The Province of Saskatchewan has delivered a balanced budget for the 2020 year.

Finance Minister Donna Harpauer of the Saskatchewan Party delivered the news to the provincial legislature today, and her caucus mates, Moose Jaw North MLA Warren Michelson and Moose Jaw Wakamow's Greg Lawrence, were pleased with the budget.

“This is part of the original plan to balance the budget in three years,” said Michelson. “Absolutely, we did it according to plan. It’s a good budget, it’s the right budget for Saskatchewan. We’re looking forward to a good year.”

Michelson said one of the highlights of the budget is that there are no new taxes and no tax increases.

“We’ve planned for careful spending with priority investments into health care, into classrooms, supporting seniors and vulnerable families and investing in needed infrastructure throughout the province, in health care, highways and social programs.”

The budget is strong and continues the economic development of the province going forward, Michelson said.

Lawrence added that it's the right balance. He said they've made tough choices in the past and it's paying dividends for the people of Saskatchewan and the city of Moose Jaw.

There was also the announcement that this is the largest ever investment in mental health and addiction services, with 140 new beds for mental health and addictions treatment, Lawrence said.

“We’ve heard loud and clear that we need to have support out there for mental health,” Lawrence said. “It’s near and dear to my heart and we’re making sure we can do that.”

Moose Jaw Wakamow MLA Greg Lawrence said they are listening to what people have been wanting.

The Highways Ministry has said there will be a passing lane added to Highway #2 north of Moose Jaw. Also on their map for 2019, there will be safety upgrades coming to the intersection of Highway 1 and Kalium Road, as well as the intersection of Caribou Street East and the Trans Canada Highway near the road to go to the landfill.

The joint use school project for South Hill is one of the major investments in the budget and is a big thing for the city as well, the MLAs said.

“It’s a great project,” said Lawrence. “Both Warren and I have been working with both the public and the Catholic school boards to make sure that this is a priority for our government. The minister of education (Jim Reiter) has listened very closely to the folks in Moose Jaw... It’s vitally important. These schools are bursting at the seams, they’re getting up there in age and it’s a great day for South Hill, more than just Wakamow.”

“Anything that’s good for one part of the city is good for all of the city,” said Michelson. “When you’ve got an announcement like the joint use school, this is fantastic news for Moose Jaw.”