Saskatchewan NDP gives provincial budget a failing grade

The Saskatchewan NDP isn’t putting much faith in the provincial government’s 2024-25 budget.

With another deficit on record, the Official Opposition maintains the budget shows more examples of the government mishandling the money through more spending, but getting no value out of it.

“This is something we see from this government: Spending like this ahead of an election year, then failing to deliver or going back on promises,” NDP Leader Carla Beck told reporters Wednesday. “For example, we saw them go into a failed P3 venture, building schools at a higher cost than what they could have built them.

“This is not just about how much is spent, this is about the value for what we’re getting. We have a government that is spending and has been spending and not getting value for the people of this province. We have a health-care system that is on its knees (with) one in six people not being able to get a family doctor. We see them say one thing during an election year, then the results are very different the year after.”

With affordability still an issue for many families, the NDP argues the government left out the one thing this budget could have provided.

“What the premier could do (and) what he’s failed to do month after month is that he could cut the 15-cent-a-litre tax on gas and diesel,” said NDP Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon. “Give people a break (and) provide real savings for families that are struggling in a big way.

“It’s wrong that we had a budget brought forward that didn’t offer up any relief. That would’ve been one measure that would’ve signalled to Saskatchewan people that their challenges are understood and some relief was going to be offered in a meaningful way.”

According to an NDP media release, nearly half of Canadian provinces have suspended their provincial gas taxes in light of the cost of living in the country, but Scott Moe is the only prairie premier who hasn’t delivered gas tax relief.

The Opposition pointed out that Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew announced Tuesday that he was looking at extending the suspension of his province’s gas tax.

2024 provincial election

The next provincial election is just seven months away, but the NDP didn’t offer an alternative budget.

“This is a government that over the last decade presents what they claim to be a balanced budget, only to find out that a few months later that they’ve blown the budget,” Beck said.

“Trusting their numbers is something I’m having a lot of trouble doing right now, in terms of what we would value, what the priorities are absolutely. I think there are a lot of people in the province now who would like to have some time with the books, have some time to go over exactly what the state of the finances are in the province right now.

“From Opposition, it’s very difficult because our only ability to look at the numbers (is) we have to rely on their numbers. (We) don’t have a lot of faith in the numbers. We are going into an election (and) there will be platforms (and) there will be costing, but it really comes down to trust. After 17 years of this government, they’ve shown us who they are.”