Halfway through the year, Saskatchewan Finance Minister Jim Reiter is projecting a year-end budget deficit of $427-million, a far cry from the $12-million surplus forecast in the spring budget.  That is also higher than the $349-million deficit contained in the first-quarter update.

The provincial government has spent more money than anticipated on fighting wildfires and on health care.

Reiter said lower and oil gas prices have had a negative impact on the bottom line, while U.S. and Chinese export tariffs have had marginal impacts to date.

The issue was front and centre during Tuesday’s Question Period, starting with NDP Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon.

This was the reply with Reiter referencing an earlier NDP news conference with the Canadian Union of Public Employees that called for more money for K-12 education.

You can check out the two main charts from the mid-year financial report below: