“What balance? And at what cost to Saskatchewan people?,” NDP asks

2019 budget off-balance and out of touch

According to the Saskatchewan NDP, today’s provincial budget fails to live up to its only promise: balance. Meanwhile, it has nothing to offer the majority of Saskatchewan people, who are struggling, and leaves Saskatchewan students, families and seniors paying the price for the government’s cuts.

“Far too many people are paying far too much so this government can pat themselves on the back with false celebrations of balance,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili.

Meili points to the fact that the province’s debt will grow by $1.8 billion this year, tripling over the last decade, as one way that the budget is off-balance, and the continued underfunding of education as another.

Pointing out that a budget is supposed to be a blueprint for a government’s vision of what it seeks to achieve, Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon sees nothing of that here, and nothing for the majority of Saskatchewan people.

“They’ve tripled the debt, doubled the PST, flattened the economy, and left students without the supports they need,” Wotherspoon said.

“There’s nothing here for working families who are, frankly, more worried about balancing their own budgets than the province’s,” he added. “There is nothing here for children, nothing for young people and families, nothing for seniors, nothing for people who are worried about losing their job, nothing for the North, and nothing for First Nations & Métis people.

“This is an off-balance budget that’s out of touch with Saskatchewan.”

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My thoughts are with the 117 workers and their families who will be impacted by this decision. 

These are families being thrown into financial anxiety, because of the total mismanagement of Saskatchewan's forestry industry by Scott Moe and the Sask. Party. 

From refusing to assist the forest sector when it comes to Donald Trump's tariffs, to allowing disease, insects, and wildfires to devastate forests and destroy investment, it’s clear that Scott Moe and the Sask. Party don't view our forests as assets worth managing. 

Our team has made a number of calls to support the forest sector, including allowing dues free salvage of the burned areas to aid reforestation, to focusing on replanting to show a commitment to growth. 

Carla Beck’s team has listened to the industry and community stakeholders for the forest sector, and are working to support them to protect the good jobs and communities that rely on them. 

The Sask. Party has failed the forest sector, workers and communities for nearly two decades, and now 117 workers in Prince Albert are facing the consequences. 

It’s time for change. 

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