Finance Minister Donna Harpauer discusses the 2022-23 budget on March 23, 2022. (Britton Gray/980 CJME)

By 650 CKOM News

Harpauer spent $8K on chartered flight to North Battleford: Report

Jul 18, 2022 | 1:40 PM

Two days after the Saskatchewan government introduced a budget containing tax hikes, Finance Minister Donna Harpauer took a private plane from Regina to North Battleford to attend a luncheon.

The Canadian Press says Harpauer’s recent expenses show she flew on a chartered plane on March 25 from Regina to North Battleford at a cost of nearly $8,000.

Harpauer flew the 400 kilometres to North Battleford to attend a luncheon hosted by the local chamber of commerce.

She wasn’t available for an interview with The Canadian Press, but an emailed statement to the agency from a government spokesman said such tours are a good way to connect with people and provide more detailed information on how the provincial budget is working for them and their community.

In the 2022-23 budget, the Saskatchewan Party government announced a tax hike on properties and smokers and a six per cent provincial sales tax on entertainment, gyms, concerts, museums and sporting events.

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“People are changing their summer plans because they can’t afford gas while the finance minister spends $8,000 on a flight from Regina to North Battleford,” NDP Leader Carla Beck said in a social media post. “If you’re asking folks to tighten their belts, you better practice what you preach.”

In a media release, the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour called the flight “an insult to workers who are struggling to make ends meet.”

“It’s unbelievable that at a time when workers are finding themselves unable to put food on the table, or to fill their cars with gas just to be able to get to work, the Sask. Party has no issue booking private jets and sending Saskatchewan people the bill,” SFL president Lori Johb said in the release.

“The Finance Minister should pay back the cost of the flight and apologize to working people for being so arrogant and out of touch with reality.”

— With files from The Canadian Press