The provincial sales tax bill for cleanup, building materials and construction labour in East Trout Lake alone will cost residents at least $1.2 million, according to local homeowner Nathan Pitka.
“Why would the government profit off such a tragedy that cost people so much?” said Pitka, who has written to several Sask. Party ministers urging them to remove the PST and address other concerns. “We feel like we were abandoned by the government as the fire raced in and now we feel like we’re being gouged by the very same government.”
The Saskatchewan NDP demanded an exemption for wildfire victims from the construction labour PST in August, but the Sask. Party ignored it.
“This is heartless, disgusting and downright cruel,” said Jordan McPhail, Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Minister for Northern Affairs and Cumberland MLA. “My constituents lost so much and they were failed in so, so many ways by this Sask. Party government.
“Then, just to kick them while they’re down, the Sask. Party is trying to profit off their misery. I really don’t know how these guys sleep at night.”
The Pitkas, who have had property in East Trout for 50 years, have a quote for $25,000 in PST charges on their rebuild alone.
The widespread failures during the wildfire crisis are now the subject of at least two independent investigations by the Provincial Ombudsman and Provincial Auditor. The Sask. Party has repeatedly shot down calls for a truly independent public inquiry.
Denare Beach resident Dustin Trumbley, who recently travelled with his family to the Legislature to demand the public inquiry, provided proof his PST bill for rebuilding and refurnishing his home will be $29,000, and he accused the Sask. Party of “profiting from our ashes and memories.”
Another Denare Beach resident, Brad Gilmore, posted online that his taxes will run in excess of $32,000 for rebuilding.
Heroic Denare Beach firefighter Harley Vliegenthart, who stayed back with 10 fellow volunteer firefighters to defend the community, and who also recently travelled to the Legislature to demand answers for the Sask. Party’s failures, told the Official Opposition his PST bill will be $28,650.
McPhail also called Buckley Belanger, federal MP for Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, over the weekend to advocate for removing the GST from wildfire-related construction labour and the MP said it was something worth looking into and that he would raise it with the responsible ministers.
The bills of wildfire victims are attached to this news release. To request the contact information of the wildfire evacuees, please contact
[email protected].