Saskatchewan legislature to resume sitting on June 15

The Saskatchewan legislature is to resume sitting June 15, nearly three months after its spring session was adjourned due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19.

In a joint media release Tuesday, the Saskatchewan Party and the NDP announced what they called “a modified arrangement” for the sittings.

The assembly is to meet for 14 days from June 15 to July 3, with sittings from Monday to Friday each week. There won’t be a sitting on Canada Day.

“Only 10 government members and five opposition members will be in the Assembly at any time in order to ensure safe physical distancing,” the release said.

Finance Minister Donna Harpauer is to table the 2020-21 provincial budget on June 15, with 60 hours of examination of the budget estimates to follow in legislative committees.

The final vote on the budget is to take place July 2.

Harpauer released the government’s spending estimates on March 18, shortly before the legislature was adjourned due to the pandemic.

In April, Harpauer announced the province’s revenues would drop significantly due to the impact of the virus.

NDP Leader Ryan Meili has been calling on Premier Scott Moe to recall the assembly in recent weeks and Moe said house leaders were meeting to try to come up with a suitable arrangement for MLAs to return.