Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne (centre). (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Provincial priorities

Funding for hospital expansion tops Dionne’s budget wish list

Apr 5, 2021 | 5:00 PM

With Saskatchewan’s 2021-2022 budget set to be released Tuesday, Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne says funding for the Victoria Hospital expansion is at the top of his wish list.

“My number one would be the hospital because that would create thousands of construction jobs and it would create those jobs now and put people back to work,” Dionne told paNOW.

However, he predicts the province will hold off shelling out the majority of the approximately $300 million required for the project until the next budget year.

“Do you jump on the big $300 million project for the City of P.A. or do you take that and spread it out around the province. I’m thinking more that [the second] way,” Dionne said. “I don’t expect much movement [on the hospital expansion] this year, but I do expect lots of movement next year.”

On the whole, Dionne thinks we’ll see the province start to reign in spending when the budget is announced Tuesday afternoon.

Made in Saskatchewan

Find My Plus One: The Canadian App for Getting Out and Living Your Best Life

Mar 09, 2026

Riderville

Ask Not for Whom the Ed Hervey Tampering Window Opens!

Feb 02, 2026

Seniors Scene

New Year - New Habits

Feb 02, 2026

“As much as I wish there was more, I think there’s going to be less [funding],” he said. “Strictly because they’ve spent so much money in 2020 on COVID and programs.”

Although he “doesn’t expect it,” Dionne said “it would be nice” to see the funding cities receive through programs like the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP) maintained at increased levels. That program provided P.A. with $5.1 million in the latest cycle.

He’s also looking for the province to continue to cost share major infrastructure projects with municipalities and the federal government.

“We’re watching carefully because our next big project, when we’re done building the rinks, is going to be the secondary sewage treatment plant,” he said. “But that won’t happen without the federal and provincial governments stepping up.”

A focus on job creation, particularly in the forestry sector, is another item Dionne said he’d like to see in the budget plan.

–

alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom