While many campaign promises and ongoing goals for the Government of Saskatchewan were reiterated during Tuesday’s speech from the throne, here’s what stood out. The provincial government’s 15-page mandate, outlining its priorities for the legislative session to come, included many things – among them a series of planned policies in the vein of community safety. The Mandatory Testing and Disclosure Act The province plans to introduce legislation aimed at the safety of first responders among others individuals. The Mandatory Testing and Disclosure Act will allow a first responders and victims of crime to apply to the court if they believe they have come into contact with someone suffering from Hepatitis B or C, or HIV. The legislation will allow those individuals to apply to the court to have mandatory testing on the person suspect of suffering from those diseases. “It was a request by a number of first responders,” Premier Scott Moe told reporters Tuesday morning. “How do we support you in expediting any treatment that you might need, any testing that you might need so that we can deal with it quickly.” Sask. NDP Leader Carla Beck said the issue of mandatory testing was not something she has come across but said her MLAs will be reaching out to the affected parties to get a sense of the situation. “If it’s legislation that makes sense, that’s going to protect those on the front line, of course, we would we would want to do that,” she said. “But you know, there are a lot of details to come up.” The Protection of Economic Infrastructure Act The province says The Protection of Economic Infrastructure Act will bar disruptions or other “illegal activities” to the province’s critical infrastructure and transport routes. Speaking to reporters, Moe explained the legislation is being sought in response to various demonstrations and protests that have taken place in recent years. He specifically pointed to a blockade of rail line in Regina specifically as an example. “What we are doing is enhancing the current legislation that we have to be responsive,” Moe said. “Part of our broader effort initiative to keep our community safe and to keep our economy and communities operating is to strengthen the tools that law enforcement have.” Beck and the NDP described the legislation as potentially divisive, arguing the government should focus on actually speaking with groups about their issues before they have the need to protest and disrupt. “If this is a problem this government actually wants to solve, [a] pretty easy way to at least start is to sit down with the groups that you fear are going to be out protesting or occupying,” she said. “It’s a government that is certainly not known for doing that kind of work.” The Opioid Damages Act According to the province, the legislation is aimed at pursuing the health care costs from manufacturers, wholesalers and consultants for opioid-related wrongdoing. The Prevention of Deceptive AI Act Recognizing the potential for deception and fraud connected with artificial intelligence, the legislation will prohibit the misuse of AI-generated voices and images connected to “elections, consumer transactions and the protection of privacy.” Moe says he’s personally been targeted. “I’ve seen AI ads with myself in them. I think there was one a year or two ago, myself and Prime Minister Carney were in there, and it was essentially a trap to steal money,” the premier explained. “I’ve actually been [made] aware that worked on at least one occasion.” Moe said he expects additional guidelines surrounding the ethical use of artificial intelligence to be established in the coming months and years at both the provincial and federal levels. Human trafficking amendments The province says amendments to The Protection from Human Trafficking Act will require to both the hospitality industry and ridesharing platforms to report to the police when there is a “reasonable suspicion” to believe that another person is being trafficked. Impaired driving amendments The province plans to proceed with further amendments to The Traffic Safety Act which will enhance administrative penalties for impaired driving infractions. Additionally, the changes will allow the province to suspend, cancel or refuse to issue a driver’s licence to those convicted of certain drug-related offences.
