Our Timeline

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  2010

  Premier Wall and the Sask Party continue to move Saskatchewan forward.

  
  

  MOVING SASKATCHEWAN FORWARD

  • January 6, 2010: "Regina construction activity set a new record of $458 million in building permits in 2009, smashing the previous record of $342.5 million set in 2008." (Leader Post)
  • January 8, 2010: Stats Canada announces Saskatchewan creates more jobs than any other province in 2009.
  • February 5, 2010: Saskatchewan's unemployment remains lowest in Canada for eight months.
  • February 12, 2010: Saskatchewan opens pavilion at Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Vancouver. Over the course of the games, the pavilion attracts more than 120,000 visitors and promotes our province to the world.
  • February 25, 2010: Saskatchewan workers continue to see increased earning. "Saskatchewan's average weekly earnings for December 2009 were $832.56. Among all provinces, Saskatchewan has the third highest average weekly earnings - behind Alberta ($959.40) and Ontario ($869.55)." (www.gov.sk.ca)
  • March 24, 2010: The provincial government tables balanced budget by reducing overall spending by $121.3 million or 1.2 percent from the previous year's budget.
  • March 25, 2010: "Saskatchewan's population hit an all-time high on Jan. 1 when 1,038,018 people were living in the province — 15,760 more than a year earlier." (Leader Post)
  • March 31, 2010: "In what is believed to be a first in Canadian history, the average weekly wage in Saskatchewan has surpassed the national average." (Leader Post)
  • April 7, 2010: The Canadian Federation of Independent Business reports business optimism in Saskatchewan hit a two-year high in March 2010 leading all other provinces. Fifty-five per cent of businesses rate the overall state of business as good – compared to 36 per cent nationally.
  • April 20, 2010: Premier Brad Wall officially welcomes newly adopted children from Haiti, along with the 2,800 immigrants who made Saskatchewan their new home in 2009.
  • April 29, 2010: Premier Wall signs the New West Partnership Agreement with BC Premier Gordon Campbell and Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach.
  • May 6, 2010: Record number of registered nurses working in Saskatchewan. "The number of registered nurses in the province is the healthiest it's ever been — 9,916." (Star Phoenix)
  • May 10, 2010: The first four months of 2010 saw a 184% jump for urban housing starts in Saskatchewan, the highest increase in the country and well ahead of the national average of 58%.
  • May 13, 2010: Saskatoon Health Region cuts wait list in half. "The number of patients waiting longer than 18 months for surgeries in Saskatoon has been cut in half compared to two years ago..." (Star Phoenix)
  • May 17, 2010: Premier Brad Wall and his counterparts from Alberta and BC open a Shanghai-based Western Canada Trade and Investment Office in an effort to promote Western Canada and improve economic ties.
  • May 17, 2010: The Saskatchewan Party government announces significant reductions in surgical wait times: 18 month waits down 39 per cent and 12 month waits down 22 per cent.
• 
  

  2009

  Saskatchewan's population hits an all-time high – up 30,000 since Brad Wall became Premier

  
  

  Historical Population Growth

  • Largest-ever education property tax cut in Saskatchewan history
  • February 3, 2009: Saskatchewan Party government announces construction of 13 new long-term care facilities
  • February 19, 2009: Saskatchewan Party government brings in historic crop insurance changes
  • March 18, 2009: Saskatchewan Party government introduces a new revenue sharing programme with municipalities
  • February 2009: Saskatchewan Party government announces $500 million in accelerated infrastructure spending to boost our economy
  • March 18, 2009: Saskatchewan Party government announces a long-term, sustainable reform of education property tax, which includes the largest ever education property tax cut in the province's history.
  • March 18, 2009: Saskatchewan Party government dedicates $200 million to the construction of a Children's Hospital in Saskatoon.
  • June 2009: Saskatchewan sets an all-time record for job creation, with 535,600 people working in the province.
  • September 2009: Saskatchewan's population grows by 16,500 people in a year – the largest jump in population in 50 years.
• 
  

  2008

  More than 100 election promises kept.

