NDP leader Ryan Meili is hoping northern Saskatchewan is not left out of the upcoming provincial budget.
The opposition leader laid out what he hopes to see in next week’s budget at an event in Saskatoon on Thursday morning.
Meili feels the north has not been a priority in recent Sask. Party budgets, and he is hoping for change.
“For the last few years, we have really seen very little as far as investments in the north go,” he said. “Largely, the north has been ignored.”
The Sask. Party’s provincial budget came under fire last year for several “surprising” cuts, including consolidating NORTEP, cutting the Saskatchewan Transportation Company and reducing funding for cities and libraries.
In the months following, the government retracted many of these cuts and partly restored some of the funding.
Ryan Meili now hopes next week’s budget will avoid cutting finances to the province’s most vulnerable and will focus on wise investments.
“As we look at this year’s budget, we can look at (last year’s budget) and say it didn’t work,” said Meili. “As we come into this budget, we want to see if the government will continue on the same road or will we see some wise investments.”
“When you make these investments, the savings down the line in health, justice, and social services are so much more,” he said.
Meili is confident a new premier (Scott Moe) and a new finance minister (Donna Harpauer) may bring change.
The budget will be released this coming Tuesday.
(PHOTO: NDP Opposition Leader Ryan Meili at a media scrum in Saskatoon. Photo by Joel Willick.)