Sask. legislative sitting expected to be all about the economy

The legislative sitting begins Monday and the budget will be released on March 18.(File/CBC)

Questions about the economy are expected to dominate Monday's opening of the spring sitting of the Saskatchewan legislature.

The government says its goal is to maintain a strong economy, despite financial troubles elsewhere in the world.

"We want to make sure that Saskatchewan comes through this strong and steady," Premier Brad Wall said.

A third-quarter financial update released by the Finance Ministry last week shows spending is up $661 million from the middle of the 2008-09 fiscal year.

Included in the latest spending plans are $500 million in accelerated infrastructure building, $99 million to build a new south bridge in Saskatoon and $72 million to help struggling livestock farmers.

Putting this year's budget together has been more challenging than last year, when the price of oil was rising to stratospheric levels, Wall said.

Although oil has fallen from a high of $150 U.S. a barrel to about $45 U.S. a barrel right now, Wall says there's still enough money to fulfil his government's promises — such as further cuts to property tax.

"Saskatchewan people ought not to be surprised if we're able to take some steps with respect to the education property tax issue, as well as other items," he said.

NDP Leader Lorne Calvert said the Opposition is keeping a close eye on all this spending.

"All this money, they had nothing to do about earning it," he said. "But they're sure spending it — at a rapid rate.

This will be the last session for Calvert as leader of his party. New Democrats select his replacement in June.

The budget will be released on March 18. The sitting runs to May 14.