Local NDP leaders criticize 2017 budget

Two local members of the legislative assembly (MLA) from the official opposition said the budget tabled today by Brad Wall’s Saskatchewan Party will hurt the province’s most vulnerable residents.

Nicole Rancourt, NDP MLA for Prince Albert Northcote, was vocally critical of the Sask. Party’s cut-heavy budget, which she said puts the burden on families to make up the provincial deficit.

“It’s pretty clear that the Sask. Party is making Saskatchewan families pay for the government’s mismanagement, scandal and waste,” Rancourt told paNOW. “It’s going to be the most vulnerable people in this province that are going to have to pay much more, and they’re already struggling to make ends meet.”

Rancourt said the increased taxes will create more expenses for homeowners and renters, and the loss of PST exemption on things like children’s clothing will come as another blow to families.

Although the budget allowed for an additional $113 million for social services and assistance funding, Rancourt said the increase was actually a negative sign for the province’s economy.

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“The increase to the social services budget is due to the fact that there’s more people actually utilizing social services. None of the benefits have actually increased,” Rancourt said. “This is actually a sad news story.”

The local effects of the budget, Rancourt said, will be “devastating,” as no money was put aside for hospital renovation or replacement or new bridge construction.

“We didn’t see any money for Prince Albert for any infrastructure,” she said. “Prince Albert was ignored and lost in this budget once again.”

Athabasca MLA Buckley Belanger said the budget will do serious damage to Saskatchewan’s northern residents.

“I see no commitment from Brad Wall and company,” Belanger said in a phone interview. “This is a government which has made the decision that they’re not going to invest in northern and aboriginal communities.”

The loss of STC, Belanger said, will hit the North particularly hard, as the Crown corporation provided much-needed transportation services for students and seniors at reasonable rates.

With no additional funding in the budget to address the recent youth suicide crisis, Belanger said the Sask. Party has failed to live up to the calls to action put forward by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

“All the cuts that they’ve implemented certainly do not complement the direction and recommendations behind the TRC,” Belanger said.

–With files from Bryan Eneas

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TMacPhersonNews