing in programs and services that matter most to the people of Saskatchewan is shaping a brighter tomorrow.

One of the many ways our government is doing this is by supporting post-secondary graduates. I am proud to share that graduates can now benefit from up to $24,000 in tax credits from the Graduate Retention Program (GRP). Saskatchewan has increased the lifetime GRP maximum by 20 per cent for students who graduated on or after October 1, 2024.

Since 2008, the GRP has been the most generous program of its kind in Canada and has provided over $801 million in tuition tax credits to more than 85,200 graduates. Our government will continue to support and help students build their lives right here at home. Learn more at www.saskatchewan.ca/grp.

Building spaces where families feel supported and cared for and providing a true home away from home continue to be one of our government’s priorities. A total of $3.5 million funds the Ronald McDonald House Charities to help build the first-ever Ronald McDonald House in Prince Albert. This new facility will offer comfort, affordability and convenience to Saskatchewan families with sick children who travel to the city for treatment.

Features of the new facility will include 12 bedrooms, a smudge room, a communal kitchen, a dining room, a living room, a play space and a family games room. The new Ronald McDonald House will be built on 5.6 acres located at 791 25th Street West in Prince Albert. Construction will begin in late spring 2025 and is expected to be completed in early 2027. 

This complements our ongoing efforts to ensure Saskatchewan residents have timely access to safe and quality care. Progress continues at the Prince Albert Victoria Hospital. The new multi-story tower will feature a heliport, an expanded emergency department, pediatric and maternity care, a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, advanced medical imaging and a First Nations and Métis Cultural space.

Overall inpatient capacity will grow by 40 per cent, increasing the number of beds from 173 to 242. New operating rooms will also be larger, more modern and designed for current and future surgical techniques to help increase the hospital’s surgical capacity.

Investing in safer communities is another top priority for our government. Our Crime Reduction Teams (CRT) are dedicated to targeting street gangs and prolific offenders while responding to urban and rural crime surges when needed. The Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team (STRT) investigates illegal weapons, drugs and human trafficking cases.

There are currently three municipal CRT and STRT teams operating out of Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert. From July to December 2024, the provincially funded specialized CRTs and STRTs seized 67 firearms and over 25.5 kilograms of illicit drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl. Operations also led to the arrest of 89 individuals with 475 criminal charges.

Saskatchewan’s specialized policing teams are making a positive impact on our neighbourhoods and communities. Our government will continue supporting provincial law enforcement initiatives to improve community safety and well-being for years to come.

In recognition of those who help keep our community safe and prepared, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency launched the President’s Awards which will recognize achievements in public safety in the province. Nominations are open until March 31, 2025

We encourage nominations for awards to youth and organizations that have shown leadership in emergency preparedness. The awards ceremony will take place in the spring of 2025 in Prince Albert. To submit nominations or find more information, please visit www.saskpublicsafety.ca.

The spring sitting of the Legislative Assembly is on March 19, 2025, with the presentation of the 2025-26 Provincial Budget. As I head back to the Legislature alongside my fellow MLAs, I look forward to working together to represent your interests. You can contact my constituency office at (306) 922-2828 or by email at pacarltonmla@sasktel.net. You’re also welcome to stop by our office, located at Bay 4 – 406 South Industrial Drive.

MLA Report: Prince Albert Carlton

Kevin Kasun, MLA
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0
MLA Report: Prince Albert Carlton

Our province started off 2025 strong and continues to produce great economic numbers, allowing our government to invest in areas of need in Saskatchewan communities. According to Statistics Canada, our province tied for the lowest unemployment rate in Canada at 5.4 per cent (below the national average of 6.6 per cent) and added 9,900 new jobs year-over-year for January. 

Saskatchewan continues to regularly have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation. Our government is committed to ensuring that our province continues to grow as our economy continues to create new jobs and more opportunities for generations to come.

In building permits, the province ranks second in year-over-year growth. The latest numbers from Statistics Canada show the value of the province’s building permits increased by 59.4 per cent from December 2023 to December 2024 (seasonally adjusted).

These numbers follow last month’s report, which placed Saskatchewan second among the provinces for both year-over-year and month-over-month growth in the value of building permits. Our business-friendly environment is driving more investment and economic activity. Through our investment attraction efforts, more people are choosing Saskatchewan to live, work and raise a family.

While the upward trend in economic growth continues, our government is investing the benefits back into the people of this great province. Over the next two years, our government is investing $3.8 million in 16 agencies under the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence.

Our government remains committed to preventing interpersonal violence and abuse in all forms. As Saskatchewan’s implementation of the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence is focused on prevention and awareness, this investment will provide enhanced programs and supports in communities across the province.

Investment also continues to support Saskatchewan charitable and nonprofit groups. These groups provide programs and services ranging from animal rescue and youth sports to arts and culture. Our government provided $1.5 million in charitable gaming grants in the third quarter of 2024-25, benefiting more than 700 groups and organizations.

Other regions across the province, like Prince Albert, received more than $30,000 in funding. Last year, nearly 2,500 groups and organizations qualified for a charitable gaming grant and we encourage even more groups to apply this year. You can find out more information at www.slga.com/permits-and-licences/charitable-gaming.

In healthcare, our government remains committed to ensuring Saskatchewan residents have access to safe, high-quality and timely care. The Prince Albert Victoria Hospital continues to make great progress. The new multi-story tower will feature a heliport, an expanded emergency department, pediatric and maternity care, a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, advanced medical imaging and a First Nations and Métis Cultural space.

Overall inpatient capacity will grow by 40 per cent, increasing the number of beds from 173 to 242. New operating rooms will also be larger, more modern and designed for current and future surgical techniques to help increase the hospital’s surgical capacity.

As the MLA for Prince Albert Carlton, I look forward to listening and serving you better while representing your best interests in the Legislature. If you have any questions or concerns about government programs and services, please don’t hesitate to contact my constituency office at (306) 922-2828 or by email at pacarltonmla@sasktel.net. You’re also welcome to stop by our office, located at Bay 4 – 406 South Industrial Drive.

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