Carla Beck’s team voted against the budget, which contains nothing to make life more affordable, flatlines healthcare funding, spends three times the amount on the debt as on police and cuts capital that will delay much-needed school projects, while Moe rams through a new building in his hometown.
“This budget is bad news and the people of Saskatchewan are going to pay for it in so many ways,” said Carla Beck, Saskatchewan NDP Leader. “The people of this province deserve a government that’s listening to their very real concerns and that is budgeting to address major issues while setting us up for a bright future.
“What a shameful display by Scott Moe to turn his back on so many people who have spoken out against the decisions his government is making since the budget was released one week ago.”
Moe has rejected calls to cut the fuel tax and his tax on groceries, while ramming through hikes to power rates, car insurance rates, costs for hunting and fishing, for vehicle registration and so much more.
He claims to be investing in patients, but Saskatchewan is actually losing frontline physicians. The health budget increase — a measly 0.3 per cent — doesn’t even provide additional funding transferred by the federal government to the overrun frontlines.
“Scott Moe and his Health Minister congratulate themselves daily while doing nothing to fix healthcare,” said Meara Conway, Health Shadow Minister. “No one else is celebrating — in fact, the daily stories we hear from the frontlines of Saskatchewan healthcare are absolutely heartbreaking.”
Moe’s own Education Minister has said schools will be delayed by the budget; however, the Premier has denied that — and then refused Wednesday to answer questions about those delays or face the media.
“Scott Moe’s terrible decisions will make Saskatchewan’s kids pay the price,” said Matt Love, Education Shadow Minister. “He should be releasing the list of schools delayed by this bad news budget. If you’re going to cut public education — at least face the people of this province and account for the damage you’re doing.”
Moe has racked the province’s debt up to $43 billion and climbing. This year alone, $1.2 billion will be sent to bankers on Bay Street and Wall Street to pay the interest to service that debt.
“Scott Moe has dug a massive fiscal hole that people are paying the price for on front after front,” Trent Wotherspoon, Finance Shadow Minister. “If given the duty and privilege to serve, we will start on Day 1 of a Carla Beck government fixing this financial mess. We will put an end to unprecedented waste and mismanagement. We will crack open the books, right so many wrongs and deliver the value-for-money people deserve.”
Beck said her team will continue to work around the clock to fight back against the cruel and harmful cuts and decisions contained in Moe’s bad news budget.
“We don’t have to settle for this,” she said. “The people of Saskatchewan have a choice and we hear from more of them each and every day.
“My message to every person that loves this province is this — we can take a stand for what’s right, for the Saskatchewan we want to build for the future. It’s time for change.”
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