To the Editor:
The Green Party of Saskatchewan thinks the latest provincial budget misses the mark in terms of balancing revenues and expenses with needs and priorities. There is too much 'boom' spending in this budget.
There is a big difference between ensuring adequate core spending in government, and extravagant overspending. Given all of the new spending in the budget, we would ask why is Saskatchewan suffering from homelessness and poverty? Here are some suggestions for Finance Minister Ken Krawetz to consider when preparing future budgets:
Reduction of the PST from 5 to 4 percent,
Reduce or eliminate all spending on government advertising except for emergency items,
Eliminate the Ministry of the Provincial Secretary and fold it into the Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs,
Lay out a plan to eliminate the remaining provincial debt over several years.
Budget $90-million to create much needed social housing.
Expand SAID program to become universal as a key approach to eliminating poverty.
These are just some ideas. If time permitted, our party would roll out many more cost savings and better ways to create a more caring and sharing province.
Victor Lau, Leader of the Green Party of Saskatchewan, Regina, SK.
