Wotherspoon: “It’s coming out of your pocket.”
REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon criticized the Moe government for massively increasing the tax, fee, and provincial carbon tax grab when Saskatchewan families are already struggling to pay the bills.
“It’s all taxes and fees. Scott Moe is trying to balance the budget before an election on the backs of Saskatchewan taxpayers. It’s coming out of your pocket,” said Wotherspoon. “During a once-in-a-generation affordability challenge, when people need relief the most, Scott Moe and the Sask. Party are making your life more expensive so that he can claim he managed to balance the budget in the last three months before the election. It’s smoke and mirrors and Saskatchewan people are picking up the tab.”
The Moe government’s news release states that government revenues are up by $1.32 billion from budget time because of “significant increases in taxation” and other own-source revenue sources.
According to public accounts, provincial fees and the Sask. Party government’s provincial carbon tax - known as the output-based performance system - were some of the largest sources of own-source revenue.
Potash revenues are down $1.6 billion and oil and gas revenues are down $148 million from last year.
The government says that the increased tax and fee revenue is because of immigration, not an increased tax and fee grab on established Saskatchewan residents. This is misleading.
With the population up by about 30,500 people, it is unlikely each person, including children, has paid $43,278 in taxes and fees in order to increase revenues by $1.32 billion.
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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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Scott Moe’s Sask. Party Breaks Promise Of Childcare Access For Families
SASKATOON – Carla Beck's team is calling on Scott Moe to explain why prospective childcare providers are being denied licenses after receiving letters stating that the government believes there is "no need" for additional childcare spaces — even as families across the province remain on waitlists for months and, in many cases, years.
Summer Tour Comes As Part Of Ongoing Your Care, Your Say Project
BALGONIE – Carla Beck's team will be hitting the road this summer to talk to people in dozens of rural Saskatchewan communities about the need to deliver big, bold change in healthcare to keep hospital emergency rooms open — and to, at least, provide lifesaving information when they’re closed.