Sask. NDP Leader Ryan Meili is critical of the province's updated 2020-2021 budget, saying it doesn't invest where it should. Jun. 15, 2020 (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

By CJME News

NDP says Sask. budget lacks a recovery plan

Jun 15, 2020 | 5:52 PM

The Saskatchewan NDP says the budget is nothing more than a ‘pre-election placeholder’ that does nothing to show how the government intends to get the province back on track from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 budget shows a $2.4 billion deficit forecast for the 2020-21 fiscal year, largely due to the pandemic.

“This is not a plan,” NDP leader Ryan Meili said. “This budget shows that Premier Moe has no idea how to bring about a recovery that works for people. There’s nothing here for seniors, nothing for childcare, no money for safely reopening and resourcing schools for a pandemic, failing per-student funding for students, and commitment to hiring Saskatchewan workers and Saskatchewan companies to build our infrastructure.”

The budget also does not include the typical long-term projections or predictions for what a surplus or deficit might look like in years from now.

Which the NDP says is an ominous sign.

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“This is an unprecedented economic time, people deserve straight talk, accurate information, and a real plan,” said finance critic Trent Wotherspoon. “Instead, the Sask. Party is hiding much of the budget, once again. It’s no coincidence that this is the shortest budget this government has presented. Not only is there no plan for a recovery, but no projections beyond the current year. We know what that means: if given the chance, next year it’ll be knives for public services, and our cherished Crowns on the auction block.”

The NDP released its own people-first recovery plan last week which focused on people and local economies but provided no details on how much this plan would cost.