At mid-year, the Sask. Party’s bogus budget went from a narrow surplus to a massive $427-million deficit and a billion dollars of new debt. The $654 million of additional unbudgeted spending could put the deficit at $1 billion or more.
“This is a tax and squander government, and with Scott Moe at the wheel, these guys are spending like drunken sailors,” said Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck.
“Scott Moe and his ministers are spending more and more every day, and the people of Saskatchewan are getting less and less in return.”
“We've seen this movie before. Power bills and auto insurance are already going up, and higher taxes and fees and service cuts won't be far behind at this rate. The people of Saskatchewan are going to foot the bill for Scott Moe’s mismanagement.”
After eight years of Scott Moe, the debt has doubled to nearly $40 billion and is on track to reach $57 billion by 2028-29, according to analysis by the Official Opposition. For context, Moe’s debt pile is nearly double that racked up by former conservative Premier Grant Devine and nearly three times that tallied by Brad Wall.
Saskatchewan’s per-capita debt — each citizen’s share of the provincial debt — has now risen to $28,534.
“This tired and out-of-touch government promised a $12-million surplus at budget time, and now they are on track to blow that by a billion dollars,” Beck said.
“This government was dishonest with the people of Saskatchewan and they’ve broken their promise of a balance budget. The people of Saskatchewan deserve the straight goods — open the books and release the third quarter financials immediately instead of hiding them in the next budget release.
“How big is the deficit? The people of Saskatchewan deserve to know. It’s time for change.”
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