75-Minute Debate (3 April 2025)

From Hansard (3 April 2025)

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Cost of Living and Affordability Measures

The Assembly was debating the following motion moved by Michasel Weger (Sask Party - Weyburn-Bengough):

That this Assembly support the Government of Saskatchewan for its record of consistent and meaningful affordability measures, including but not limited to over $2 billion in affordability measures included with every budget; cutting the carbon tax on everything for everyone; reducing personal income tax by raising the personal, spousal, and dependant child exemptions, and raising the seniors’ supplement by $500; increasing the ability tax credit by 25 per cent; increasing the caregiver tax credit by 25 per cent; increasing monthly income assistance benefits for SAID and SIS clients; increasing the Saskatchewan lowincome tax credit by 20 per cent over the next four years; increasing the personal care home benefit; offering a refundable tax credit of 50 per cent towards fertility treatments; doubling the active families benefit; increasing the graduate retention program’s maximum tax credit by 20 per cent; reinstating the home renovation tax credit; increasing the Saskatchewan first-time homebuyers tax credit; permanently maintaining the small-business tax rate at 1 per cent; and introducing the Saskatchewan class 1 truck driver training rebate program.

Blaine McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now the members opposite criticize our budget every year for this not having any affordability measures — no affordability measures — but that simply is not the case. Our motion outlines just some of the affordability measures that will keep money in the pockets of families and ensure that our province remains one of the most affordable in the nation.

Now to the member from Regina Mount Royal: will you stand and acknowledge today that the over-2 billion in affordability measures embedded in our budget saved families thousands of dollars every year and that those affordability measures offered more for working families compared to your party’s affordability platform?

Trent Wotherspoon: — Thanks for the question. The motion that was brought here today by that Sask Party government, so out of touch, actually says that it had consistent and meaningful affordability measures. We know the reality: $2 billion more in PST on everything from children’s clothes to groceries to restaurants to recreation — $2 billion more. More than $1,000 for each and every household, far surpassing any sort of bits of offerings in this budget. This is a tax-and-squander government that time and time again has stuck Saskatchewan people, who are working so damned hard, with the cost of their mismanagement.