Saskatchewan MLAs return for spring sitting

A new budget and a new NDP leader will arrive during the spring sitting of the Saskatchewan legislature that begins this afternoon.

The Opposition New Democrats say they will be keeping a critical eye on the government's budgeting and also asking questions about health care. "People are getting jammed up in the hospitals and there's sort of maximum capacity, especially in Regina and Saskatoon," said interim opposition leader John Nilson.

Premier Brad Wall, the leader of the Saskatchewan Party, says has government has been making tough decisions while preparing the budget, which will be unveiled on March 20.

Spending will keep pace with inflation, but not much more than that, he said.

"You're not going to see significant cuts, wholesale cuts or eliminations of programs or initiatives but you're going to see a tightened budget," he said.

Wall said his goal is to hold spending to an increase of less than four per cent.

Meanwhile, the legislature may soon be home to a new leader of the New Democrats.

NDP members will choose their leader on March 9.

Two of the candidates are MLAs — Regina's Trent Wotherspoon and Saskatoon's Cam Broten. The third candidate is Saskatoon doctor Ryan Meili.