Sask. Party piles on more taxes adding to the biggest tax hike in Saskatchewan’s history
REGINA - In light of the Minister of Finance’s budget announcement that provincial sales tax categories will be expanded to further tax a suite of activities including fitness, sporting and cultural events, Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon called on the government to scrap the proposed PST expansion and give families a break amid the affordability crisis.
“No one in Saskatchewan voted for tax hikes and a move towards Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) akin to what exists in Eastern Canada,” Wotherspoon said. “Saskatchewan families should not be forced to shoulder another round of tax hikes added to the largest ever tax grab in Saskatchewan's history at a time they desperately need some relief.”
This fiscal year, the government will be taking in $1.179B more in PST from consumers than in 2017 as a result of the Sask. Party’s damaging and historic PST tax hikes. The PST expansion in 2022-23 follows the PST hike and base expansion to restaurant meals, snack meals, children’s clothing, insurance and construction in 2017-18 and the elimination of the PST exemption on used vehicles in 2018-19. This budget adds $21M with the PST expansion to the industries hit hard by the pandemic, including the fitness, entertainment, arts, music, cultural, and sporting industries – even Rider games.
The Official Opposition calls on the government to scrap its latest tax grab and put a plan in place addressing the rising cost of living.
-30-
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.