Costly spin; budget shakier than ads reveal
Despite the Sask. Party’s budgetary revenue assumptions beginning to fail, they have launched an advertising campaign focused on promoting the budget, inappropriately sharing a tagline and logo between the Government of Saskatchewan and the Sask. Party caucus.
“At best, this is wasteful spending on political spin,” said Trent Wotherspoon, NDP finance critic. “At worst, the ads are untrue. Instead of spending time on self-promotion, the Sask. Party government should come clean about the even-deeper cuts they’re contemplating as a result of their failed assumptions.”
Premier Brad Wall has said the Sask. Party government is prepared to make emergency cuts of more than $100 million in the middle of the fiscal year – leaving no program or service untouched -- to make up for the Sask. Party’s faulty predictions and lack of contingency plans in the razor-thin budget.
The Sask. Party made overly-rosy resource revenue assumptions. That is causing the alleged on-paper budgetary balance – the accomplishment touted by the ad campaign -- to become even more suspect.
“They should have spent more time developing a sound budget and less time designing ads about the budget,” said Wotherspoon. “Reasonable revenue assumptions, room to account for fluctuations and the full, honest truth about our public finances is the very least that Saskatchewan people deserve – but obviously not what they’ve gotten from the Sask. Party.”
The last three budget years have ended in deficit, despite the Sask. Party government insisting at budget time that wouldn’t happen.
- 30 -
Other Stories
View the full news archives here
