New Democratic Party
The Saskatchewan NDP criticized the government for not having any cost-of-relief measures in the provincial budget, such as a temporary reduction on the 15 cent a litre PST on fuel purchases.
“The Sask Party had a real chance to show that they are listening and get the challenges folks are going through, and they blew it,” said NDP leader Carla Beck. “Families are breaking the bank just to fill their tank.”
Rather than making life more affordable, Bech says the government is making it more expensive by collecting an additional $476.1 million in provincial sales tax this year, an increase of 17.5 per cent from last year.
The NDP says the government ignored the idea of a health care task force proposed by nurses, the Paramedic Association’s idea of Ambulance Act reform, and the Grow-Your-Own healthcare strategy proposed by nurse practitioners.
Progressive Conservative Party
PC Party leader Rose Buscholl says although billions of dollars in new funding were announced today, the Sask Party has few realistic means to pay for it all. A news release continues that there were record high investments in both education and healthcare, however “little time was spent on seriously laying out how to pay for it all.”
Saskatchewan United Party
The Sask United Party does not condone the 2024-25 provincial budget, calling it a continuation of the Sask Party’s ‘wreck and neglect’. A release from the party says since Scott Moe became premier, his spending habits have imposed $2.4 billion in new taxes on Saskatchewan citizens, all while promising tax relief. The release adds that this budget puts already-struggling households in even more of a pinch at a time of rapid inflation.
Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark
Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark says the budget did not include many items that were not previously announced, but he was happy to money allocated for a new high school on the east side of the city.
“The announcements for the joint high school site and elementary school in Brighton, it’s going to be very important, although we’re going to need more schools announced right away, in particular elementary, to meet the incredible demand that we have right now in our system.”
Clark says he is pleased the budget contains new money for 150 addiction treatment spaces, however it’s unclear how the budget will improve the city’s homeless situation.
NSBA: Saskatoon’s Business Association
The NSBA appreciates that no new taxes or increased taxes were announced for businesses in today’s 2024-25 budget reveal. It also is pleased that the net debt-to-GDP projection is at 14%, which is the second lowest among all provinces.
Keith Moen, NSBA Executive Director, applauds the province for not “pandering to the public with pre-election promises that would have resulted in an event larger deficit.”
Canadian Taxpayers Federation
Another Saskatchewan budget with a deficit is not going over well with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
CTF Prairie Gage Haubrich says more number crunching was needed in the budget making process.
“Out of all of the main spending areas that the province has, they are only decreasing spending in one. If the government would have just sat down at the budget table, took a couple extra days to find the extra $270 million in savings, we could have had a balanced budget right now, but the government refuses to do that. Now Saskatchewan taxpayers are paying for it,” Haubrich states.
Haubrich gives the government credit for freezing the small business tax rate for an additional year. He also says families needed relief as well and there was none in the budget.
Saskatchewan School Boards Association
The SSBA is pleased with the budget announced today, calling it “the kind of budget we need to see on a regular basis to ensure stability.” Jaimie Smith-Windsor, president of the SSBA, says the budget acknowledges enrolment growth, inflationary costs, non-teacher salaries, rising costs of fuel, and includes unprecedented plans for multi-year funding.
Saskatchewan’s Urban Municipalities Association
SUMA says although they recognize the province’s efforts to maintain key operating funding and increasing investments in healthcare infrastructure, they are disappointed in the decrease to transportation infrastructure for our northern communities. They are also disappointed in the state of several collaborative funding models, particularly those connected mental health and addictions and affordable housing.
Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber says that today’s budget focused on providing investments in healthcare and education, however it overlooked providing new measures to support small business job creators in the province, and help them access capital, cut costs, and grow. CEO Jason Aebig says “business resilience is being tested as operating costs continue to rise unchecked.”
However, the Chamber welcomes the freezing of the small business corporate income tax rate at 1% until June 30, 2025. A release from the chamber states that the province breaking $340.2 million in municipal revenue sharing is also welcome news.
