Saskatchewan’s new plan to save over half a million dollars a year by cutting out over 80 provincial boards, commissions and agencies will include a dozen ag-related organizations.
Of those 12, most are advisory boards which the provincial ag ministry said are no longer needed as the ministry is now meeting “directly” with related industry and stakeholder groups.
“These 82 boards had either completed their work, were no longer active, or their function was being performed elsewhere and they had become redundant,” Deputy Premier Ken Krawetz said in a release Wednesday.
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The “streamlining” exercise, part of the provincial government’s ongoing review of government efficiency, is expected to save the province a total of $506,000 per year through the elimination of 82 agencies, boards and commissions.
“I think this speaks to the need for government to review everything it does from time to time and eliminate anything that is no longer necessary or serving the public,” Krawetz said. “While this may not represent a huge cost saving, I think it’s an important step we can take to make government more efficient.”
One of the line items being cut is the province’s Agri-Food Innovation Fund, which was officially wound up at the end of March. The 11 ag boards to be cut include:
- the Agri-Food Equity Fund investment review committee, which the province said is no longer required as the fund no longer makes investments and the board of the Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan oversees the wind-up of previous investments;
- the Beef Industry Advisory Committee, because the ag ministry “already consults directly with industry organizations and livestock stakeholders;”
- the Crown Land Stakeholders’ Forum, because the ministry “already consults directly with industry organizations;”
- the Farm Leaders Advisory Group, for the same reason;
- the Farm Stress Line Advisory Group, for the same reason;
- the Farm Support Review Committee, as the ag ministry “already consults directly with industry organizations on agriculture business risk management programs;”
- the Livestock Inspection Services Advisory Board, because according to the province, a new livestock advisory board is being created to provide advice to the agriculture minister on these same issues;
- the Livestock Traceability Committee, as the ministry already consults directly with farm organizations and livestock organizations on livestock traceability issues;
- the National Voluntary CWD (chronic wasting disease) Herd Certification Program Appeal Committee, which the province said is no longer required because the program received no appeals in recent years, and any future appeals will be handled on an “ad hoc basis, with industry input;”
- the Producer Advisory Committee, cut because the ministry “already consults directly with livestock breeder and feeder associations and other livestock organizations on the Livestock Loan Guarantee Program;” and
- the Provincial Patrons Advisory Committee, cut because the ministry already consults directly with farm and livestock organizations on provincial pastures issues.
