Investing in Classrooms, Care, and Communities
March 20, 2024Today Finance Minister Donna Harpauer tabled a historic budget which focuses on classrooms, care, communities, and economic growth.
Here's what you need to know:
๐ Investing in Education: We're making history with the largest-ever increase in school operating funding.
This means more resources for classrooms, better support for teachers, and enhanced opportunities for students from prekindergarten to Grade 12. In total, funding for education will exceed $4.4 billion, including a substantial $247.8 million increase to support students and teachers.
๐ฅ Prioritizing Health Care: Our commitment to health care is unwavering.
With record investments, we're bolstering mental health and addictions support, reducing surgery wait times, and improving access to care across the province. The budget allocates a staggering $7.6 billion to health care, representing a significant $726.4 million increase over the previous year.
๐๏ธ Supporting Communities: Saskatchewan's communities are the heart of our province.
That's why we're providing a record increase in municipal revenue sharing, empowering local governments to address their unique needs and priorities. The budget allocates $42.4 million more in municipal revenue sharing, totaling $340.2 million in unconditional support for municipalities.
๐ผ Fostering Economic Growth: We're dedicated to driving economic prosperity in Saskatchewan.
Our budget includes initiatives to support small businesses, attract investment, and create job opportunities in key sectors like agriculture, energy, and technology. With a focus on economic growth, our budget aims to maintain the province's position as a leading contributor to Canada's economic development.
These investments are crucial for building a stronger, more vibrant Saskatchewan for generations to come.