NDP slams budget as attempt to distract from cuts and sell-offs to come

Today the NDP opposition highlighted the gaping holes in the Sask. Party’s budget, branding it “incomplete and inadequate” and a document that “fails to meet the basic requirements Saskatchewan people expect.” NDP Leader Ryan Meili dismissed the budget as a deception and a distraction designed to shield the Sask. Party from hard questions about their plans until after the next election.

“Saskatchewan people expected the government to come back with a recovery plan. After three months of work, the Sask. Party showed up with nothing but a cut-and-paste rehash of the same budget they tried to present in March,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “From students to seniors to small-business owners, this document is fundamentally disconnected with the reality Saskatchewan people are facing.”

The gaps highlighted by the NDP include:

no projections past the end of this fiscal year to show the Sask. Party’s plans to balance the budget;
no funding to address understaffing and quality of care for seniors in Long-Term Care;
an incomplete and unfunded school reopening plan;
no funding to address childcare needs;
overly strict criteria for small business supports that left only half of the announced funding spent.

“If this is their pre-election budget, just imagine the world of hurt they have planned if they’re re-elected,” said NDP Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon. “We know they’re working from the same old playbook: deep cuts to our services, selling off our Crowns, and tax hikes for working people. We need a government that will kick-start our recovery, not leave us stuck in a recession.”

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