Latest news with #JimReiter
CTV News
10-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Minimum wage will be increasing in Saskatchewan
The province says minimum wage in Saskatchewan will be increasing to $15.34 per hour on Oct. 1, a 34 cent increase. At $15.34, Saskatchewan will have the second lowest minimum wage in Canada, ahead of only Alberta, which stands at $15.00 as of July 10. Federal minimum wage is currently $17.75 per hour and was last increased April 1, 2025. The province says it calculates Saskatchewan's minimum wage using an index formula that gives equal weight to changes to the Consumer Price Index and average hourly wage for Saskatchewan. Deputy Premier and Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Jim Reiter said the increase is an example of the province's 'commitment to address affordability concerns.' 'By raising the minimum wage, we are continuing to support workers and deliver on our commitment to affordability. Saskatchewan's low personal tax rates continue to make our province a great place to live, work and raise a family,' Reiter said in a news release. Reiter said the province knows the importance of raising the minimum wage for workers but added that they also want to create a fair balance for employers as well. 'Over the next few months, we will be working together with the Chambers of Commerce and other key stakeholders to understand the implications of increasing minimum wage for the business community and the impact on Saskatchewan's economy,' Reiter added. In 2007, Saskatchewan's minimum wage was $7.95. October's increase will equal a 93 per cent rise since that time, according to the province.
CTV News
30-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Saskatchewan records operating deficit just shy of $250M: public accounts
The Saskatchewan Legislative Building can be seen in this file photo. (David Prisciak/CTV News) The Government of Saskatchewan has shared an updated snapshot of its financial standings, revealing that the province finished the 2024-2025 fiscal year near its budget forecast. Volume 1 of the province's 2024-25 public accounts were released Monday. The province ended that year with a $249 million operating deficit – down from the $274.3 million projected in the 2024-25 budget. According to Finance Minister Jim Reiter, both revenue and expenses have grown since budget day – the former rising by $994 million to $20.9 billion and the latter increasing by $970 million to $21.1 billion. An important note, total revenue for the province was actually $137 million less than the prior budget year. The revenue increase (from the budget projection) was due to multiple factors. In the document, the province identified the resolution of tobacco litigation as a notable increase – while taxation and net income from government business enterprises decreased. Additionally, the province received less revenue from non-renewable resources – primarily due to declining potash revenue. Rising expenses were due to increasing costs in sectors such as health, agriculture, environment and natural resources. The most notable increase was found in healthcare – as demand for services increased. A significant decrease in crop insurance indemnities due to lessening drought conditions, partially offset the cost increases. 'Earlier this year Statistics Canada confirmed that our province remains a national leader in economic growth, ranking us second in the country for real GDP growth in 2024,' Reiter added. The province invested a total of $4.32 billion into capital investments in 2025. The funds went toward schools, hospitals and roads in addition to improvements in electricity generation, transmission and distribution assets and communication networks in the Crown sector. According to the public accounts document, the government's overall financial position as of March 31, 2025 is an accumulated deficit of $1.54 billion.
Toronto Star
30-06-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
Final fiscal year-end numbers reveal $249M deficit for Saskatchewan in 2024-25
Saskatchewan Ministry of Finance Jim Reiter delivers the Saskatchewan Provincial Budget in Regina on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Liam Richards ldr flag wire: true flag sponsored: false article_type: : sWebsitePrimaryPublication : publications/toronto_star bHasMigratedAvatar : false :
CBC
16-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Sask. Legislature grapples with western separatism, tariffs in spring sitting
Social Sharing A legislative sitting that began in March with a focus on the threat of tariffs ended on Thursday with discussions about Saskatchewan's future in Canada. The whiplash pace of the eight-week sitting reflects the break-neck pace of developments throughout Canada. Saskatchewan's spring sitting opened on March 19, with Finance Minister Jim Reiter tabling the government's annual budget that day. It was a rare move. Sittings normally open with a few weeks of business before the budget is tabled. The Official Opposition immediately criticized the decision, saying it was proof that the government was uninterested in accountability. WATCH | Is Saskatchewan open to working with the new federal government? Is Saskatchewan open to working with the new federal government? | Power & Politics 2 hours ago Duration 16:56 The Saskatchewan NDP's dissatisfaction grew once it became clear that Reiter's budget projected a slim surplus of $12.1 million and had no contingencies to deal with the threat of tariffs from the United States and China. NDP finance critic Trent Wotherspoon tore into the budget in March. As the sitting continued, so too did Wotherspoon's attacks. He pointed to the falling price of oil and the province's decision to end its Output-Based Performance Standards (OBPS) program, which taxes large industrial emitters as a reason for to disbelieve the budget's surplus. "This was a budget that really was off track from the get go, and certainly didn't step up as well to the challenges and pressures that people are facing," Wotherspoon said. Although the NDP has used a larger caucus to try to get answers from the government, the Opposition has been frustrated by a Sask. Party