NDP Leader Ryan Meili says budget misses opportunities

The Saskatchewan NDP described the provincial government’s budget as one that fails to meet the multiple challenges facing the province, calling it “uninspiring” and “ordinary.”

“Saskatchewan people have stepped up in so many ways in this last year. They deserve a government and a budget that steps up for them. We don’t see that in today’s budget. It doesn’t get the job done,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili.

Last week, the party released a list of budget priorities such as removing the PST from construction materials and restaurant meals, introducing a $15-per-hour minimum wage and a push towards renewable energy.

When the budget was unveiled, Meili saw little that he liked.

“It’s a budget that fails to invest in our classrooms or in long-term care, and that allows for-profit long-term care to continue in the province despite the tragedies at Extendicare, and there’s no mention at all of the sky-high wait times in surgery and many other key medical procedures that have to be addressed for the health of the province,” said Meili.

Meili claimed the government broke three promises in this budget.

The first was to balance the budget by 2024. Earlier this year, the government indicated that following through on that campaign pledge would be unlikely. Second, it vowed not to raise taxes. Third, Meili claimed the government broke its promise to hire 300 continuing-care aides.

“This despite the fact that in their own election costing document, they included those 300 staff in each year of their mandate,” he said.

“I can’t explain why the premier would break such an important commitment after the tragedies we’ve seen in long-term care in Saskatchewan.”

Everett Hindley, minister of mental health and addictions, said the budget funds 108 aides, which is part of the Saskatchewan Party’s overall commitment of 300 positions.

“We would want to hire them as quickly as possible recognizing of course that there’s training that has to take place and to find the people to fill these positions,” Hindley said.

Meili blamed the province’s economic outlook on Premier Scott Moe’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meili argued a “circuit-breaker” lockdown should have been imposed before the second wave. Because there wasn’t a lockdown, he said the province faces the same “economic headwinds” resulting from the spread of the virus.

“Scott Moe has failed Saskatchewan when it comes to COVID-19 and as a result, has damaged our economy (and it) has resulted in people losing their lives that should still be with us today. We should all be angry,” Meili said.