Saskatchewan Party platform focuses on a balanced budget

The Saskatchewan Party has released its platform for the Oct. 26 provincial election.

Gathering metres away from the Saskatchewan NDP’s party platform launch at River Landing in Saskatoon, leader Scott Moe approached the podium inside Remai Modern art museum to tout the province’s economic recovery and response to COVID-19 before laying out his party’s vision for the next four years.

“We have a plan for a strong recovery,” party leader Scott Moe said in a media release Friday. “We have a plan to make life more affordable — for students, seniors, families, homeowners and everyone …

“Our plan means a strong economy, strong communities and strong families, and together, that means a strong Saskatchewan.”

Staying true to party history, Moe used the platform launch to largely focus on the economy and further commit to eliminating the $2.1 billion provincial deficit to balance the provincial budget by 2024-25.

“We’re very confident,” Moe said of the province’s goal to eliminate the deficit.

A highlight of platform costs released in the Saskatchewan Party 2020 platform.

According to the release, the cost of the platform is $93 million in the current fiscal year, $345.3 million in 2021-22, $205.3 million in 2022-23, $123.6 million in 2023-24 and $81.6 million in 2024-25.

So far in the campaign, the Sask. Party has announced a home renovation tax credit, a reduction in taxes for small businesses, the restoration of the Active Families Benefit and assistance for seniors.

The most expensive facet of the platform — the 10 per cent rebate on SaskPower bills, would cost $87.2 million this year and an additional $174.4 million in 2021-22. A home renovation tax credit is expected to cost $68.9 million next budget year and another $55.1 million in 2021-22.

Alternatively, revenue, a key component to balance any budget, is expected to grow by nearly $3 billion.

“We’re as confident, I would say, as anyone in the country in these revenue projections,” Moe said.

An outlook of revenue and expenses provided in a Saskatchewan Party media release.

However, Moe refused to answer any questions about possible spending cuts or tax hikes should the revenue projections change.

“I am not going to answer a hypothetical,” he said. “We are confident of the numbers we have put forward to the people of this province.”

Donna Harpauer, the Saskatchewan Party Humboldt-Watrous candidate who previously served as finance minister, said the increased revenues are reliant on non-renewable resource revenue, taxation and federal transfer history over the next four years.

According to the platform, the deficit would dwindle down each year until reaching a $43.4 million surplus in 2024-25.

“Job numbers are out today — 6.8 per cent in unemployment rate. We are leading the nation in the unemployment rate. The recovery is underway,” Moe said.

Moe also attacked the NDP and its leadership record when it was the governing party from 1991 to 2007.

“We have a record of growth, they have a record of decline. We can’t change their record — that’s their record,” Moe said when asked if it’s useful to criticize a party that hasn’t governed in 13 years.

A pamphlet outlining the party’s major items and promises will be mailed to every home in the province in the coming days.

The full platform document appears below.