The Saskatchewan NDP wants the provincial government to scrap the so-called “snack tax”—saying it covers food items such as rotisserie chicken and granola bars.

NDP leader Carla Beck says the rules are “convoluted” about what types of food are covered by the tax.  The six per cent PST is not charged on raw chicken while cooked chicken is included. Nuts are taxable when mix or salted while protein and energy bars are taxed unless marketed as meal replacements.

The Sask Party government introduced the rules in 2017 as part of its plan to slash the provincial deficit. Since then, provincial finances have improved and a healthy surplus is anticipated in the current fiscal year.