SFL Responds to Provincial Budget

Saskatchewan Federation of Labour

March 23, 2011

GOVERNMENT FAILS TO ADDRESS ISSUES IMPORTANT TO SASKATCHEWAN FAMILIES

The Saskatchewan Provincial budget, released today, clearly demonstrates poor priorities on the part of the provincial government. The government clearly missed opportunities to improve the standard of living for many Saskatchewan people and to ensure the prosperity of the province is preserved well into the future.

“The budget is a disappointment considering all of the resources that our province currently has available,” said Larry Hubich, President of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour. “The gap between the rich and the poor in our province is widening at an alarming rate, and the government doesn’t seem interested in addressing the problem.”

The budget fails to make meaningful contributions in a number of areas. For example, affordable housing initiatives and childcare measures are underfunded by a wide margin. Post-secondary tuition fees are slated to increase across the province as a result of underfunding and very little is done to encourage participation of First Nations and Métis people in our economy.

“At a time when our province is projected to lead the nation in economic growth, the government has decided to reduce the amount to which businesses in our province contribute to our economy through taxes,” said Hubich. “What’s even more puzzling is the fact that business contributions are being reduced while the overall debt in our province is increasing by half of a billion dollars.”

“At a time when we, as a province, have such great resources at our disposal - resources to provide for the less fortunate, to improve provincial childcare, and to save for the future – our government has chosen not to pursue a number of initiatives important to the people of the province.”