|
CHRISTINE
TELL MLA – Provincial Update – February 4, 2009
Christine
Tell MLA invites you to visit her constituency office at 2318B Assiniboine
Ave.
I
hope that everyone enjoyed a safe and happy holiday season and are braving
a Saskatchewan winter. At
the legislature we are in the midst of the budget preparation process and
are getting ready for the spring sitting in March. Following
are some of the programs recently announced by the government recently.
The first two (Active Families Benefit & Culture on the Go) come under
my ministry and I am proud of both programs.
Regina
Wascana Plains MLA Christine Tell announcing a program in her role as Minister
of Tourism, Parks, Culture & Sport
PREMIER
ANNOUNCES $500 MILLION "BOOSTER SHOT" TO KEEP ECONOMY STRONG Premier
Brad Wall this week announced that his government will speed up $500 million
worth of infrastructure spending to ensure Saskatchewan's economy remains
strong. Last
October, Wall announced that the province would spend $1.5 billion in the
2009-10 budget as part of its Ready for Growth infrastructure initiative. On
Monday, the Premier said $500 million of that spending is being moved up to
the current fiscal year to get projects underway more quickly and give
Saskatchewan an "economic booster shot" in light of the global
economic slowdown. "Saskatchewan's
economy is still very strong, but we are not immune to the economic turmoil
and our government is taking steps to ensure Saskatchewan stays strong in
the face of this economic storm," Wall said. "By moving forward on
much-needed infrastructure projects now, we can help to ensure economic
growth and job growth throughout 2009, and we can ensure Saskatchewan will
be in good shape to come out of this economic downturn even stronger in the
years ahead." $131.6
million in provincial funding will be provided for municipal infrastructure
projects throughout the province. $100 million in new funding will be
delivered on a per capita basis to urban, rural and northern municipalities
through a new Municipal Economic Enhancement Program. $31.6
million in additional funding is being provided for new projects under the
federal-provincial Building Canada Fund. Wall said he expects further
announcements about specific Building Canada Fund projects to be made
shortly. Wall
said he wanted to start with municipal projects because municipalities have
serious infrastructure needs and are best able to get projects underway
quickly
Constituents are invited to display art in the constituency office as well as view the artwork of others on display Active
Families Benefit The
Government of Saskatchewan is delivering on its promise to improve quality
of life for Saskatchewan families with the introduction of the Active
Families Benefit (AFB). Effective January 1, 2009 a parent or legal
guardian of a child six to fourteen years old will be eligible to
receive an annual tax benefit of up to $150 per child per taxation
year. The
program will help families with the costs of their children's
participation in cultural, recreational, and sports activities. This
fully refundable tax benefit of up to $150 per child will help reduce
barriers, promote access and encourage children to participate in activities
that are vital to healthy, active living. The
Active families benefit is administered through the income tax system by the
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA); therefore, a parent or legal guardian of an
eligible child must file his or her personal income tax return with the CRA
to claim the benefit amount. A
new form or schedule included with your 2009 personal income tax return
package must be completed and submitted to the CRA. A parent or legal
guardian is not required to submit receipts, but is expected to retain them
for verification purposes by the Government of Saskatchewan or the CRA. To
qualify, children must be in a cultural, recreational, or sports program
that: ·
is
offered by a service provider located in Saskatchewan; ·
involves
instruction and supervision by the service provider; ·
provides
proper supervision of children; ·
is
suitable for children; ·
requires
children to actively participate; ·
requires
registration with the service provider and the payment of a registration fee
or membership fee in order for a child to participate; and ·
complies
with all relevant requirements and standards imposed by statute or by any
other law (e.g. The Snowmobile Act and The All-Terrain Vehicle Act ) Ineligible
activities are: ·
programs
that take place in a child care facility as part of a child care program; ·
school
programs; ·
programs
that do not meet the criteria described above; or · those provided by an applicant's spouse or common-law partner, siblings, parents and in-laws, grandparents and children.
Christine’s
Constituency Assistant Marie Gibson at the Assiniboine Ave. E. office
Culture
on the Go The
Arts, Culture and Heritage Sector Development Plan will help Government
balance economic growth with quality of life by building a vibrant and
growing arts, culture and heritage sector. The Research and
Development Strategy, will test innovative and creative approaches to
cultural development and support the strategic directions identified in our
draft cultural policy framework Respondents
of the Reflections
survey indicated strong support for the expansion of Saskatchewan cultural
products. To meet that support the government is working with the
Saskatchewan Arts Board on Culture on the Go, a pilot program that will
support greater access for Saskatchewan artists and cultural products
through touring and marketing opportunities. Culture
on the Go is a research-focused, application-driven and peer-adjudicated
pilot program. It will test new and innovative ideas to deliver
funding to: ·
touring
Saskatchewan artists; ·
Saskatchewan
presenters; and ·
‘run-out'
performances by artists (i.e. no overnight stays). The
Saskatchewan Arts Board will administer the $800,000 pilot program.
