Low- and middle-income students who want to attend a post-secondary institution could have more money in their pocket if the Sask. Party is re-elected.
Sask Party Leader Scott Moe made a campaign stop at Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Moose Jaw campus on Oct. 2, where he announced that his party would increase the Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship to $750 per year from $500 per year to make life more affordable for students. This would also boost the total amount offered over the four years to $3,000 from $2,000.
The scholarship increase would cost an extra $2 million per year in the provincial budget. It would be available to students who want to attend university or technical schools, or who want to upgrade their education.
“We expect that about 8,000 students in this province will benefit each and every year,” Moe said while surrounded by Sask. Party candidates Greg Lawrence, Tim McLeod and Tina Beaudry-Mellor.
More than 113,000 post-secondary students have received this scholarship since the provincial government created it in 2012, Moe continued. It has encouraged these students to remain and study in Saskatchewan instead of going elsewhere.
“Our Graduate Retention Program (GRP) is another example. The GRP is the most aggressive program of its kind in our nation,” said Moe. “In fact, today it is the only program of its kind in Canada.”
The GRP provides $20,000 in tax credits to graduates who choose to live and work in Saskatchewan. More than 74,000 students have benefited from the program since its inception in 2008.
“This is a far different thinking than we have had in decades gone by in the province, with our children moving to other areas of Canada and other areas of the world,” Moe added. “We most certainly think Saskatchewan has everything to offer than anywhere else in the world, and we’re going to continue to invest in that opportunity for our kids to stay right here at home and raise their families in a community in Saskatchewan.”
Natural gas plant
SaskPower intends to build a natural gas plant in Moose Jaw, although neither of the two project contractors is from Saskatchewan.
When asked whether he would commit to ensuring local and provincial workers were hired to build the plant, Moe replied that SaskBuilds is working with government ministries and Crown corporations on procurement strategies in Saskatchewan.
“We have increased our local content requirements with respect to the procurement strategies that we have to ensure whoever is bidding on Saskatchewan capital procurement projects is utilizing Saskatchewan workers to the greatest degree possible,” he continued.
However, there are some cases where outside companies need to build specific equipment, such as natural gas turbines, Moe said. But SaskBuilds and Priority Saskatchewan are working to ensure provincial workers are employed on capital projects.
“We feel that we are in a very good place, not only with our procurement of the natural gas facility here but all of the highways procurement, the schools and hospitals we’re building across the province,” he added, pointing to the forthcoming joint-use school as one example where provincial workers could be used.
During the press conference, Moe also addressed campaigning during the pandemic, promoting the oil and gas industry while protecting the environment, whether he would request a judicial inquiry or forensic audit of the Global Transportation Hub (he won’t), and when his party would provide details about balancing the budget.
