Saskatchewan’s Opposition NDP expressed its concerns over the Sask Party government’s budget which dropped Wednesday afternoon. NDP Leader Carla Beck called the budget shortsighted and not meeting the province’s current challenges.
“Scott Moe and the Sask. Party are asleep at the wheel,” said Carla Beck, Saskatchewan NDP Leader. “They can’t just close their eyes and hope our problems magically go away.
“This budget has no plan to defend against tariffs or build our economy, and it actually cuts education and healthcare, where we already rank dead last in the country.”
Beck said that the budget actually represents a cut for health care given that last year, the government’s actual spend in health was $8.022 billion, and this year’s budgeted amount is $8.002, which represents a cut of $17.1 million.
One of the biggest criticisms stems from the current tariff situation with both the United States and China and the lack of an articulated plan for some eventualities. Beck notes that Alverta, New Brunswick and British Columbia have folded in contingency funds to bolster their provincial economies in case of serious impact.
Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Finance Minister Trent Wotherspoon said the Sask. Party has increased the debt by nearly $30 billion and already spent three-quarters of a billion more than they said they would during the October election.
“This budget isn’t even worth the paper it’s written on. They have a fiscal record that can’t be trusted,” he said. “And what do we have to show for it? Families can’t make ends meet right now, but the Sask. Party’s promised tax cuts don’t produce real savings this year.
Criticism was also levied that the budget does nothing to address affordable childcare and fails to offer what the Opposition calls serious relief on the cost of living until 2026. The numbers were also lacking when it comes to the growing addictions and mental health crisis.
“The people of Saskatchewan want a government focused on the future, and this budget does nothing but take us backwards,” Beck said.