With new data showing ongoing damage to the construction industry as a result of the Sask. Party’s expansion of the PST to construction labour, the NDP is calling on the government to undo the damage by walking back their tax hike.
According to Statistics Canada, there has been a 25 per cent reduction in the value of building permits since the Sask. Party hiked the PST on construction labour in April 2017.
“At a time when families and our economy are struggling, the Sask. Party let people down by expanding the PST, which continues to wreak havoc on our economy,” said NDP Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon. “It’s time for a government that will put the hard-working people of this province first and reverse this decision.”
According to the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, the Sask. Party’s PST hike was flagged as a “barrier to competitiveness” that cost companies in the middle of construction projects millions of dollars they hadn’t budgeted for, and has contributed to stunted growth in the construction industry in Saskatchewan. The Chamber also observed that there was “little to no consultation or notification before the PST changes were announced.”
“We have lost 300 jobs in the construction industry over the last year alone, and 3,200 jobs since August 2017,” Wotherspoon said. “We want to see Saskatchewan companies hiring Saskatchewan workers to build for our province’s future, but the Sask. Party is losing jobs and driving away investment. People deserve better.”