New figures from Statistics Canada show that the Sask. Party’s hike on PST is still hurting investment in the Saskatchewan construction industry, while other provinces are showing increases.
“The construction industry is vital to Saskatchewan’s economy, but what we are seeing is the Sask. Party’s PST hike having a negative effect on the industry and is putting many jobs at risk,” said NDP Finance Critic Cathy Sproule.
The Sask. Party’s hypocrisy knows no bounds. It seems they will say anything as long as it fits their narrative no matter what they intend to do later.
For example, in the 2018-19 budget, the Sask. Party reintroduced PST for used vehicles, which is something they campaigned against in the past. Then-premier Brad Wall said, “The government should avoid doing dumb things, and the idea of charging the PST on the same used car over and over again seems pretty dumb.”
Despite pleas from concerned parents, the Sask. Party went forward with funding cuts in education and caused school divisions to cut preschool programs for kids with special needs.
“The Minister said that he wouldn’t sign off on a budget that made these cuts, but he did,” said NDP Education Critic Carla Beck. “Now, with last summer’s closure of the discovery and communications preschools, children with special needs have lost a valuable asset to their education, social development and personal growth.”
The cut to the Rental Housing Supplement in the budget shows more of the same from the Sask. Party, whose cuts continually hurt the most vulnerable in Saskatchewan.
“It is simply cruel and heartless to continue to cut programs that support the province’s most vulnerable,” said Social Services Critic Trent Wotherspoon. “The fact that the Sask. Party could cut a fundamental support, like housing, in order to make up for their mismanagement and balance the books speaks to their lack of vision, lack of compassion, and lack of planning.”
It is clear the Sask. Party did not learn their lesson after last year’s disastrous budget. Premier Moe proved we will see more of the same from his government with their lackluster budget that isn’t properly funding education and is cutting services Saskatchewan residents need most.
Here is a sample of what people are saying about the budget:
The people of Saskatchewan are still hurting from the heartless cuts and massive tax hikes made by the Sask. Party’s last budget, and now we’re seeing more of the same shortsightedness in this budget as the debt continues to pile on, funding for education still hasn’t been restored to 2016 levels and Saskatchewan people are paying more but getting less.
“When Saskatchewan people look at this budget, they will wonder where is the inspiration? Where is the hope? Where is the leadership? What this budget shows is that Saskatchewan is being kept in a railway siding, meanwhile the debt is on track to triple since 2008 and there is no investment in prosperity,” said NDP Finance Critic Cathy Sproule.