Housing priority in Sask. budget
The government of Saskatchewan once again demonstrated its commitment to the continued growth of our province in this week’s budget address delivered at the Legislative Building in Regina. Program funding must remain sustainable and prudence should continue to guide government decision making.
The Saskatchewan government’s initiatives encourage sustainable growth and continue previous effective investments in the future of the province. Our association and our industry understand and exercise spending restraint and believe that thoughtful government investment produces lasting benefits for individuals, families, businesses and communities.
The association commends the government for its demonstrated commitment to prioritizing housing availability and attainability in our province.
Our association and our industry are encouraged by the collaborative efforts of the minister responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation through programs that seek to stimulate new housing construction in order to accommodate our growing population and communities. The government of Saskatchewan expanded its role in assisting municipalities with plans for residential development as an essential element of healthy, sustainable community growth.
Programs that encourage municipal participation in housing development in partnership with private enterprise, such as the Encouraging Community Housing Options (ECHO) funding, seek to address housing issues in communities across the province.
Continuing support for the Rental Construction Incentive Program and the Affordable Home Ownership Program, as well as increases to Rental Housing Supplements are a clear commitment on the part of Saskatchewan Housing Corporation to partner with the housing industry to achieve real outcomes in addressing housing affordability and supply issues.
The provincial government has demonstrated a commitment to increasing our skilled workforce through incentives that encourage youth to participate in education and training and remain in Saskatchewan, such as the Graduate Retention Program or the Tuition Tax Credit.
We must align our postsecondary curriculum focus with the pressing demands in the Saskatchewan labour market. We note the increase in apprenticeship seats, which is in line with the persistent demand for skilled trades.
Efforts to address waiting lists for Adult Basic Education programs are also timely so that we can better prepare the under-employed for the high-quality jobs that need to be filled, and continued investment in Immigrant Settlement Support is vital to ensuring that the experiences of new Canadians, particularly in Saskatchewan, are positive ones.
The association supports programs such as the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program and recommends it be continued and expanded to encourage businesses to recruit from the international skilled labour pool, while also attracting Canadians from other provinces who are seeking employment opportunities.
The government can also direct funding toward initiatives that expand the number of skilled workers that participate in the province’s economy and we support the premier and the minister of the Economy in their efforts at the federal level to increase the cap on nominees for Saskatchewan.
Regional collaboration will allow many urban and rural municipalities to combine resources to make planning and development more efficient and economically sustainable. Currently, Saskatchewan has 786 municipalities, which reduces the economic benefits of population density and critical mass. Reorganizing the existing municipal model to a regional governance model can increase planning and funding efficiencies for municipalities, which results in real cost savings for individuals and families living in these communities.
In the near term, however, this government has acknowledged the need to encourage municipal collaboration and is putting resources in place to support this.
Further, the association applauds the position of the government, as well as the Ministry of Government Relations, to intervene where poor relations are actually causing barriers to growth and are at cross purposes with the Saskatchewan Plan For Growth.
Adopting Regional Planning Authorities will serve where necessary local, rural and regional interests, but moreover they will enhance provincewide efforts to grow the New Saskatchewan.
The Canadian Home Builders’ Association — Saskatchewan is encouraged by the government’s commitment to fiscal responsibility, and we look forward to the continued and sustainable growth of our communities and our province. We are not looking back.
Alan Thomarat is the president and CEO of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association — Saskatchewan and the Saskatoon & Region Home Builders Association and also
serves as a director on the national board of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association in
Ottawa.