The Editor:
The Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation has come forward to say the provincial budget is a deficit budget.
Bond-rating agency Standard and Poor’s also calls the Sask. Party’s 2015-16 budget a deficit.
The Sask. Party calls it something else. Kevin Doherty wrote in a recent letter to the editor that it’s more like he’s taking out a “mortgage” on the province.
Spin aside, this year the government plans to spend $700 million more than it will bring in, and save nothing. This will push the province’s total debt to $13.3 billion, an alarming increase of almost $5 billion, just since 2011.
That’s a shocking amount of debt. For me, what’s most shocking is that it was racked up during a time of record resource revenue and we have very little to show for it.
Here’s what should be cut: the massive 227 per cent increase in spending for private consultants — nearly $200 million being spent every year; the ongoing John Black Lean program spending — well over $100 million has been spent; the multi-million dollar settlement for the over $200 million failed and flaming smart meter program; the much more costly P3 scheme as opposed to the common-sense and affordable alternative; and cancelling the three more MLA positions this government is adding.
By cutting government waste we can balance the budget once again, invest in what really matters like emergency rooms and classrooms, and we can start investing in a long-term savings fund. That is something we should have done long ago.
Trent Wotherspoon
MLA Regina Rosemont
Note: Wotherspoon is the finance critic for the official opposition in provincial legislature.
