Vol. 103 No. 45
Box 40, 102 3rd Ave West, Biggar, Saskatchewan S0K 0M0
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2012
email: tip@sasktel.net
Phone: 306-948-3344
24 pages
$1.25
www.biggarindependent.ca
Maintaining growth through property tax fairness Government Relations Minister Jim Reiter Tuesday released the provincial percentages of value used to set property taxes for the 2013 taxation year. “Saskatchewan is seeing unprecedented growth and property values are increasing,” Reiter said. “Since our 2009 revaluation of property in Saskatchewan, the value has grown from $58 billion to $97 billion. Our government is taking a thoughtful and measured approach to ease potential property tax increases on farmland, commercial and residential properties. “Our government has made significant reductions to education property tax since 2009, and we want to ensure Saskatchewan people benefit from that tax relief.” Changes to percentages of value (POV) affect the tax level among property classes. POV are used to calculate taxable assessments from assessed values calculated by appraisers. Taxable assessments are then multiplied by the mill rate, established by municipalities for the municipal portion and the province for the education
Poppy Art and the art of Remembering . . . Marissa Carter puts some colour into her symbol of remembrance, Friday during the Little Scribblers Art Club. The artists were putting together their works to be portion, to determine property tax. The Government of Saskatchewan is adjusting the POV for grain elevators, railway rights of way and pipelines from 75 per cent to 100 per cent. This levels the playing field with other commercial/industrial property.
within the commercial/ industrial property class due to significant differences in the growth in assessment values. To help alleviate these shifts, the commercial/ industrial tiers for the EPT will be eliminated and the commercial/
industrial property class will be separated into two classes. This could potentially help adjust the balance of EPT raised within the commercial/ industrial property class, mitigate shifts from revaluation and eliminate a perceived disincentive to
grow businesses. Legislation requires all Saskatchewan properties to be revalued once every four years. Amendments to regulations and legislation will be required. EPT mill rates are decided in the budget process and announced on budget day.
Recruiting physicians from India As part of the province’s continued efforts to stabilize the physician workforce, a Saskatchewan delegation is travelling to India to recruit family physicians for the first time. Saskdocs (Physician Recruitment Agency of
Shopping frenzy . . . The annual Kayette Craft Show hit the Biggar Community Hall, Tuesday. A bit of preChristmas shopping was on order, and many a dent was made in wish lists. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
All other POV for farmland, residential and other commercial properties remain unchanged from the previous revaluation year (2009). Significant education property tax (EPT) shifts were projected to occur
displayed in the halls of BCS, recognizing those who gave there all for freedom and this country. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
Saskatchewan) along with physician and health region representatives leave November 16 for the first leg of a consultative mission to India to meet with family doctors interested in working in Saskatchewan. “We are committed to recruiting and retaining physicians,” Minister responsible for Rural and Remote Health Randy Weekes said, November 1. “Stabilizing the number of doctors in Saskatchewan, especially in rural communities, is a priority for our government.” “We encourage internationally trained doctors to consider setting up practice in our province, with its booming economy and vibrant opportunities,” Health Minister Dustin Duncan said. “While we
have increased enrolment at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine and added residency positions to train doctors here in Saskatchewan, we continue to depend on and appreciate our international medical graduates.” “Internationally trained family doctors continue to be an important part of Saskatchewan’s p h y s i c i a n r e s o u r c e s,” saskdocs CEO Ed Mantler said. “The Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment provides us with an exciting opportunity to seek out family physicians from a broader range of countries worldwide. The potential for India looks promising and we look forward to working with officials, educators
and doctors in that country physicians. to enhance our “We are fortunate international that India trains recruitment more physicians efforts.” than it needs and Medicine that many of those is a popular doctors are looking and respected for work outside their profession country,” Duncan said. in India. The “We hope they will country’s consider choosing medical system Randy Weekes Saskatchewan as trains and their new home.” educates approximately This mission builds upon 40,000 physicians per Premier Brad Wall’s March year, many of whom are 2011 trade mission to interested in emigrating to India and Bangladesh. At Canada. that time, Saskatchewan The recruitment team established strong ties with will meet with government, India and the provincial university officials and and physician delegation doctors during the first leg are encouraged by the of the mission in November. willingness of Indian A second delegation will officials to work together return to the same cities in on building and nurturing India in June 2013 to make this previously established offers to qualified family relationship.