Medication Matters

North Battleford Lions Club recently presented a $5,000 donation to Battlefords Union Hospital Foundation that will support the newest capital campaign “Medication Matters.” The campaign has been undertaken to support the purchase of Pyxis MedStations for every department in need at BUH. In the photo are Lions Gordon Mullet, Harold Bishop and Cecil Russell. Accepting the contribution is BUH Foundation Executive Director Leanne Ducommun. | Photo submitted

Healthcare & less debt highlighted

Continued from Page 3 province, and I think it’s a pretty exciting budget”

MLA Ryan Domotor

Domotor began his comments by speaking to the agriculture-heavy topics prevalent in his constituency, noting later that many people living in the constituency often utilize services in the Battlefords.

“I’m gonna probably speak to more of what benefits the Cut KnifeTurtleford constituency,” Domotor said, which includes more agriculture and the being able to offer $446 dollars back on coverage per acre on insurance.

Domotor also highlighted the $297.9 million for municipal revenue sharing announced at SARM, and the expansion of rural internet with SaskTel, which offers increased speeds to several communities within the Cut Knife-Turtleford constituency.

The budget includes $98.8 million for the recruitment of healthcare professionals, which Domotor feels will help the constituency, highlighting Wilkie’s struggle since Dr. Kemp’s retirement at the end of 2022, “... they’ve been struggling to get a replacement,”

Domotor said, adding that the additional RNs from the Philippines will also help Saskatchewan, the Battlefords and rural Saskatchewan.

Domotor also noted that daycare facilities are taking advantage of new funding in Wilkie and Meota.

“I think that benefits them in a good way,”

After their official remarks, the floor was opened up to questions including the retention of physicians, plans for small businesses in Saskatchewan, and concerns over the possible new Saskatchewan Revenue Agency.

Healthcare and BRCC physicians is intense. It’s like a bidding war between provinces…” Cockrill said on the retention of physicians.

“The best thing we can do is get them here,”

Cockrill said before telling the audience that the people of the Battlefords have to show incoming physicians the quality of life in the Battlefords while also understanding that now everyone is going to stay.

“We do have some room to improve in how we engage new people.”

Speaking on the rejuvenation of the BRCC and timelines for its implementation, Cockrill said community involvement will be key over the coming months as the project is planned and scoped out.

“If there is large support in the community … hopefully, we can move this along as fast as possible,”

Cockrill said that conversations need to be had within the community, and considerations have to be made to ensure they are building something reasonable to staff.

Cockrill also noted that it’s the oldest building in the province providing patient care.

“...I think that speaks directly to the staff and management.”

Small business and PST

Chris Odishaw noted that there are struggles in the makeup of small businesses in Saskatchewan, and while education and healthcare are important, he wonders what’s being looked at for support of businesses.

“...it’s not about the money sometimes. I hope our government will be able to help us out, maybe, in the future,” Odishaw said, noting struggles with succession planning, worker retention, the carbon tax, and the loss of smaller, independent businesses.

Cockrill noted that he wouldn’t want the government involved with succession planning for businesses, with Odishaw suggesting the government could create a better environment for businesses to make those decisions.

Cockrill added that the government’s large surplus can be attributed to high potash and oil prices and that as the government finds a better structural revenue system, there is hope that the PST can be lowered at some point.

“The approach we’re trying to take is to find the right spot,” Cockrill said to concerns that PST is now applied to too many products and services, ranging from golf courses, restaurants, and fruit trays at the grocery store.

Saskatchewan Revenue Agency concerns and minimum wage

Linda Machniak, CAO for the chamber, raised her concerns over the Saskatchewan Revenue Agency floated by the government that would offer duplicated services of the Canadian Revenue Agency.

“At this point, the Sask Revenue Agency is purely exploratory,” Cockrill said, citing the Minister of Finance’s frustrations with the CRA. Cockrill said that every time the government changes the tax code, the government has to pay the CRA.

When asked if rising inflation and cost of living would justify an increase in minimum wage past $15 dollars in 2024, Cockrill said that they are watching inflation, optimistic that they’ve come through the peak of inflation.

“There is no plan to adjust that strategy,” Cockrill said.

Domotor reminded Cockrill that the government continues to index the personal exemption every year, unlike other provinces.

“...for folks that are making close to minimum wage [it] does make an impact,” Cockrill said.