Even some of the Sask. Party’s adjustments in the update are unrealistic and unhelpful.
“The Sask. Party is still banking on overly aggressive oil prices, on cutting $125 million from the pockets of public sector Saskatchewan workers, and hiking the PST on everything from kids’ clothes to insurance,” said Sarauer. “Throwing people out of work, cutting salaries and making life more expensive will hurt families and the economy even more.”
Despite Sask. Party claims to the contrary, RBC rates Saskatchewan’s GDP growth as the slowest in the country outside of Atlantic Canada.
Many other key financial indicators are also showing that the Sask. Party’s mismanagement, scandal and waste are leaving Saskatchewan behind other provinces and forcing Saskatchewan people out of work. Under the Sask. Party, Saskatchewan is now:
- seventh for retail trade;
- seventh for housing starts
- eighth for wholesale trade;
- eighth for building permits;
- ninth in the country for employment;
- and the Saskatchewan unemployment rate is higher than the national average for the first time since 1989.
“Despite years of boom, the Sask. Party is doubling the province’s debt in just five years. Today, instead of bragging about misrepresented numbers, they should be taking responsibility for their heartless cuts, unfair tax hikes, and desperate sell-offs,” Sarauer said. “The Sask. Party must stop focusing on their own partisan aspirations, stop making Saskatchewan families pay the price, and start reversing their cuts and building back the economy.”
“It’s clear they aren’t working for Saskatchewan people anymore,” Sarauer said.