Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon

 

The NDP are not at all pleased with the 2012 Provincial Budget presented Wednesday afternoon in Regina saying people are going to be left behind as a result of cuts and belt tightening.

Finance Minister Ken Krawetz said the province is using controlled spending now to make sure Saskatchewan can continue to benefit into the future. Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon called the budget a great disappointment, saying the budget reaches directly into the pockets of seniors, students and families.

"These cuts will result in growing pressures in every household and while these cuts are being exacted, the government moves forward with it's plan to add three more politicians. While seniors are being asked to reach deep into their pockets for an extra five dollars for each and every prescription that they need, the budget manages to find room for a new statue at the Legislature."

The extra five dollars that Wotherspoon pointed to is in reference to the cap on the Prescription Drug Plan being raised from 15 dollars to 20. At the same time, the cost for the Senior Citizen's Ambulance Assistance Plan is going up by $25 per trip to $275.

As expected, Wotherspoon explained the NDP would not be supporting the budget. "We think people expected better. We think this is not the budget that people voted for in November and we know that Saskatchewan people deserve better."

Whether or not the NDP support the budget doesn't really matter when it comes to getting it passed.  The Saskatchewan Party controls 49 out of the 58 seats in the Legislature.  Debate on the budget will resume on Monday as MLAs start going through page by page.

NDP Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon responds to the budget