The Official Opposition is urging the provincial government to sign on to the new changes to the AgriStability program. During Question Period in the Saskatchewan Legislature today (Mon), NDP MLA Trent Wotherspoon stated that the 100 per cent tariffs from China on canola and peas have already had a direct impact on producers, with canola prices plummeting. He added that producers need action now and farmers are calling on the province to sign on to the improved supports.

The change announced by the federal government for AgriStability is doubling the payment cap to $6 million for the 2025 program year and increasing the compensation rate from 80 per cent to 90 per cent.

Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison said, “At this point we are looking into the impact of these proposed changes to our Saskatchewan producers and determining next steps. We continue advocating to the federal government to remove its tariff on Chinese EVs and negotiate a solution with China. We asked the Prime Minister to engage prior to the election call, and he committed, but failed to do so.” Harrison also added that when the federal government announced the AgriStability changes, neither the provincial government nor Saskatchewan Crop Insurance were informed.

There was also a debate about math during Question Period. NDP MLA Vicki Mowat didn’t agree with the provincial government’s math on health care spending. She stated that although the government says there has been a $485 million increase in funding for the fiscal year which begins April 1st, her numbers show a different result. “Last year the government spent $8.022 billion on health and this year, they are spending $8.004 billion. $8.022 billion is bigger than $8.004. When you spend less in the current year than the year before, that is a cut.”

But Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill had an explanation. He says there were two one-time funding opportunities that increased the 2024-25 budget – $15 million for the Saskatoon City Hospital project which will add 109 acute care beds and $10 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Saskatchewan to expand into Regina and Prince Albert.