  
  

  Promises Kept

  • March 19, 2008: First Saskatchewan Party budget – balanced with debt pay down and record infrastructure investment
  • March 19, 2008: Saskatchewan Party government launches the most aggressive youth retention plan in Canada
  • March 19, 2008: Saskatchewan Party government eliminates the Wiener Roast Tax
  • March 19, 2008: Saskatchewan Party government creates a $1 billion Ready for Growth Initiative to fix our infrastructure deficit.  This initiative includes a record half a billion dollars to revitalize the province's highways and transportation system and record funding of $117 million for K-12 school capital projects.
  • May 13, 2008: Saskatchewan Party government announces the St. Mary's Community School redevelopment
  •  June 2008: Saskatchewan Party government increases to shelter rates and the Saskatchewan Rental Housing Supplement improve housing affordability for 6,500 low-income households.
  • August 18, 2008: Saskatchewan Party government announces construction of a New Hospital for Humboldt.
  •  September 11, 2008: Largest-ever single year funding increase of $18 million to agencies that provide services to people in need.
  • October 21, 2008: Saskatchewan Party announces largest income tax reduction, largest debt reduction and largest investment in infrastructure in Saskatchewan history.
  •  October 23, 2008: Saskatchewan Party government announces the largest-ever investment ($77 million multi-year investment) in programming for people with intellectual disabilities, as well as the introduction of a new income plan for people with disabilities.
  •  October 29, 2008: Saskatchewan Party government doubles the Seniors Income Plan benefit for low-income seniors - the first increase in the program since 1992.
  • November 2008: Saskatchewan Party government apologizes to Murdoch Carriere's victims – something the NDP failed to do.
  • November 26, 2008: Saskatchewan Party government launches a program to bring 100% high speed internet coverage and 98% cellular coverage across the province
  • Saskatchewan leads the country in economic growth.
  • Saskatchewan's population grows by nearly 15,000 people
  • Saskatchewan leads the country in job growth during a recession – creating 16,600 jobs in 2008.
• 
  

  2007

  Saskatchewan Party wins November election and forms majority government.

  
  

  Sask Party Wins Election

  • January 3, 2007: The NDP closes emergency rooms in Regina in January and February
  • February 2007: NDP give a large pension top-up and a $275,000 severance cheque to Murdoch Carriere, a senior civil servant who was convicted of assault after harassing women at work.
  • June 25, 2007: The NDP cancels emergency medical services at the Maidstone Hospital
  • September 2007: NDP sign "pulp fiction" deal with Domtar, putting $100-million taxpayers' dollars at risk.
  • November 7, 2007: The Saskatchewan Party wins the provincial election with 51 per cent of the popular vote and 38 seats. Brad Wall becomes Saskatchewan's 14^th premier.
  • November 8, 2007: Saskatchewan Party government keeps first election promise of set election dates
• 
  

  2006

  Under the NDP, Saskatchewan faces a shortage of more than 700 nurses.

  
  

  Critical Nursing Shortage

  • Murdoch Carriere trial – convicted of assault
  • Saskatchewan Party candidate Dustin Duncan wins Tommy Douglas' old riding of Weyburn Big Muddy by a landslide in a by-election
  • January 6, 2006: 6,900 jobs lost in Saskatchewan – the biggest drop in the country
  • February 10, 2006: Fifth straight month of job losses
  • April 7, 2006: 5,200 jobs lost – all other western provinces created jobs
  • November 15, 2006: Saskatchewan has a shortage of more than 700 nurses – the NDP deny there's a shortage.
  • November 27, 2006: The NDP close the Broadview Union Hospital
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  2005

  The NDP lose $72 million taxpayers' dollars on Navigata, a BC-based telecommunications company.

