Although the reaction to the 2012 budget has been largely positive, the opposition NDP is clearly less than impressed with the document Finance Minister Ken Krawetz delivered last Wednesday in the provincial legislature.
In an interview with The Mercury Friday, NDP finance critic Trent Wotherspoon said the budget is clear proof the Sask. Party government has chosen politicians over people.
"They are choosing to spend millions of dollars to increase the number of politicians in the province but then are asking Saskatchewan seniors and families to pay the price for it," Wotherspoon said.
"It's prosperity if you will, for the premier's office and for building, if you can imagine, a statue at the legislature, and spending millions to increase the number of politicians, but when it comes down to what matters for everyday families across the province, it's them paying the price."
Wotherspoon said seniors are taking an especially hard hit in the budget as the cap on prescription drugs has gone up from $15 to $20 per purchase. He said although a $5 increase sounds modest enough, it is very tough on seniors who require multiple prescriptions throughout the year. He was also concerned about increases to special care home fees as well as the increase in ambulance fees.
The NDP are also concerned about cuts that could have a negative impact on Saskatchewan families, notably in the areas of health and education.
"We are quite concerned about the reduction in the classroom and in health services. Part of the problem here is these cuts and reductions will be rolled out throughout the year and made at the level of school boards and health regions. So what it has done is create a real uneasiness across communities and has people looking across their neighbourhoods and wondering about what the impact will be. Is it going to be a reduction of support in the classroom; is it going to be a school closure; is it going to be a reduction in the health services they depend on; is it going to be their own job?"
Asked if there was anything in the budget the NDP liked, Wotherspoon said there were some positive steps for seniors. However those positives were undone by increases in other areas.
"I know there was some mention of a program for seniors that I thought sounded positive and might put a couple of extra bucks back in their pocket, but then we look at what they are taking away and the impact is a negative one. They give with one hand but then they take, take, take with the other."
Wotherspoon added last week's budget is not what voters signed on for last year when they gave the Sask. Party an overwhelming mandate.
"What we see in this budget was never mentioned in the election campaign such as spending millions on politicians and cutting health services or charging seniors more. What we believe is when we are doing well as a province, when we are prospering, when we have economic activity that is positive and people moving to the province we should be doing a better job of making sure that we are meeting the needs, challenges and opportunities of Saskatchewan people.
"It doesn't make any sense and it doesn't add up that at a time of prosperity to be making cuts of the nature that we see that hit everyday families."
