REGINA - Today, the Saskatchewan NDP released new figures comparing the financial records of past Saskatchewan premiers. Premier Scott Moe has nearly doubled Saskatchewan’s debt in just 6 years, with new record high debt expected this week.
“Leave it to this premier to nearly double the debt and still crash our hospitals and schools,” said Official Opposition Leader Carla Beck. “Government's need to be more focused on solving problems, not just throwing money at them. After 17 years, this tired and out-of-touch government is straight out of fresh ideas and this province deserves a change.”
In 6 years, Premier Scott Moe has nearly doubled Saskatchewan’s debt. Scott Moe has one of the worst fiscal records in Saskatchewan history, posting 5 deficit budgets, while the Sask. Party government in general has only been able to balance a single budget in nine years. According to this year’s mid-term report, $14 billion has been added to the books since 2018, bringing the provincial debt to a record high of $31.5 billion.
The current premier’s unbalanced spending record surpasses that of Grant Devine, who infamously added about $9 billion onto the provincial debt over nine years and nearly bankrupted the province.
|
Premier |
Debt at start of term |
Debt at end of term (Public Accounts*) |
Raw increase/decrease |
|
Scott Moe (Feb. 2018 - present) |
+$13,949,920,000 |
||
|
Brad Wall (Nov. 2007 - Feb. 2018) |
+$7,396,229,000 |
||
|
Lorne Calvert (Feb. 2001 - Nov. 2007) |
-$856,827,000 |
||
|
Roy Romanow (Nov. 1991 - Feb. 2001) |
-$1,677,463,000 |
||
|
Grant Devine (May 1982 - Nov. 1991) |
+$8,689,557,305 |
*Current debt used the latest publicly available fiscal documents — Mid-Year Report 2023/2024
The provincial budget has gone from a billion-dollar surplus at budget time nearly a year ago to a quarter-billion dollar deficit at mid-year. With last month’s $757 million in Cabinet money orders, Saskatchewan is likely on track for a billion-dollar deficit this week, increasing the debt to an all-time record high.
“It’s clear why this tired and out-of-out premier would rather spin the numbers than run on his own record,” said Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon. “This premier has piled on more debt than any other Premier - even Grant Devine. It’s about time taxpayers actually got results for their money.”
-30-