The Fall Session Starts

   It's back to work today for Saskatchewan MLA's as the fall sitting of the Legislature gets underway with the Throne Speech outlining the government's agenda for the coming weeks. Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield will read the speech this afternoon, amid pomp and ceremony.
  I've covered enough of these in my career to know throne speeches are simply roadmaps of where the government wants to go. Don't look for many promises today. That said, though, I am expecting the speech to touch on at least one issue that's cropped up in the past few months, and that's the state of some of Saskatchewan's long term care homes.
   There have been horror stories about how residents went days without being bathed. There were other stories about some seniors sitting in filthy diapers because staff wasn't available to take them to the toilet.
   In a conference call with the media yesterday, opposition NDP leader Cam Broten says such homes will be a target for his party. And Premier Brad Wall also says action is expected sooner, rather than later. In fact, a report on the state of such facilities is expected during the fall session.
   What else can we expect? I'm sure education will be a high priority for both the SaskParty and NDP, as will the economy.
   MLA's will meet in the Chamber for a total of 25 days in this sitting, slated to wrap up December 5th. The budget isn't part of the fall session, but will be read in the spring of next year.
   And even though the SaskParty has an overwhelming majority, it could be an interesting session.

TTFN