Government paying price for difficult decisions, Wall says
Premier Brad Wall says he knew the Sask. Party’s budget would be unpopular and acknowledges a new poll “certainly points to such a decline for our party.”
Wall responded in a Facebook post Thursday to a Mainstreet/ Postmedia poll showing his Sask. Party is dropping in popularity.
The poll shows 49 per cent of decided and leaning voters would vote for the NDP, putting them nine points ahead of the 40 per cent support for the Sask. Party.
In Regina, the NDP is dominating the polls with 58 per cent of decided or leaning voters saying they would support that party, while 29 per cent would choose the Sask. Party. In Saskatoon, the NDP maintained an edge with 46 per cent to 42 for the Sask. Party. Support for the NDP in the rest of Saskatchewan is also increasing, as the two parties are now tied at 46 per cent (due to incorrect number provided to the Leader-Post the wrong figures for the rest of Saskatchewan appeared in Thursday ’s newspaper).
“Everyone at the cabinet table knew the impact these decisions would have for your pocketbook and your family. Even with the largest personal and property tax reductions in Saskatchewan history since we came to office, these changes still mean many families have to adjust their personal budgets,” Wall wrote in the post.
He says the province needed to adjust to low resource prices and “that’s why we’re controlling spending, reducing our reliance on resource revenues and returning the budget to balance in three years with measures to keep our economy strong.”
Saskatchewan currently has a $1.3-billion deficit and the budget, and through significant spending cuts aims to reduce that to $685 million next year before bringing the books to balance before the next election.
“This budget ensures we can continue to provide the core public services you and your family rely on for the short and long term. I remain confident that we made the right decisions — difficult but necessary decisions — to ensure we see a significant improvement in the province’s finances, Saskatchewan’s economy and the future of every family across our great province,” Wall wrote.
NDP MLA Carla Beck — who many are speculating will run for the party’s leadership — said the polling reflects what her caucus colleagues have been hearing around the province: “There is a lot of frustration with the government.”
She said the party will continue to travel around the province listening to Saskatchewan people so the NDP will “have a good understanding of the realities they are facing and bring their voices forward in the media and the legislative assembly.”
According to Beck, Saskatchewan people are “feeling a sense of betrayal from the provincial government” because they were not told the truth about the province’s finances during last year’s provincial election.