Both the NDP and Sask. Party are in Saskatoon Tuesday announcing healthcare-related promises ahead of the provincial election later this month.

NDP leader Ryan Meili pledged this morning that Saskatchewan will have the best home care in Canada under an NDP government, promising 700 additional home care staff to provide assistance to seniors living at home. Meili has committed $50 million to the plan.

Meanwhile, Scott Moe and the Sask. Party are announcing supports for families with autism.

Moe announced that, if the Sask. Party is re-elected, eligibility for individualized autism funding for children will expand to children under the age of 12. It is currently open to kids under the age of six.

The expanded program would begin in 2021. It would benefit 1,000 more children on the Autism Spectrum in Saskatchewan, and will cost $6 million per year.

While children under the age of six are eligible to receive $8,000 per year, children from ages six to 11 would receive $6,000 annually to help pay for therapeutic interventions and supports to benefit the children.