NDP Leader Ryan Meili points to the Sask Party government’s theme for this budget “back on track’ saying it’s more like the government has lost its track of the realities facing Saskatchewan people, with rising costs on most things including gas and groceries. He notes that there are 32 increases in fees and taxes.
The expansion of the PST would account for a few of those, which includes an entertainment tax similar to the GST, taxing professional sporting events, museums, fairs, gym memberships and green fees among others. Meili also notes the budget includes mill rate increases for agricultural, residential, commercial/industrial and resource properties. Residential home owners will pay on average $13 more per year.
Meili adds that the Sask Party’s budget leaves the province with the lowest minimum wage in Canada and offers no economic relief for families struggling to make ends meet. Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon calls it “nickel-and-diming folks at a time they desperately need relief.”
The NDP says the Sask. Party’s Budget 2022 is failing families by:
Offering no economic relief to families struggling to make ends meet;
Failing to invest in education, after three disruptive school years for students and while educators are leaving the profession;
Hiking the PST on items such as Riders games, rodeos, movie theatres, craft shows, curling fees and gym memberships;
Increasing property taxes;
Leaving Saskatchewan with the lowest minimum wage in Canada;
Failing to prepare Saskatchewan for changing labour force needs and diversify our economic development;
Slashing workforce development by 41% at a time when we need to be training to extend opportunities.
Saskatchewan’s Liberal Leader describes the provincial budget as disappointing and insufficient. Jeff Walters says there is no plan for any bold, new initiatives, which he considers neither fiscally responsible nor far reaching in scope. He says, “Attempting to minimize the deficit on the backs of small businesses and the people is just the wrong way to go.”
