After their PST hike hurt all businesses, producers and families, the Sask. Party again fell short today with their Bill 84 which will only help a very small portion of businesses – those that are already making over $500,000 a year. The NDP is committed to finding ways to support all small businesses in Saskatchewan.
“If the Sask. Party was at all serious about helping small businesses, they would reverse their PST hike that has hurt all small businesses, producers and families throughout the province,” NDP Finance Critic Cathy Sproule said. “We will continue to fight for small businesses but we will not support the Sask. Party’s attempts to help only the wealthy and well-connected.”
When Sproule asked the former Finance Minister about the proposed changes he said:
“No, corporate income tax rate cut applies to a business that’s in excess of $500,000 in taxable income. So, you could have a small business making $600,000 in taxable income, and there are a lot of them in this province. I dare say I’ve got some colleagues in my caucus, caucus colleagues that run some of those businesses. They’re going to receive a corporate income tax cut. It is a business tax cut. It’s not just for the corporations.” - Hon. Kevin Doherty, May 11, 2017.
“We absolutely should be doing more to support small businesses throughout the province, but the fact is, the Sask. Party’s Bill 84 will only help one in 13 small businesses,” said NDP Economy Critic Cathy Sproule. “Nowhere else in Canada are businesses that earn over $500,000 considered small businesses. We need solutions that help everyone, not just the select few.”
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.