It is with great pleasure that I table the 2005-06 Budget and supporting documents for public review and discussion.
In our Centennial Year, we have much to celebrate – not only in terms of what this budget
delivers for the future, but also what we have accomplished in our first remarkable century. We have undoubtedly come a long way from our humble beginnings in 1905.
The first provincial budget in 1905 was little more than a revenue and expense chart to cover the four-month term from September to December of that year. That first “budget” showed total revenue of $665,306.59, with 85 per cent of those funds coming from the Dominion of Canada. It’s interesting to note we generated $2 in revenue from the registration of stallions at that time. Expenditures totalled $118,601.77, with 65 per cent of that going to Public Works and also Civil Government. Back then, as is echoed today, Education was also a priority – receiving 13.5 per cent of funding in 1905.
Fast forward 100 years, and our Budget is valued at close to $7 billion, with funding for health comprising 44 per cent of operating expenses, followed by 20 per cent for education. Our predecessors could only dream of what we are able to realize today with enhanced social programs for those in need, numerous opportunities for our youth, advances and
enhancements to our health system and measures to build on our economic momentum.
Saskatchewan’s history has been one of ups and downs – we have suffered our dark days, falling victim to the forces of nature and other more threatening forces beyond our control. But despite the deadliest tornado in Canadian history that devastated Regina in 1912, despite the dust bowl of the Great Depression, despite heeding the call for our men and women to fight in two World Wars and other conflicts, despite recent years of devastating drought, killing frosts and the BSE crisis – despite all of this, and more, we rebound. The sun always rises, basking our landscape with its brilliance. We turn our faces towards it, taking courage in its hopeful light. We are resilient.
People make light of how Saskatchewan is always “next year country”. In some respects,
they’re right. We are eternal optimists. And that’s a good thing. But “next year” has arrived – we are a have province, our economy overall is performing well, and we’re riding the momentum towards bigger things. So I invite you, with great optimism and pride, to explore the material in this and other Budget documents. I invite you to take notice of and
pride in what programs and services our government is able to provide you, the people we
serve. Undoubtedly, our forefathers would have been impressed at where their humble
beginnings have led us on our 100-year path.
Harry Van Mulligen
Minister of Finance
