REGINA, Sask. — Affordability, health care, addressing mental health and addictions, and community safety are among the main issues outlined in the 2026 Speech from the Throne.
The address by Lt.-Gov. Bernadette McIntyre officially opened the third session of the 30th legislature on Tuesday afternoon. The current sitting is scheduled to run to Dec. 10 before resuming next spring.
The Speech from the Throne outlined the priorities of Premier Scott Moe’s government. As expected, it focused on the theme promoted by the government in recent weeks of “Strong. Steady. Saskatchewan.”
At an embargoed news conference prior to the Speech from the Throne, Moe emphasized why that was chosen as the theme.
“This is a very turbulent time in the world. Trade wars and actual wars are disrupting economies and businesses and jobs and families across this province and across our nation and around the world. But in the midst of all of that, there is a place whose economy stands rock solid.
“A place that is still attracting billions of dollars in new private sector investment including the largest capital project in our nation's history. There is a place that has what the world needs and it is a reliable, dependable and ethical supplier. Expanding its export markets to more than 160 countries around the world. There is a place that continues to make significant investments to improve access to health care, to keep our communities safe and to make life more affordable for the residents that live there.
“That place is our place. Strong, steady Saskatchewan. And today's speech from the throne is about ensuring that all of that continues into the future no matter what is happening beyond our borders.”
Many of the themes in this year’s Speech from the Throne are familiar ones that the government has promoted at events and major announcements throughout this summer, particularly when it comes to the pace of investment in the province.
The Throne Speech points to companies “investing in our province at a pace unlike anything we have witnessed in our history. More than 60 major projects valued at over $100 billion. That is unlike any time in our province’s history and unlike what is happening in any other province in Canada.”
The speech also pointed to the Bell Canada data centre just outside of Regina, along with the announcement last month that the investment would be quadrupled for that project to over $50 billion.
“There are some who would try to block this project and send those jobs, that investment and Canadians’ online data to another country, but Canadians understand the importance of home ice advantage. This data centre will be built in Canada, and Canadians’ online data will be stored in Canada, by a Canadian company governed by Canadian laws — right here in Saskatchewan. Strong, steady Saskatchewan.”
Affordability
The rest of the Throne Speech focuses on other familiar themes, such as affordability measures.
On affordability, the government states it will further reduce personal income taxes in the 2027 budget — “delivering on the third year of our four-year plan to make life more affordable for everyone in Saskatchewan.”
The government says it will continue enhancing the Graduate Retention Program, increasing the maximum benefit to $24,000.
The government says that this session it will introduce legislation to make it easier to enforce maintenance orders when payments are delinquent, with changes to The Enforcement of Maintenance Orders Act to make it easier to collect unpaid support.
The government also pledged further action in response to tariffs, saying Saskatchewan will receive $15.6 million over three years through the federal-provincial Workforce Tariff Response.
“This funding will help thousands of Saskatchewan workers with targeted support for the steel and softwood lumber sectors. Support will be available for other sectors such as manufacturing, construction, agriculture, mining, transportation, wholesale trade and affected supply chains.”
The government says it is also investing nearly $125 million in workforce development and career training.
Health care
On health care, the Speech from the Throne pointed to Saskatchewan’s Health Human Resource Action Plan and to the Patients First Health Care Plan released earlier this year: “50 action items to improve access and outcomes for Saskatchewan patients, so that everyone can receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”
The speech states that since the launch of this plan, the government has “improved access to primary care for thousands of residents through 54 Nurse Practitioner Primary Care contracts, with more coming this fall. Those 54 Nurse Practitioners will improve access to health care by serving as primary care providers for more than 43,000 patients.”
The government states it is “on track to meet our target of 450,000 surgeries over four years, with more than 100,000 surgeries and procedures performed in 2025-26.”
The Throne Speech also spoke of urgent care centre projects, pointed to continued progress on the Yorkton Hospital and Regina Specialized Long-Term Care Centre projects, completion of the Weyburn Hospital, 50 per cent completion of the Prince Albert Victoria Hospital and “fulfilling our commitment to open 186 additional acute care beds across four hospitals” in Saskatoon.
During this session, the government pledges it will “introduce legislation to expand the scope of practice for several more health care professions so they can safely work to the top of their trained skills, providing greater access to care for patients.”
The government is pledging “next steps in the implementation of the Patients First Health Care Plan to further improve access to diagnostics, surgeries and primary care, and ensure everyone in Saskatchewan can receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”
The government is pledging to introduce The Safer Homes for Seniors Act this session to “provide greater oversight, transparency and accountability in personal care homes.”
The government also plans to introduce The Medical Assistance in Dying Additional Safeguards Act to prohibit the use of MAID for certain individuals, including persons under the age of 18 and persons whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness.
The government is also looking to take further action on drugs.
“During this session, we will introduce The Opioid Damages Act to pursue the recovery of health care costs from manufacturers, wholesalers and consultants for opioid-related wrongdoing.”
Community safety
On community safety, the government is pledging a focus on mental health and addictions treatment, including more addiction treatment spaces.
The government again pointed to its commitment to 500 new addictions treatment spaces to be operational by March of next year.
“Today, 412 are complete and operating, including 32 in Estevan at a facility previously closed in 1996 and reopened by our government in 2020.”
In addition to the original 500 recovery spaces and 500 new addiction treatment spaces, the government pledges it will “open an additional 250 addiction treatment spaces, raising the total number to 1,250.”
“These facilities offer a safe place for individuals on their road to recovery by providing counselling and connection to community.”
