The Saskatchewan NDP is calling out the Sask. Party’s budget, which includes ballooning debt and shrinking per-student funding for education.
“This is a budget that piles on record debt, that leaves a deficit in our classrooms and that does nothing to help families or our economy struggling with the damage caused by the Sask. Party’s doubling of the PST,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “It’s clear this government is trying to balance the books off the backs of Saskatchewan people – that is completely off-balance with Saskatchewan values.”
In addition to tripling the debt, this off-balance budget also continued to burden households with an increased PST.
“The Sask. Party has doubled the take of the PST, flattened the economy, and have hurt important job-creating sectors such as the construction industry with tax hikes,” said NDP Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon. “This is an off-balance budget that is out of touch with the struggles that Saskatchewan families are facing today as it saddles them with almost $800 a month in extra PST costs.”
Schools across Saskatchewan were hoping for a reprieve in this budget, but all they got was shrinking per-student funding, flatlined funding and a heartless funding cut to at-risk students at Cornwall Alternative School that was reversed only because of the community’s diligence.
“This budget fails the needs of students and teachers throughout the province,” said NDP Education Critic Carla Beck. “Per-student funding is only roughly $10,200 – hundreds of dollars per student less than five years ago. The $14 million for supports in classrooms fails to keep pace with rising costs. It doesn’t make up for the millions cut in education these past few years nor does it account for the 7,000 additional students in our schools since 2016.”
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