Sask. budget: Tax breaks, tariffs and what it means for you

The provincial government unveiled its 2025-26 budget Wednesday, touting a balanced plan despite acknowledging there is no money set aside as a contingency amid uncertainty around tariffs.

The budget includes tax savings for families and low-income earners, and record-high investments in health care and education, though those increases come alongside record population growth, now at 1, 246, 691 as of Oct. 1, 2024.

Here’s how the budget will impact you:

The 2025-26 budget includes tax savings for families, the planning of four new schools in the Saskatoon area and money for five new urgent care centres to be built throughout the province. It does not include contingency funds to address any impacts related to tariffs. (Céline Grimard/650 CKOM)

Tax breaks on income, housing and family costs

The province is introducing several tax changes that will benefit residents in various ways.

For seniors and those with a spouse or dependent children, there will be a $500 annual tax break for the next four years. This also applies to those eligible for the Basic Personal Exemption credit. The government said the changes will result in more than 54,000 people no longer paying provincial income tax by 2029.

The Active Families Tax Credit will increase by 50 per cent, providing $300 per child, or $400 per child with a disability, per year for households earning $120,000 or less.

Those pursuing fertility options will receive a 50 per cent refund on up to $20,000 in treatment costs.

The provincial education property tax will remain the same as the last budget, as the province lowers the mill rate to offset increases in property values.

The home renovation tax credit has returned, offering homeowners rebates up to $420 per year and $525 for seniors. Plus, first time home buyers will see more money in their pockets with the maximum rebate increasing by 50 per cent to $1,575.

The province of Saskatchewan's population increased by 26,989 people between 2023 and 2024, resulting in a total population of 1,246,691. (Céline Grimard/650 CKOM)

Saskatchewan’s population increased by 26,989 people between 2023 and 2024, resulting in a total population of 1,246,691. (Céline Grimard/650 CKOM)

A two per cent increase is expected for those on Saskatchewan Income Support and Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability. Families earning less than $38,590 will receive an additional five per cent in tax relief, and caregivers will see a 25 per cent increase in financial assistance.

Tariff contingency not considered in the budget

When it comes to tariffs from the United States, the provincial government said it’s not yet sure what the full impact will be, which means contingency funding to offset the potential harm done by tariffs hasn’t been built into the budget.

“We understand this budget is being delivered at a very volatile time, due to the constantly changing tariff threats from the United States,” Finance Minister Jim Reiter said in a statement.

“Right now, we do not know what tariffs the U.S. may impose or how long they may last. As a result, it was not possible to build the exact impact of tariffs into the budget.”

Reiter emphasized that the tariffs will not prevent the government from following through on its commitments to the province, but said the strong financial position the province is in means Saskatchewan is “well-positioned to weather the impact of any tariffs that may be imposed on Canada and Saskatchewan.”

In the budget document, the provincial government said if President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to impose 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs on Canadian products, with a 10 per cent tariff on Canadian energy, the value of Saskatchewan’s exports to the U.S. could drop by $8.2 billion over a year in a “worst-case scenario,” with real GDP reduced by up to $4.9 billion. Those numbers are still very far from uncertain, however.

“The uncertainties in this analysis show why including any amount of contingency in the budget at this time would not be realistic,” the province noted.

Money for new teachers’ contract allocated in the 2025-26 budget

The province has budgeted $3.5 billion for the Ministry of Education, a 5.5 per cent increase from last year. That includes $130 million for the new teacher bargaining agreement and to address classroom complexity.

The school capital budget adds up to $191 million. Four new schools in the Saskatoon area will start the planning phase, including one to replace the South Corman Park School.

Two million dollars will go towards improving reading levels for Kindergarten to Grade 3 students.

ider Reading and Win With Wellness initiatives.

In 2024, Rider player ambassadors spoke with 30,000 young people across the province as part of both the Rider Reading and Win With Wellness initiatives. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

In addition, 50 specialized support classrooms will be added in the province. These classrooms aim to reduce class interruptions and are staffed by one teacher and two educational assistants with a maximum of 15 students.

For post-secondary students, The Graduate Retention Program is increasing by 20 per cent, meaning those finishing college or university are eligible for up to $24,000 in tax credits if they live and work in Saskatchewan.

The province is rolling out four new programs in the medical field with $17 million in funding. This fall, the physician assistant program will start, and in 2026 speech-language pathology, occupational therapy and respiratory therapy programs will be accepting students.

New urgent care centres get funding in health budget

The Ministry of Health’s budget for the fiscal year ahead adds up to a record $8.1 billion, an increase of 6.4 per cent over the previous budget. The Saskatchewan Health Authority will be getting $279 million, an increase of 12.2 per cent, while funding for mental health and addictions adds up to $624 million – 7.7 per cent of the overall health budget.

The health budget includes funding for new urgent care centres in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert and North Battleford, along with money for additional urgent care centres in both Regina and Saskatoon. Currently, the centre in Regina is the province’s only operational urgent care centre.

Urgent care centres are meant to provide another option to patients who need urgent but non-emergency care, meaning those who can’t see their family doctor on short notice or don’t have a family doctor can get care while avoiding hospital emergency departments.

A second urgent care centre was announced for Saskatoon in the 2025-26 budget, although the first centre has yet to open. (980 CJME)

The Ministry of Health is aiming to reduce surgical wait times through a plan to perform 450,000 procedures over four years. The ministry will also “realign services” at City Hospital in Saskatoon, which has long struggled with serious capacity issues, by adding more than 100 beds.

“The 2025-26 Budget also delivers new capital funding for the expansion of Complex Needs Emergency Shelters in new communities, building on the pilot projects in Regina and Saskatoon,” the government noted.

“These shelters provide individuals in crisis with a safe place to stabilize while being monitored for the negative effects of drugs or alcohol.”

Public safety a focus as province aims to add more officers

The Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety will receive $784 million in the fiscal year ahead, a jump of 16.2 per cent over the previous budget. The justice ministry will see an increase of 9.8 per cent, with a total budget of $271 million, and the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency’s budget will jump by 51.7 per cent to $119 million.

The increased funding will allow municipal police forces to hire roughly 100 new officers, and 14 new workers will be added to the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) Program, working “to reduce crime by targeting nuisance properties.”

The Saskatchewan RCMP will see an increase of $8 million (for a total of $261 million), including $2 million specifically for the RCMP First Nations Policing Program.

The Saskatchewan Marshals Service, the new provincial police force aiming to begin operations this summer, will see $4 million in additional funding to help fill 50 new positions.

“To complement the increased presence of law enforcement personnel, the 2025-26 Budget includes funding to improve safety for correctional staff, offenders and the public, as well as address capacity concerns at correctional facilities,” the budget read.

“This includes support for the opening of the new expansion at the Saskatoon Correctional Centre and expanding capacity for women in the correctional system.”

The data above shows the total crimes in Saskatchewan’s three largest cities in 2024, compared to previous years, sourced from each city’s police department. (Céline Grimard/650 CKOM)

Editor’s note: A previous version of this article included a graphic with incorrect year-over-year crime comparisons.