After the announcement of a projected deficit budget by the end of the year, which is $1.3 billion behind its budget projections, NDP Leader Carla Beck says, “Once again, they’ve squandered a boom.” She suggests instead of growing the economy, the government has become more and more dependent on hiking taxes.

Beck says the Saskatchewan Revenue Agency will cost taxpayers about $10 million annually and local businesses an estimated $16 million. She emphasizes that this is a service the federal government already provides for free. The Opposition Leader says since the Sask. Party took office; they have tripled the provincial debt.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is concerned by the mid-year deficit announced by the Government of Saskatchewan. CTF Prairie Director Gage Haubrich says, “The government failed to prepare for a downturn and now taxpayers are paying for it.” He notes that the government says most of the increased spending is being of crop insurance claims, but Haubrich points to a $450 million increase in spending in other departments, including $45 million in “General Government” spending.
Taxpayer-supported debt is now projected to increase by $18.9 billion by the end of the year, which is an $800 million increase compared to budget in the spring.