The Honorable Warren Keading is the incumbent for the Melville-Saltcoats riding. He has held a seat in the Legislative Assembly with the Saskatchewan Party since April 4, 2016 when he won the seat from Bob Bjornerud.
“Politics has always been in my DNA. My father was very involved in the Conservative movement. I remember helping him put election signs up, attending meetings and conventions with him….The final encouragement was when Premier Devine came over to our farmhouse for supper when I was a young farmer and him asking what he could do for us as young farmers,” explained Kaeding.
Kaeding was the Legislative Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture (Irrigation Expansion), as well as a Legislative Secretary to the Minister responsible for SaskTel (Cellular Coverage and Internet Coverage).
He has served as a member of the Legislature’s Standing Committee on Crowns and Central Agencies, the Crown Investments Corporation Board and Public Accounts Committee, the Standing Committee on the Economy and the Legislation and Regulation Review Committee.
On February 2, 2018, Kaeding was appointed Minister of Government Relations and Minister of First Nations, Metis and Northern Affairs.
When asked what The Honourable Kaeding hoped to achieve for his constituents and the province, he replied, “In my time we have been able to secure new highway surfacing on the #80, passing lanes on the #10 between Melville and Yorkton, upgrades to the Langenburg Activity Center and new infrastructure projects in almost every town and the city in the constituency. I would like to continue to ensure we have support for more of the necessary infrastructure required in all of our communities….I would also like to ensure that we continue to create an environment where our kids and grandkids will have the opportunity to comfortably live, work and raise a family. We need to ensure that good full-time employment continues to be available not only in primary agriculture and resource development but also in value-added processing and emerging careers in information technology and skills and trades.”
Keading explained after being asked what one of his ‘pet projects’ would be if re-elected, “Certainly one project that remains high on the list of replacements is the Centennial Special Care Home and St. Anthony’s Hospital replacement in Esterhazy. An announcement for a new Integrated Health Center in Esterhazy would continue to be a major project I would like to see committed to the area. With that, I would also like to ensure that we continue to have access to top-quality health professionals throughout the constituency and they are working with the newest technology and equipment.”
With the pandemic on everyone’s mind, Kaeding shared what he feels the Sask. Party can do to help build strong communities, “Our party through the pandemic has a good record of supporting communities. We provided $150 million to municipalities to support investments in infrastructure to stimulate economic recovery and encourage local job creation. We fast-tracked Municipal Revenue Sharing payments to municipalities in June, rather than paying in installments throughout the year. This was to ensure all municipalities in the province have the resources in place to navigate these challenging times. Many of the election platform announcements will provide some extra expense relief as communities slowly get back to normal.” He talked about how a 10% reduction in electrical use charges will help. Kaeding mentioned the $2500 grant which will go to every ice surface in communities and will help lower the costs of arenas for communities.
Other things to look forward to include, “Budget announcements such as the PST rebate for new residential home construction, or the election platform for the renovation tax credit will stimulate growth, assisting small and medium-sized businesses in our communities which in turn strengthens communities. Our party has also committed a significant amount of infrastructure spending to improve highways, and for renewal projects to reduce deferred maintenance on provincial buildings such as schools, hospitals, care homes and others. We have worked to ensure as many businesses can continue services during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This was accomplished through relief from penalty and interest charges on PST, to crown utility bill-deferral with zero interest, waived WCB premium penalties for 3 months and established the Small Business Emergency Payment.”
Scott Moe of the Sask Party has been letting the people of Saskatchewan know what he and the Sask. Party is offering during this busy election time.
Scott Moe promised three measures to make life more affordable for seniors.
The first reducing the maximum cost of ambulance calls by 50 percent to $135 a call and eliminating inter-hospital ambulance costs.
The Saskatchewan Party put a cost of $8.4 million yearly on the province.
The second measure is increasing the seniors’ income plan to a maximum of $360 a month.
It would be phased in over three years and cost $9 million per year once fully implemented, the party said.
Moe said his third measure is hiring 300 new continuing care aides at a cost of $18.4 million a year.
The party promised to hire 180 care aides for long-term care facilities and 120 care aides to provide home care services.
Scott Moe will expand the province’s insulin pump program to everyone with Type 1 diabetes, benefiting about 400 people.
The Saskatchewan Party said it would also cover the cost of continuous glucose monitoring systems for children under the age of 18.
The incremental costs of the two programs is estimated by the party at $4.6 million a year, with slightly higher costs in the first year for the insulin pump program.
Scott Moe pledged $6 million per year to expand autism funding to more children.
The proposal would provide individualized funding of $6,000 each year to children between the ages of six and 11.
The Saskatchewan Party said the funding will offer flexibility to parents in choosing therapeutic interventions and supports.
Scott Moe said he would restart the active family benefits.
It would provide families with an annual income of under $60,000 up to $150 a year per child or $200 for a child with a disability to cover the costs of participating in sports, arts or cultural activities, the Saskatchewan Party said.
The party said it would benefit up to 20,500 families at a yearly cost of $5.7 million.
Moe also promised 750 new childcare spaces over the next four years and said the one-time start-up grants for new licensed home-based spaces would increase by $500 a home.
He said they would also increase the monthly nutrition grant for all licensed home-based childcare spaces by $20 and the annual equipment grant provided by $150 per year per space.
The Saskatchewan Party estimated the cost at $9.7 million over four years.
The Saskatchewan Party says it will reduce taxes for small businesses as the province emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.
The small business tax would temporarily be reduced from two percent to zero percent beginning retroactively on Oct. 1, 2020.
On July 1, 2022, the tax rate will rise back up to one percent.
Then on July 1, 2023, the tax will return to its current two percent rate.
Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe says the initiative will cost the government $189 million over four fiscal years.
Scott Moe said he would increase the Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship by 50 percent — from $500 a year to $750 a year.
Party officials said it would cost $8 million over four years and benefit roughly 8,000 eligible students
The Saskatchewan Party said it will reduce SaskPower bills by 10 percent for one year starting in December.
The party said the average residential customer will save $215 over the course of a year, while the average farm customer will save $845.
According to the party, the rebate will cost $87.2 million in 2020-21 and $174.4 million in 2021-22, with the cost to SaskPower covered by the general revenue fund.
The Saskatchewan Party promised a home renovation tax credit of 10.5 percent on up to $20,000 of eligible renovations.
The party said the program would run from Oct. 1, 2020, to Dec. 31, 2022, with the maximum eligible amount capped at $11,000 in the first 15 months and $9,000 for the final 12 months.
The cost of the program is estimated by the Saskatchewan Party at $124 million.
By Gary Horseman
(Local Journalism Initiative Reporter)
garyfourtownjournal@gmail.com
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