REGINA, Sask. – Opposition critic Trent Wotherspoon blasted the government Thursday after their Q1 financial update revealed a deficit of $825 million, up from the $819 million projected in the spring budget
"Well, again, here today we see the Sask Party government has no fiscal credibility, no trust with our finances," said Wotherspoon.
He was in particular disbelief that an additional $320 million in revenue from non-renewable resources, mainly a result of the spike in prices due to the war in Iran, had not translated into a reduced deficit.
"Really, what you see in this financial report here today is damning. You have a government that actually has an additional boost of hundreds of millions of dollars from an international conflict, which we've been pointing to, but yet is still growing the deficit, the debt, and not offering an ounce of cost of living relief to the people of this province — people that are in farms and businesses that are paying through the nose at the pumps."
Wotherspoon accused the government of being one that "taxes and squanders, that mismanages the hard-earned dollars of Saskatchewan people and are really sticking Saskatchewan people with the bill for their mismanagement, bankrolling their budgetary mismanagement on the backs of Saskatchewan people."
Wotherspoon also ridiculed Finance Minister Jim Reiter for calling himself a "fiscal conservative."
"I guess there was maybe a bit of humour that the finance minister offered up here today, offering a bit of a laugh. I think he called himself a fiscal conservative here today. Maybe a (Grant) Devine conservative, but certainly not a fiscal conservative or certainly not able to manage our province's finances in a way that are in the interest of Saskatchewan people today or into the future."
Wotherspoon reiterated his party's call that the government utilise those additional oil and gas revenues to "offer a break to people at the pumps, to suspend the gas tax."
"That call stands. People are facing enormous financial pressure, and they shouldn't be bankrolling the mismanagement of this Sask Party government, having that put on their backs. But clearly, when we look at the financial record and the budget record of this government, it's an awful one, and it's one that's coming at a cost to Saskatchewan people."
Wotherspoon particularly pointed to the expenses being $337 million higher than budget.
"The fact that, again, they've missed their budget in a big way on the expense side and can't manage our finances is a concern. The reality is that they're wasting dollars hand over fist, day after day, on project after project, and that all comes at a cost to Saskatchewan people. And you certainly see that in this report here, where you have $300 million more rolling in in unplanned revenues, but a government that's still growing the deficit, growing the debt, and not offering any savings to Saskatchewan people."
Wotherspoon also pointed to the need for cost of living relief in general, not just at the pump.
"Everything from housing to power to groceries, everything's gone up. People are feeling pressure. Many of those things have gone up right across this country. Other provinces, other provincial governments have acted…
"We've called for the suspension of that gas tax. That call stands. People need a break. And we also stand by the calls where the PST needs to be removed from basic groceries and kids' clothes. These are essentials for families that are working so damned hard just to make ends meet. Many families right now that are working really hard to get kids with the supplies they need and some clothing to get back to school. And instead we have a government that's incredibly out of touch with the cost of living and continues to stick Saskatchewan people, families, farms and businesses with the cost of their mismanagement."
Trade dispute also on Wotherspoon's mind
Wotherspoon also blasted Premier Scott Moe's response Wednesday to the latest tariffs from US President Donald Trump, with Moe once again resisting NDP calls to remove US liquor from Saskatchewan store shelves. Instead, the Moe government is imposing a 50 per cent counter levy on US alcohol.
"We've been calling on this Premier to step up and be a full partner as part of Team Canada and to enact measures like pulling U.S. booze off the shelf," Wotherspoon said.
"We haven't seen that. He's been slow to respond, weak in his response. And we see half measures. We think it's irresponsible for this Premier to take potential tools off the table."
As for Moe's opposition to export taxes on potash and oil and gas, Wotherspoon indicated he also did not believe export taxes were the way to go.
"We don't believe now is the time for export taxes to be imposed," Wotherspoon said. "But when you're in a trade war, there's something about not showing your cards and keeping your powder dry and working together as a full member of Team Canada with the full interests of Saskatchewan people in mind. The Premier and the Sask Party have been really weak in face of these tariffs. They haven't stepped up as a full member of Team Canada and they haven't taken steps like other provinces have that can send a message and have some impact, which would be taking booze off the shelves. Instead, we see inconsistent actions, slow responses and half measures like this."