Culture on the Go will enable Saskatchewan artists and presenters to
showcase the high quality of the province's cultural products. A
Touring Advisory Panel will be formed to make sure that the program
complements existing touring programs. Preference will be given to
project proposals that incorporate the following seven elements: ·
a
spectrum of engagement from emerging to professional; ·
youth
engagement; ·
access;
·
Saskatchewan
content; ·
Aboriginal
content; ·
community
legacy; and ·
new
media. The
pilot program will begin taking submissions in February 2009. For more
information on the program and how to apply, please visit www.artsboard.sk.ca
or contact: Peter
Sametz
Meeting
with a constituent at the kitchen table Health
Minister Don McMorris announced a new initiative that fulfils a government
promise to support improved cancer care within our province. Residents
of Five Hills Health Region will soon have access to a screening program
that can help detect early signs of colorectal cancer. The Saskatchewan
Cancer Agency will operate the Screening Program, a population-based
provincial screening program for the early detection of the disease. Approximately
$1.1 million is being spent on planning and implementation of the
program’s first phase in Five Hills Health Region. “Early
detection and treatment can make a tremendous difference in patients’
survival rates, and we want to offer them every opportunity for early
diagnosis, prompt treatment and a full recovery,” McMorris said. “This
is just one step in our government’s promise to strengthen cancer care for
the people of Saskatchewan. Colorectal
cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women, after
prostate cancer and breast cancer. The incidence of colorectal cancer has
risen nearly 13 per cent in the last 10 years. “Early
detection is key to preventing colorectal cancer, and I am pleased that we
are building a screening program that can help save lives,” Saskatchewan
Cancer Agency CEO Bob Allen said. “When diagnosed in its early stages,
colorectal cancer can be treated successfully.” The
Agency will use a new, advanced fecal immunochemical test (FIT) to screen
participants. This simple test can be done in the privacy of the home and
can detect blood in the stool that is not visible to the naked eye. Phase
one of the program is expected to start in the spring of 2009. Men and women
between the ages of 50 and 74 in the Five Hills Health Region will be
invited to participate. All
Saskatchewan residents currently have access to screening for colorectal
cancer. Patients are encouraged to discuss colorectal cancer risk factors
and screening options with their family doctor. Every
year, approximately 650 Saskatchewan residents are diagnosed with colorectal
cancer, and about 250 die from the disease. For information on the program
or the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency visit www.saskcancer.ca.
Greeting
a constituent at her Assiniboine Ave. E. constituency office Patient
First Review of the Health System Now Underway Saskatchewan
people have the opportunity to share their experiences with the provincial
health system. Saskatchewan’s
Patient First Review, led by Commissioner Tony Dagnone, is seeking
insight into what is working well in the system as well as areas in which
patients do not feel their needs were put first. “We
want to hear from patients, family, and friends advocating on behalf of
patients,” Dagnone said. “It’s just as important to know what
strengths need to be protected as to know what weaknesses need to be
addressed.” Patient
First is
an independent review of the Saskatchewan health care system, commissioned
by the Government of Saskatchewan for the purpose of enhancing patient-centred
care at all levels of the system. The reviewers will also be working with
consulting firm Deloitte Inc. to examine administrative aspects of health
care and identify opportunities for greater efficiency and effectiveness
within the regional health authorities, their affiliates, the Saskatchewan
Cancer Agency and the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations.
Tony
Dagnone, along with experienced consultants from KPMG, will be visiting
numerous communities throughout Saskatchewan, gathering information and
suggestions through focus groups, small-group discussions, and one-on-one
conversations with patients in health care facilities. Focus
group members will be invited to participate based on a cross-section of age
and backgrounds so that each group represents numerous perspectives. In
the meantime, all Saskatchewan residents can provide their stories and ideas
on the review’s website, www.patientfirstreview.ca.
The site features patient stories, information updates and an interactive
guide that can be completed and submitted by anyone in the province. For
those without convenient access to the Internet, hard copies of the guide
can be obtained by calling the Patient First toll-free line at
1-866-281-6355. “We
hope every person in the province will feel free to share their thoughts so
we can arrive at the best possible solutions,” Dagnone said. “Outcomes
are a critical measure of a health system’s effectiveness, but so are
health care processes and the experiences of the patient. We’re looking
forward to hearing the perspectives and insights of the people for whom the
system exists.” After
gathering feedback through the patients’ eyes, reviewers will consult with
leaders and decision-makers in the health system as well as care providers
and health professionals. A public survey will also be conducted to gather
responses from Saskatchewan people regarding the proposed solutions. More
information about the review can be obtained by phoning 1-866-281-6355.
Dagnone will provide his report to Minister of Health Don McMorris by summer
of this year.
A
visit to the Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre allows her to meet constituents GOING
GREEN WITH LOW-FLO TOILETS Your
Saskatchewan Party government is helping residents “Go Green” by
offering a $50 rebate for low-flush toilets through the new Provincial
Toilet Replacement Rebate Program. The program is expected to help residents
replace 200,000 toilets over four years. A total of 15 million litres of
water per day will be conserved, and 20,000 tonnes of CO2 will be reduced
over four years. Water is the most important environmental issue facing our
province. This program will protect our water supply and lower
greenhouse gas emissions through reduced water treatment and pumping
requirements. Our government is committed to finding real solutions to
key environmental issues facing our province. For more
information, go to: http://www.environment.gov.sk.ca/. Staying
in Touch I
appreciate the many opportunities to make a positive difference in our
constituency. Your phone calls, letters and emails make a big difference in
keeping me informed on the issues that matter to you. If
you would like to recognize anyone or have your event mentioned in this
newsletter, please don’t hesitate to contact me. _______________________________________________________________________________ This
newsletter is produced with the assistance of the Saskatchewan Party Caucus
Office. |
||
 |
 |
|
