SASKATOON — Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck hit back at Scott Moe, her Saskatchewan Party counterpart, regarding financial issues, adding that she won’t take any advice from the head of a provincial government that incurred deficits and added more debt.
Moe, the Saskatchewan Party Leader and Rosthern-Shellbrook candidate, has criticized Beck and the NDP on a $3 billion uncosted commitment on their platform if they get to form a government on Oct. 28.
Beck, however, countered Moe’s comments, saying the NDP presented a fully costed plan that everyone can access. Former SaskTel President Ron Styles, who held senior positions in the provincial government, serves as a senior advisor in the party.
“I expect people will scrutinize it. We stand behind the plan. Our advisor, Ron Stiles, served for five years as this province's deputy finance minister. [Styles] has been prominent in helping us set that out, and [we’re] standing behind those numbers; you know I'll take no advice from Scott Moe and the Sask. Party on finances. This is a government that blew its budget by $9.4 billion,” said Beck.
“They were off on costs over the last four years. This is a premier who, in six short years, has added more debt to the Saskatchewan people than any other premier in the history of this province. This government promised tax cuts on the eve of the last two elections, bringing in the biggest tax hike in Saskatchewan's history.”
The NDP said the provincial debt was $10.2B when Brad Wall became premier in 2007, and it had increased by $7.4B since then. Since taking over in 2018, Moe has added $14B, bringing the provincial debt to $31.6B, compared to former premiers Lorne Calvert and Roy Romanow, who both paid down debt over their terms.
They added that Saskatchewan's standard of living, the GDP per capita, dropped for the first time since the Great Depression under Moe, and the province had the second-lowest growth among other jurisdictions of the country.
Beck said the Saskatchewan Party increased fees and taxes 31 times after the 2020 election. She previously stated that the province has no revenue problem but proper government resource spending.
“I will take no advice from Scott Moe or the Saskatchewan Party; all our platform items, including those that have yet to be announced, are fully costed. That plan is available for people to look at. It invests in what Saskatchewan people need and wants us to invest in,” said Beck.
“It's a plan to get us back to balance and ensure that all sectors of the economy are thriving in this province. We're proud of our plan being built with the Saskatchewan people. I will take no advice from Scott Moe and the Saskatchewan Party regarding managing finances. Their record speaks for itself.”
The NDP added that the provincial government had only two balanced budgets under Moe and had run four deficits. Saskatchewan, based on data released by then-Minister of Finance Donna Harpauer in August, has a projected deficit of $354 million for 2024-2025, up $80.6M from $273.2M in spring. Harpauer added that the province is still on track for a small surplus.
Matt Love, Saskatchewan NDP’s candidate for Saskatoon Eastview, said the document breaks down their campaign promises, including tax relief measures and relief in other areas where the Saskatchewan Party has made life more expensive.
“Like your grocery bill or when you buy clothes for your kids, which is not a luxury. That's a necessity. All of these cost-of-living measures and our investments are fully costed. We're transparent about everything we're proposing to show people we can afford better. We need a government that cares and will do better for the people of Saskatchewan,” said Love.
