Reality Check: Sask. Party spins hard but can’t hide its mismanagement in GDP projections

The Sask. Party government has been known to play shell games to try to spin that its PST hikes and its cuts to education and healthcare don’t actually hurt Saskatchewan people. The falling GDP projections hidden within Saskatchewan’s mid-year financials is the latest example.

The Sask. Party bragged about “cumulative GDP growth” for 2017 and 2018 being “slightly higher than the budget forecast” in the media release accompanying the mid-year report, but that supposed growth was entirely due to higher actual growth in 2017. When 2017’s GDP growth is taken out of the picture, a much bleaker prognosis emerges.

These were the growth projections presented in the spring 2018 budget:

Real GDP	2018	2019	2020
	1.3	2.5	2.6

And here are the mid-year financial projections now, after the negative consequences of the PST expansion and cuts to services have begun to bite:

Real GDP	2018	2019	2020
	0.7	1.2	2.3

These adjustments amount to $3.8 billion less in economic activity between now and 2020 as a result of the Sask. Party’s mismanagement.

Saskatchewan people may not be getting the full picture from the Sask. Party, but they know from their pocket books that they are hurting, and the government’s own projections show that that pain will continue.

Saskatchewan’s GDP growth in 2017 was already the lowest outside the Maritimes in 2017 and is now projected to go even lower.

The reason why?

It’s not just because of the suspension of operations at the McArthur River uranium mine, as the Sask. Party would have you believe. It’s because the Sask. Party made poor financial decisions such as raising the PST on key economic drivers like restaurant meals, construction labour, and used car sales. Saskatchewan people deserve better.

Latest posts

SASK. NDP PUSHES FOR GAS TAX RELIEF AS SASKATCHEWAN FACES HIGHEST PUMP PRICES IN THE PRAIRIES

EMERGENCY MOTION WILL LOWER GAS PRICES BY 15 CENTS STARTING TOMORROW

REGINA – As Saskatchewan drivers struggle with the highest gas prices in the Prairies, Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck and her caucus will introduce an emergency motion today in the Legislature that will slash gasoline and diesel prices by 15 cents per litre starting tomorrow.

Reality Check: Sask. Party spins hard but can’t hide its mismanagement in GDP projections

Latest posts

SASK. NDP PUSHES FOR GAS TAX RELIEF AS SASKATCHEWAN FACES HIGHEST PUMP PRICES IN THE PRAIRIES

Sask. NDP Sound Alarm Over Lack of Cold Weather Strategy As Temperatures Drop Below -30°C

Same Old Throne Speech from the Same Old Sask. Party

Sask Party’s Broken Promises Leading To 130 Layoffs, Official Court Filings Show

NDP Caucus Office

Media Inquiries