The Saskatchewan NDP is saying that the province should have used the money it received from the landmark tobacco settlement in early March to bolster cancer care instead of paying down some of its deficit.

At its third-quarter update, the province projected a $660 million deficit, but in the last three months, that number improved by over $400 million with the addiction of the settlement money, which was originally forecast to be $700,000. More may still be on the way in coming years.

On March 10th, Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said the new funds would support cancer care and prevention efforts. Now, the opposition is joining the Saskatchewan Government & General Employees’ Union in saying “They’ve using funding that should be going to improve healthcare to soften the political blow on themselves. Keith Jorgenson, Saskatchewan NDP Associate Critic for health says it’s shameful