Sask. Roughriders add three to roster
Nov 25, 2024
Nick Jones, D'Sean Mimbs and Ben Hadley were signed by the team.
More details about the Saskatchewan government’s Provincial Sales Tax rebate for new home construction and the Secondary Suite Incentive (SSI) grant have been announced.
The programs, which were unveiled in last week’s throne speech, will remain in effect for the next three years.
During a news conference Monday in Regina, Finance Minister Donna Harpauer said the PST rebate would provide up to 42 per cent of the PST paid on the construction of a new home.
The rebate applies to contracts signed with builders, or new housing started or completed retroactive to or after April 1 of this year.
It’s available for homes with a total price of less than $550,000 before taxes and not including the value of the land, furnishings or appliances.
This is new, according to Harpauer.
“(Under) the previous PST program that we had, qualifying homes were only (up) to $450,000,” she said.
The new homes have to be occupied by April 1, 2026 and rebate applications have to be received by March 31, 2027.
The new SSI grant will go up to a maximum of $35,000 at an owner’s primary home.
Harpauer said she has heard a lot of concern about the availability of housing and rental suites.
“Meeting with municipalities, I was hearing more and more and more of ‘We’re getting desperate for housing,’ period. In particular, my home city of Humboldt, I met with the Chamber (of Commerce) and they are very concerned about housing development in Humboldt because of what’s happening with BHP,” she explained.
“You’re going to need houses for those workers.”
BHP’s Jansen mine, southeast of Humboldt, is expected to begin potash production in 2026. Once it’s at full capacity, it will be the largest potash mine in the world.
Chris Guerette, the CEO of the Saskatchewan Realtors Association, echoed Harpauer’s comments on the need for more housing in the province. She said Saskatchewan’s housing market is not performing like other provinces.
“The latest numbers show that in Saskatchewan by 2030, we need to have between 60,000 and 80,000 units built. That’s significant. We’re used to building between 3,000 and 4,000 units in this province every year,” she said.
Guerette said even with high interest rates, sales are still a lot higher now than the 10-year average. And both Saskatoon and Regina are seeing tight home inventory levels.
“We’re going to have to start producing more homes,” she added.
Cam Choqette, the CEO of the Saskatchewan Landlord Association, says the new Secondary Suite Incentive will be vital to landlords. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME) (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)
Cam Choquette, the CEO of the Saskatchewan Landlord Association, said the SSI will also add much-needed rental supply for the province.
“Thirty thousand new people made this province home last year. They all need a home,” he said.
Choquette said the SSI was a first step to recognizing the importance of rental housing in Saskatchewan.
“Red tape needs to be removed, we need to increase development of rental housing to stabilize rents, and we certainly look forward to having government’s help,” he said.
Guerette said with the federal GST rebate on rental construction and the PST new home construction rebate, the next step will be to speak with municipalities.
“We will very intentionally be approaching our municipal governments to say, ‘How can we make sure that the permit process will not hinder accessing these funds? How can we take a look at our zoning bylaws?’ We are at a time when we can no longer afford to say no to housing,” she said.
More information on the PST rebate can be found here. Details about the Secondary Suite Incentive are available here.
— With files from 980 CJME’s Lisa Schick