YORKTON - Aleana Young NDP Shadow Minister of Jobs and Economy, SaskPower said this week’s provincial budget was a major disappointment.
Young said it has always been a case of heading into a budget with “a bit of trepidation,” and that was heightened this year given concerns looming in terms of tariffs on Canadian products being imposed by the United States and China.
There was “no contingency plan, no specific measures,” outlined in the Saskatchewan Party budget to help buffer those in Saskatchewan impacted by the tariffs.
“This (budget) wasn’t worth the paper it’s printed on,” Young told Yorkton This Week in a post budget interview.
As for the Saskatchewan Party suggesting a modest surplus in the budget, Young isn’t convinced on that point either.
“They (the Saskatchewan Party) haven’t been able to balance the budget at the best of times,” she said, adding the impact of the tariffs being imposed and threatened by U.S. president Donald Trump make revenue forecasting even more suspect.
In regards to the Trump imposed tariffs the NDP introduced a motion reaffirming Saskatchewan’s commitment to a strong and united Canada while explicitly condemning Trump for attacks on our economy and threats to our sovereignty.
However, in an NDP press release issued Thursday they note that rather than supporting the full motion, the Sask. Party amended it to remove all mention of Trump and explicit criticism of him.
“When you're on the ice, and someone goes after your team, sometimes you drop the gloves. Sometimes your go elbows up,” said Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck in the release.
“This government needs to stand up for Saskatchewan and pick a side. It shouldn’t be so hard for the Sask. Party government to condemn Donald Trump.”
Young said the tariffs said are particularly stressing for Saskatchewan even if largely ignored in the budget.
“We’re an exporting province. We export 70 per cent of what we produce,” she reminded, adding she sees it “as staggering . . . to put out this budget with no recognition of the chaos that is Trump.”
Young said Saskatchewan deserves more.
“During times of chaos people look to leaders to lead,” she said, adding the Saskatchewan Party missed the opportunity to lead with the budget.
So was there anything in the budget Young liked?
A program to help entrepreneurs is a start, but with it only offering $5,000 Young questioned how effective it can be, citing that amount buys little these days in terms of support.
Money for provincial parks also garnered some praise from Young. She said provincial parks “are deeply valued by people” so any dollars invested in them is a good thing.
