REGINA - Today, in response to the first quarter financial update, Official Opposition Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon condemned the timing and priorities of the Sask. Party’s affordability plan.
“We’ve been calling for affordability relief for months. The Sask. Party government has hidden and hoarded billions of windfall resource revenues since March, yet they still hiked taxes, fees and utility rates. Waiting until the eve of a byelection to buy votes - while families have struggled for months - is completely irresponsible,” said Wotherspoon.
As Saskatchewan people face crushing cost-of-living increases, the Sask. Party’s affordability payment is a fraction of the increases in household expenses since they tabled this budget.
Families are set to spend six per cent more on sports and entertainment, and some face $200 in lunchroom fees. Next year, they will have to pay hundreds more for utilities alone. The plan announced today does not recognize the cost burden families are facing, as a childless couple is set to receive more than a single parent of three.
Wotherspoon also noted that despite receiving nearly $62 million months ago in surgery funding from the federal government, none has been allocated to deliver these services.
“The Sask. Party is giving regular people a one-time payment of their own tax dollars, while pocketing federal cash once again,” said Wotherspoon. “Instead of acting quickly to help people when they needed it most, this government is dead-set on recklessly taxing regular working people into submission, with no end in sight.”
“At the same time the Finance Minister wasted eight grand on a single flight to North Battleford, families had to cancel road trips just to put food on the table. The people of Saskatchewan deserve a government that doesn’t buy their trust, but earns it.”
-30-
Carla Beck’s Team Calls On Scott Moe, Sask. Party Break Vicious Cycle By Investing In Supports and Intervention For Young Victims
REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is calling on Scott Moe and the Sask. Party to provide significantly more support for child and youth victims of violent crime after a new Statistics Canada study found Saskatchewan had the highest provincial rate in Canada of youth victims later encountering police as accused persons.
Saskatoon Fire Report 680 Overdoses In April, More Than 22 Per Day
SASKATOON – Critical first responders continue to urge the provincial government to provide additional support for local organizations working to address Saskatoon’s toxic drug crisis.
Pembina Analysis Comes As Medical Experts Across Canada Also Warn About Impacts of Backwards Sask. Party Plan
REGINA – Independent analysis from the Pembina Institute estimates that Scott Moe’s catastrophic $26-billion coal plan could cost Saskatchewan over $100 million in additional healthcare costs.