'More on the back of taxpayers': Sask. hears calls to decrease debt ahead of provincial budget

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) and Sask. NDP are calling on the government to halt potential increases to the province's debt in its upcoming budget.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) and Sask. NDP are calling on the government to halt potential increases to the province’s debt in its upcoming budget.

On Monday, the CTF parked its debt clock in front of the legislature as the called for the provincial government to balance its budget this year.

“Every year the government fails to balance the budget, the debt increases,” said Prairie Director Gage Haubrich. “It puts more on the back of tax payers.”

The Saskatchewan Party government last presented a balanced budget in 2022, but have not had consecutive balanced budgets since 2013 through 2015.

“Saskatchewanians balance their household budgets every single month,” said Haubrich. “And they’re making sure all the necessities are taken care of.”

According to a mid-year fiscal review in November 2023, the province’s gross debt was almost $32 billion.

“This year, the government is spending $640 million on interest on that debt,” Haubrich explained. “That’s money that can’t be used for tax relief or programs.”