The government also says complex needs facilities are planned for North Battleford and Prince Albert.
To get drugs and drug dealers off the streets, the government is pledging “substantial investments in policing across the province.”
The government pointed to significant support for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and First Nations policing in this year’s budget.
“Through the establishment of municipal police grants, our government is funding 160 positions within policing programs across the province.”
The government also states that the Saskatchewan Marshals Service is seeing success.
“From June 2025 to June 2026, 187 warrant apprehensions were made, with over 100 fugitives arrested in Prince Albert and area just this year. Having the Saskatchewan Marshals Service engage in these arrests allows other police services to do their important front-line work to keep our communities safe.”
An item that raised some eyebrows is the government’s plan to introduce The Protection of Economic Infrastructure Act to “ensure that our critical infrastructure and transport routes cannot be disrupted by occupations or other illegal activities.”
“In Saskatchewan and across Canada, we've seen on numerous occasions where rail lines or roads have been blocked for whatever disagreement that might be occurring,” Moe said. He pointed to illegal blockades that happened in Saskatchewan and Canada, such as “a northern road that was blocked, and not too long ago we saw a rail line that was attempted to be blocked here in the city of Regina.”
“And across Canada, we've seen that as well. And so what we are doing is enhancing the current legislation that we have to be responsive.”
To make sure first responders are safe on the job, the government is also pledging to introduce The Mandatory Testing and Disclosure Act. According to the Throne Speech text:
“If a first responder or a victim of crime reasonably believes they have come in contact with an individual and are at risk of exposure from hepatitis B or C, or HIV, they can apply to the court to have mandatory testing of the source individual.”
To combat human trafficking, the government says it will amend The Protection from Human Trafficking Act to “require the hospitality industry and ridesharing platforms to report to the police when there is reasonable suspicion to believe that another person is subject to human trafficking.”
The government also plans to introduce the Prevention of Deceptive AI Act, which “will prohibit the misuse of AI-generated voices and images involving elections, consumer transactions and the protection of privacy.”
Moe pointed to instances where even images of himself as premier were used as “essentially a trap to steal money, and I've actually been aware that that worked on at least one occasion.” The idea is to crack down on that misuse.
“What we're seeing, whether it be in the U.S. or around the world right now, is pretty nefarious use in some cases of artificial intelligence.”
Further amendments are also coming to The Traffic Safety Act, which “will enhance existing administrative penalties for impaired driving infractions and suspend, cancel or refuse to issue a driver’s licence to persons convicted of certain drug-related offences.”
Henry’s Law comes into effect Nov. 1, requiring carbon monoxide detectors in every suite of every multi-unit building in Saskatchewan.
Natural disasters
To meet challenges from natural disasters, the government has amended the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program to expand eligibility for individuals, small businesses and other eligible claimants.
The government states the changes will increase assistance to those affected and provide support to communities for mitigation and resiliency.
The government says it is “responding to the recommendations of the independent review of the 2025 wildfire season with new initiatives including the Community Wildfire Resilience Team Pilot Program to strengthen wildfire preparedness through better trained and equipped volunteers, and expansion of the Resilient Communities Through FireSmart Program to help more communities follow FireSmart principles.”
The Throne Speech also points to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency having signed a memorandum of understanding with Prince Albert Grand Council and Meadow Lake Tribal Council.
“This MOU formalizes an ongoing partnership and establishes a framework for First Nations leadership and knowledge to help inform wildfire planning and strategy in Saskatchewan.”
Agriculture, education and other areas
On agriculture, there are not a lot of surprises as the government says it will continue to strengthen the business risk management programs available to producers, like Crop Insurance and the AgriStability Program.
To help control the elk population and reduce crop damage, producers who have experienced significant damage will be issued up to eight depredation tags to be used from January to March 2027.
The government says it is conducting a comprehensive review of The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act to “ensure it continues to meet the needs of Saskatchewan’s agriculture sector.”
The government says that through its MOU with the Government of Canada, Saskatchewan will “continue working with federal, industry and research partners to continue the important research underway at the Scott and Indian Head Research Farms.”
There are also not a lot of surprises in education, with the government currently touting “a total of 24 new schools and four major renovations happening across the province.”
The government says it continues to support the new School Playground Equipment Grant, through which 94 projects received funding last year.
The government also pointed to having steadily increased school operating funding by approximately 20 per cent.
The government says it continues to roll out the Specialized Support Model across the province.
“This fall, $16.3 million has supported the launch of 50 new spaces, for a total of 108 across all 27 school divisions — on track to meet the goal of 200 spaces by 2028.”
The government also touts delivering on “its commitment to families” by “negotiating and signing a five-year child care agreement that is significantly stronger than the previous agreement. We are proud of the child care sector in Saskatchewan and committed to its long-term sustainability through strong and steady support for child care providers and parents.”
Finally, the Throne Speech also points to the government having doubled the Community Rink Affordability Grant and the Active Families Benefit, and to its support for local Saskatchewan veterans through the Veterans Service Club Support Program.
Conclusion
“In today’s uncertain world, Saskatchewan faces many challenges that are beyond our control,” the Throne Speech reads.
“By focusing on what we can control — building our economy, protecting our sovereignty, expanding our export markets, keeping life affordable and providing high-quality services to Saskatchewan people — we will keep Saskatchewan strong and steady, no matter what is happening beyond our borders.
“With all that is happening in the world today, and with all the advantages we enjoy right here in our great province, there is no place in the world I would rather call home. Because Saskatchewan is strong. Saskatchewan is steady. And Saskatchewan is ready.”
