Sask. Party leader Scott Moe addressed the province's economic challenges during a campaign stop in Prince Albert Saturday. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Economic recovery plan

Sask.Party commits to temporary reduction in small business tax

Oct 3, 2020 | 12:55 PM

Acknowledging the challenges that exist as a result of COVID-19, Scott Moe is offering temporary relief for small business owners. Moe is promising a tax break until June 2023 to small businesses should the Saskatchewan Party get re-elected on Oct. 26.

Moe made the announcement Saturday morning at the Econo Lumber store in Prince Albert.

“We need to prepare ourselves for when we are actually on the backside of this virus and ensure that our businesses, in particular our small businesses in Saskatchewan, are in healthy financial shape,” he said.

Under the Sask Party’s plan, the small business tax would be reduced from two per cent to zero until July 1, 2022 (retroactive to Oct. 1). This would then be followed by a one per cent increase for the next year, before returning back to its current level on July 1, 2023.

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“We expect this temporary tax break will benefit about 31,000 incorporated small businesses and all the people that they employ. It will provide $189 million in savings to small businesses over the course of four fiscal years,” Moe explained.

When pressed by reporters why he made the announcement in Prince Albert, and whether he considered the riding to be a battleground, Moe explained every area of the province was considered a battleground for the Sask Party in this election. He added the government was working hard to understand the challenges in Prince Albert.

“And to ensure they are working with the government so we can invest to address those challenges,” he said.

Moe re-iterated the Saskatchewan Party remains committed to its Growth Plan goal of adding 100,000 new jobs in Saskatchewan by 2030 and small businesses will play a large part in Saskatchewan meeting that goal.

Moe was joined Saturday by Prince Albert candidates Joe Hargrave and Alana Ross, as well as Meadow Lake candidate Jeremy Harrison, Sask Rivers candidate Nadine Wilson and Delbert Kirsch from Batoche.

Together, they were planning to tour several small businesses throughout the day. Moe was then planning to return to his home riding (Rosthern-Shellbrook) Sunday to officially launch his own campaign office.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell