The Saskatchewan NDP raises the alarm today over the growing amount owed in municipal property tax arrears as a result of the province offloading expenses onto municipalities and driving up costs by expanding PST to construction labour. Over the past four years, the amount owed to Saskatchewan municipalities in unpaid property taxes climbed 12 per cent in Prince Albert, 85 per cent in Saskatoon, 112 per cent in Moose Jaw, and 145 per cent in Regina.
“People across the province are unable to balance their budgets and are falling behind on their property taxes because of all the expenses this government has offloaded onto municipalities,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “Now people are supposed to cheer because they achieved ‘balance’ at the expense of people and municipalities? That’s bad policy, and it hurts people.”
“If this government were serious about the fiscal health, the first thing they would do would be to reverse the PST expansion to construction labour, restaurant meals, insurance, and children’s clothes,” said Critic for Finance and Municipal Relations Trent Wotherspoon. “That single decision has been so destructive for Saskatchewan people, businesses, and municipalities, and we will continue to call on them to reverse it.”
Background:
|
City |
2013 Arrears |
2017 Arrears |
Difference |
% Difference |
Source |
Notes |
|
Saskatoon |
$ 1,580,279 |
$ 1,338,935 |
85% |
|||
|
Regina |
$ 4,740,000 |
$ 11,594,000 |
$ 6,854,000 |
145% |
||
|
Prince Albert |
$ 2,539,693 |
$ 2,848,906 |
$ 309,213 |
12% |
||
|
Moose Jaw |
$ 278,614 |
$ 591,111 |
$ 312,497 |
112% |
https://moosejaw.ca/wp-content/uploads/02.25.2019-Council-Pkg-PUB.pdf?ts=1551131138788 |
2018 arrears are known, even higher at $934,059 |
Poor working conditions, favouritism, $300K travel nurse pay at issue
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition released a letter signed by 49 emergency room nurses in Saskatoon. The letter slams the Sask. Party government for failing to support Saskatchewan nurses and curb the province’s reliance on expensive out-of-province travel nurses.
REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Critic for First Nations and Métis Relations Betty Nippi-Albright hosted a Day of Action with Indigenous leaders from Nekaneet First Nation, Yellow Quill First Nation, Waterhen Lake First Nation, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Carry The Kettle First Nation, Key First Nation and the residential school support team from Yorkton Tribal Council. Together, they continue to draw attention to the Sask. Party government’s disregard for the Duty to Consult process.
MOOSE JAW - Today, the Official Opposition stood with Taylor Enns, president of the Moose Jaw Firefighters Association, and Brayden Dutchak, the son of a cancer survivor. Together, they called on the Sask. Party government to reopen Saskatchewan’s only hyperbaric chamber.
Records show former Sask. Party Finance Minister lobbied for Calgary surgery scheme on behalf of a major Sask. Party donor
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition grilled the Premier and his Minister of Health after the Minister misled the public, claiming that he had not been lobbied by a former Sask. Party MLA when Saskatchewan's official lobbyist logs show the exact opposite.