I鈥檓 glad to see that the NDP have taken the time to write into the Assiniboia Times, or at least one of their Regina staff members has.
After supporting the carbon tax, their deafening silence on the federal gun grab and lack of rural policies, I thought they had forgotten about rural Saskatchewan.
The NDP鈥檚 agriculture critic, Yens Pedersen, challenged me about whether I care about the people of rural Saskatchewan and supporting farmers.
I take pride in having been a farmer all my life and advocating for many years on behalf of agriculture producers in this province.
I found it ironic that the NDP would be commenting on agriculture in Saskatchewan, when for 17 years they did nothing to support producers in this province.
Under the NDP, 31 agriculture service centres were closed and services to the agriculture community were cut.
I also find it difficult to believe that the NDP will do anything to help rural Saskatchewan because of their support for the federal carbon tax.聽
During our annual Ministry of Agriculture estimates this year, the NDP agriculture critic asked; 鈥淚f a farmer is paying an extra thousand dollars in carbon tax, does it matter whether it鈥檚 carbon tax or an extra thousand dollars on something else that doesn鈥檛 bring a return back to the farm?鈥澛�
I assured my colleague the carbon tax matters greatly to our Saskatchewan producers. Producers in this province have no one to pass the cost of the carbon tax onto and I was shocked to hear such a tone-deaf statement from the NDP.
The carbon tax has been a significant challenge for the agriculture sector in this province. I will continue to oppose any tax that provides no benefit to Saskatchewan producers.聽
With the support of rural Saskatchewan, I will continue advocating for the concerns of rural citizens.
I also wanted to respond to the NDP鈥檚 comments on provincial finances, infrastructure and the back and forth between the government and the NDP.
Saskatchewan is the first province in Canada to pass a budget accounting for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Saskatchewan鈥檚 2020 Budget includes record funding for health care, a $7.5B stimulus package to get people back to work and extra funding for municipalities to allow communities to invest in much-needed local infrastructure.
Responsible budgeting previously means Saskatchewan is well-positioned to weather this financial storm.
On infrastructure, Assiniboia and every other municipality in the province is going to benefit from the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program this year. The program gets our trades people back to work and important projects completed. The NDP voted against it.
People will have a choice this fall. Our government has a plan for our economy to recover and grow. The NDP doesn鈥檛 think that is possible 鈥� that the budget can鈥檛 be balanced without tax increases, cuts and closures.
But then again, the NDP has never really believed in Saskatchewan, have they?
