Northern MLA Troubled By Government’s Spending
Friday, November 20, 2009 at 12:16
Saskatchewan’s deficit is projected to reach $1-billion, according to the mid-year financial report released today, and that’s of concern to Cumberland MLA Doyle Vermette.
Vermette says the government’s “reckless spending” will have negative effects on the north.
He says programming and services in the north could suffer, as a result of the numbers in yesterday’s report.
“Some of our issues — our housing, our roads, our long-term care, our addictions (programs) — and to see a government with its missed priorities and opportunities that they could have had in the north — we’ve missed out. And I think the people of the north have a right to have the same services that are in the south, and unfortunately I see this budget and then I see what’s gone on here — very concerning. And I think services that we (rely on) will suffer more and more in the north,” Vermette says.
The government is projecting to take $109-million from potash revenue — $1.8-billion less than what was budgeted for in the spring financial forecast.