The NDP opposition highlighted what they said were gaping holes in the Sask. Party鈥檚 budget, branding the government鈥檚 paperwork as inadequate on Monday, June 29.
The NDP decided the provincial government鈥檚 budget had failed to meet the essential qualifications needed by the residents of Saskatchewan.
NDP Leader Ryan Meili described the budget as a distraction intended to shield the governing Saskatchewan Party from severe uncertainties about their future after the next election.聽
鈥淪askatchewan people expected the government to come back with a recovery plan. After three months of work, the Sask. Party showed up with nothing but a cut-and-paste rehash of the same budget they tried to present in March,鈥� Meili said. 鈥淔rom students to seniors to small-business owners, this document is fundamentally disconnected with the reality Saskatchewan people are facing.鈥澛�
The gaps in the budget as stressed by the NDP failed to incorporate projections past the end of this fiscal year, which should have revealed how the government planned to balance the province鈥檚 expenses.
The NDP also said the government didn鈥檛 allow for available funding to address understaffing and the quality of care for seniors in the province鈥檚 long-term care facilities.
The government鈥檚 reopening plan for schools was also deemed as incomplete and underfunded by the Legislative Opposition.
The NDP further stated the provincial budget neglected to provide satisfactory funding for childcare needs.
Adding to their list of complaints, the NDP claimed the benchmarks demanded for government supports to aid small business were overtly strict.聽
鈥淚f this is their pre-election budget, just imagine the world of hurt they have planned if they鈥檙e re-elected,鈥� said NDP Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon. 鈥淲e know they鈥檙e working from the same old playbook: deep cuts to our services, selling off our Crowns and tax hikes for working people. We need a government that will kick-start our recovery 鈥� not leave us stuck in a recession.鈥�
