100 years ago, the provincial government revealed the first road map for the finances of Saskatchewan.

Finance Minister Ken Krawetz took time on Thursday to look back at old numbers in the first budget delivered by provincial treasurer James Calder one century ago. Many things have changed but there are some striking similarities to present day.

“The finance ministers may have faced slightly different problems, but it still is about an economy that needs to grow.

In 1912 Regina was in a building boom and work on highways was a top priority and came with the highest price tag in the budget.

Spending on highways cost $5 million one hundred years ago and now the number is $727 million.

Optimism had the government of the day spending millions more than they were bringing in,  with total spending coming in around $9 million.  This included handing out $9,000 in bounty money to control the wolf population.

Krawetz is currently updating the latest budget and will deliver it to the province on March 21.

Edited by News Talk Radio’s Adriana Christianson