How to use a surplus

While the federal Parliament is on the verge of falling apart, times in the provincial Legislature are just getting interesting:

The suddenly oil-rich Saskatchewan government plans to improve business taxes, come up with a strategy to build more roads in the North and study issues surrounding missing persons.

It also plans to move toward regulating and funding midwifery in the province, as well as fully fund its share of the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization program for the second straight year...

Long-term commitments include transforming 10 per cent of the province's arable land to harvestable forests in the next 20 years and ensuring one-third of Saskatchewan's energy needs are met by renewable sources by 2030...

The premier also said the budget will remain balanced and some of the extra cash will be used to pay down debt.

From the sound so far, the budget should be an excellent example of how best to use a short-term surplus for long-term results. Most importantly, with the debt continuing to be paid down there should be all the more money available next year if oil prices stay anywhere near their current level.

Unlike at the federal level, the added funds are resulting in a serious move toward sustainability on many levels. Kudos to Calvert and company on a great start to the fall session.