government that has used its majority to not give an inch. Private member's bills from the Opposition did not receive a vote, while efforts in committees were voted down by government MLAs. The NDP attempted a variety of stunts this sitting. First, MLAs attempted to to wear Team Canada jerseys into the legislature. That quickly failed. Wotherspoon later put a physical copy of the provincial budget through a shredder, saying it emphasized how the budget wasn't worth the paper it was printed on. Premier Scott Moe and Reiter have emphasized that their decision to project a surplus would give the province the financial freedom to act as necessary. Western separatism The focus in the legislature quickly shifted after federal Liberal Leader Mark Carney earned a minority government. The familiar threat of western separation became the main topic in Alberta and Saskatchewan. WATCH | What would it take for Saskatchewan to separate from Canada? What would it take for Saskatchewan to separate from Canada? 2 hours ago Duration 3:34 Moe told media on Thursday that he's made himself clear: secession and separation are not an option. "I truly believe there is an opportunity for Saskatchewan to grow and prosper within a united Canada. It's in the very fabric of the party that I lead," Moe said. "I think it's very much at the core of what, if not the majority, virtually all of Saskatchewan people believe as well." That did not stop NDP Leader Carla Beck from repeatedly calling the premier's commitment to Canada into question. Despite her best efforts, Beck was unsuccessful in getting her Keep Saskatchewan in Canada Act passed. The act would have amended Saskatchewan's Referendum and Plebiscite Act to exclude separation referendums from the list of referendums that the premier or legislative assembly would be legally allowed to call. It would have also raise the threshold for successful citizen petitions on separation referendums, requiring signatures from 30 per cent of eligible voters instead of 15 per cent. WATCH | What the Sask. government wants from Prime Minister Mark Carney: What the Sask. government wants from Prime Minister Mark Carney 7 hours ago Duration 1:45 On Thursday, Beck said the embers of western separatism are burning in Saskatchewan and the act would've been a way of putting an end to those efforts. "Scott Moe is holding a big bucket of water right now. He could douse those flames, make it clear today, but instead he seems to be more interested in placating those who want to burn the house down," Beck said. The act died on the order paper without even receiving a second reading. Saskatchewan Party MLAs voted down every effort, after Moe described the bill as silencing the voices of the province's people. As the province's politicians head home for the summer, Moe already has his next political move laid out. Moe posted 10 changes the federal government"must make" to reset Ottawa's relationship with Saskatchewan. It's a list Moe promised to bring up when he meets with Prime Minister Mark Carney and Canada's other premiers next month in Saskatoon.
CBC
06-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
'We're not interested in separation': Sask. government responds to sovereignty petition
Social Sharing A petition calling for a provincial referendum on Saskatchewan's sovereignty has garnered nearly 2,000 signatures in three days, prompting responses from both the provincial government and the Opposition NDP. The petition, launched by advocacy group Unified Grassroots on May 2, aims to "empower the provincial government to negotiate new terms for Saskatchewan's relationship whether as part of Canada or as an independent nation." If successful, the petition could kick-start a process to launch a plebiscite vote within 12 months of submission to the government. In order to be submitted, it must accumulate signatures from 15 per cent of eligible voters, or about 125,000 signatures. The result of the vote, even if it were to favour separation, would not be legally binding. WATCH | The history of western separation in Canada: The history of western separation in Canada 8 hours ago Duration 3:28 On Monday, both the provincial government and Saskatchewan NDP said they do not support separation from Canada. During question period on Monday afternoon, Saskatchewan Finance Minister Jim Reiter stated several times that the provincial government does not support leaving Canada, but would follow the legislation on plebiscites. "I'm a proud Canadian, all members of this side of the house are," Reiter said. "We're not interested in separation.… We're also not interested in muzzling the voices of people who want to use freedom of speech." NDP jobs and economy critic Aleana Young said earlier on Monday that Premier Scott Moe could easily put separatism calls to rest and is choosing not to. "I have three calls for Premier Moe today: one, condemn [Alberta Premier] Danielle Smith, two, condemn Unified Grassroots, and three, be straight with the people of Saskatchewan and say out loud, clearly and unequivocally, that you would vote to stay as part of Canada," she said. "This is a premier who is all too happy to get along, to go along with the fringe elements of his own base." The provincial government reiterated its stance in a later statement. "The Government of Saskatchewan does not support separating from Canada, however we also don't support the status quo," it said. "We believe in a strong and united Saskatchewan, within a strong and united Canada, and the role Saskatchewan can play in making Canada an energy superpower." A public vote to separate from Canada can also happen through a government-initiated referendum. According to Saskatchewan's Referendum and Plebiscite Act, a government-led referendum would be legally binding if more than 60 per cent of voters vote for a single result and at least 50 per cent of eligible voters had cast a ballot. That process would bring several challenges. The House of Commons would have the power to edit or cancel the question if it felt the wording would not clearly capture the will of the people. The federal government would also have to consult with all political parties in the province on the issue.
