SASKATCHEWAN FAMILIES HIT WITH HIGHEST FOOD PRICE INCREASES IN COUNTRY, YET SASK. PARTY CONTINUES TO PILE ON CRUEL TAXES

Rent Continues To Skyrocket Too as Saskatchewan NDP Prepares Legislation In Response

REGINA – The Saskatchewan NDP is demanding an immediate end to the Sask. Party tax on groceries as new data reveals families in the province were hit with the biggest increase in the cost of food in August.

The data, published by Statistics Canada, found that food prices jumped 4.9 per cent in Saskatchewan since last year, well above the 3.8 per cent national average and the province with the second-highest growth at 4.1 per cent.

Still, despite these crushing costs, the Sask. Party balked at demands in Question Period Thursday by Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck to cut the tax on groceries, which costs families $25 million annually.

“This government doesn’t care about families being forced to choose between buying food or paying their rent,” Beck said. “After 18 years of Sask. Party failures, we hear from people every day struggling to make ends meet. This is a government focused on lining the pockets of their friends and insiders all the while piling tens of millions in taxes onto everyday people who can’t afford it.

“I am here to say today that we won’t stop fighting for those people and demanding every day that the Sask. Party axes its cruel grocery tax.”

Recent Angus Reid data found that Saskatchewan has the highest financial anxiety in Canada, as two-thirds of people reported being unable to afford their bills and more than half say they can’t afford to feed their families.

As well, on top of food costs, the rate of rent in Saskatchewan has risen dramatically at three times that of inflation — the province has seen eight-straight months of rent increases. In response, the Saskatchewan NDP plans to introduce rent control legislation during the Fall Sitting.

“We’re focused on building a bright future where every person in Saskatchewan has a safe and comfortable place to call home,” said April ChiefCalf, Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Minister for Housing.

“Rent control is needed to start cleaning up the 18-year mess caused by the Sask. Party, which hasn’t built housing and has allowed corporate landlords to buy up available properties and jack up the rents on tenants. This is cruel and wrong and we’re going to put a stop to it.”

Saskatchewan people supporting rent control are welcome to share their stories at RentControlNow.ca
  
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