Saskatchewan budget sparks Alberta debate

Wildrose and New Democrats in verbal sparring match after Wednesday’s tabling

Brad Wall’s Saskatchewan has been something of a shining beacon for Alberta’s conservative opposition parties since the NDP won the 2015 election.

A lacklustre budget presented there Wednesday — with a one per cent hike in the provincial sales tax, applying the tax to children’s clothing, and a forecast $685-million deficit — took some of the shine off the supposed fiscal paradise that is Alberta’s eastern neighbour.

Wildrose and Progressive Conservative MLAs have repeatedly applauded Wall on Twitter and stood in the legislature to point to the Saskatchewan Party’s financial sense and how it goes to bat for the oil industry.

In November, speaking against the government’s Diversified Economy Act, Wildrose MLA Don MacIntyre said Wall had a “great deal to brag about.”

“He’s facing the very same kind of price of oil that we are, yet Saskatchewan’s economy is rocking ‘n’ rolling,” MacIntyre said.

The following day, his colleague Scott Cyr, MLA for Bonnyville-Cold Lake, spoke to Saskatchewan’s boom, and on Dec. 6, Leela Aheer said the province’s economic fortunes were “on the way up.”

Wildrose Leader Brian Jean has also jumped on the Saskatchewan bandwagon in the past, praising the Wall government for continuing to attract investors and, earlier this month, for having shorter provincial health-care wait lists than in Alberta.

Premier Rachel Notley was more than happy to point to Saskatchewan’s fall from fiscal grace after Wall released his budget Wednesday, and on Thursday continued her message during question period.

Jean wasn’t having it, calling Notley “hypocritical” for imposing a carbon tax, and accusing her of auditioning for the job of leader of the opposition of Saskatchewan.

In response to fiscal questions from Wildrose finance critic Derek Fildebrandt, Finance Minister Joe Ceci also jumped in, saying even Gainer the Gopher — the beloved mascot of the Saskatchewan Roughriders — isn’t safe from government cuts.

“(Wildrose) would cut many programs and services, just like Saskatchewan talks about,” he said, pointing to 2.6 per cent GDP growth in this province, compared to 0.8 per cent in Saskatchewan.

As for whether Jean will continue to look to Saskatchewan for policy inspiration, he said he will pick the best options for Albertans, no matter where they come from.

(Wildrose) would cut many programs and services, just like Saskatchewan talks about.