  
  

  More Wasted Money

  • Largest tax revolt in Saskatchewan history – approximately 150 rural municipalities protest highest education property taxes in Canada
  • Canadian Automobile Association votes Saskatchewan highways the worst in the country.
  • February 17, 2005 The NDP give a Calgary technology company $3.5 million to create 35 new jobs – the company closes its doors and leaves the city before creating any jobs
  • June 7, 2005: The NDP loses more than $1 million of your money after a social services manager sends assistance cheques to people who don't exist.
  • October 18, 2005: Saskatchewan has the longest surgical waiting lists in Canada—almost double the national average
  • December 15, 2005: Statistics Canada predicts continued population losses for Saskatchewan well into the year 2031
  • Under the NDP, Saskatchewan loses 2,600 more jobs.
  • Saskatchewan's population drops by 3,700 more people to the lowest level since 1982.
• 
  

  2004

  Brad Wall becomes leader of the Saskatchewan Party

  
  

  New Leader

  • NDP increase the PST – breaking a campaign promise.
  • March 4, 2004: The NDP cancel most surgeries in Saskatoon hospitals
  • Saskatchewan has the longest surgical wait times in Canada
  • August 26, 2004: 93 doctors leave Saskatchewan while every other province sees increases
  • Saskatchewan's population drops by 700 people.
• 
  

  2003

  Under the NDP, Saskatchewan has the worst job creation record in Canada…again.

  
  

  More Job Losses

  • April 1, 2003: Murdoch Carriere story breaks – based on a leaked report about a senior civil servant harassing female co-workers being transferred instead of fired.
  • June 25, 2003: The eighteenth consecutive quarter of population loss under the NDP government
  • June 21, 2003: Twenty-eight Saskatchewan Party MLA's are elected in the general election, including three in the City of Saskatoon.
• 
  

  2002

  Saskatchewan people face the longest surgical wait times in all of Canada.

  
  

  Longest Waiting Lists

  • Under the NDP, Saskatchewan loses 1,100 jobs.
  • September 19, 2002: The average surgical waiting time in Saskatchewan is 32.6 weeks – the worst in Canada
  • Saskatchewan's population drops by 2,500 people.
• 
  

  2001

  Saskatchewan's population drops below one million for the first time since 1983.

  
  

  Population Losses

  • Under the NDP, Saskatchewan loses 13,000 jobs - the worst job creation record in Canada
  • Saskatchewan's population drops by 4,600 and falls below one million for the first time since 1983.
  • Saskatchewan Party announces plans to grow the province's population by 100,000 in ten years
• 
  

  2000

  Saskatchewan continues to lose people and jobs under the NDP

  
  

  Jobs and Population Down

  • April 5, 2000: The NDP raises fees on seniors in long-term care until forced to back down by the Saskatchewan Party opposition.
  • Yogi Huyghebaert wins the Wood River by-election.
  • Saskatchewan's population drops by 7,700 people
  • Under the NDP, Saskatchewan loses 6,500 jobs – the worst job creation record in Canada.
• 
  

  1999

  NDP lose $35 million on SPUDCO

  
  

  Wasted Money

  • NDP legislate striking nurses back to work
  • Wayne Elhard wins by-election as the first Saskatchewan Party MLA
  • April 9, 1999: The NDP threatens to throw striking nurses in jail
  • September 16, 1999: Twenty-five Saskatchewan Party MLAs, including Brad Wall, are elected in the party's first general election.
  • NDP reduced to a minority government and cut a backroom deal with the two Liberal MLAs to stay in office.
  • Saskatchewan's population drops by 5,700 people
• 
  

  1998

  Under the NDP, Saskatchewan has the lowest rate of job creation in Canada

  
  

  Job Losses

  • Elwin Hermanson elected first leader of the Saskatchewan Party.
  • The NDP loses more than $5 million through the Channel Lake sale
  • Saskatchewan Party memberships grow and exceed 5,000
  • Saskatchewan's population drops by 600 people
  • Under the NDP, Saskatchewan loses 6,600 jobs
• 
  

  1997

  Founding of the Saskatchewan Party

  
  

  Sask Party Created

  • August 8, 1997: Eight MLAs form the Saskatchewan Party. (Founding MLAs: Bill Boyd, Ken Krawetz, June Draude, Ben Heppner, Rod Gantefoer, Bob Bjornerud, Don Toth and Dan D'Autremont).