The Saskatchewan election begins with promises of tax cuts and calls for change

REGINA — Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe kicked off the provincial election Tuesday, promising broad tax cuts, while his opponent, NDP Leader Carla Beck, said it’s time to move on from failed, incompetent money management.

Moe told cheering supporters in Saskatoon that if re-elected on Oct. 28, his government would launch a four-year plan to cut personal tax rates across the board.

He said that since these rates are already adjusted for inflation, a family of four would save more than $3,400 over four years.

“It’s the biggest income tax cut since 2008,” Moe said, amid shouts of “well done!”

Beck told his supporters in Regina that Moe has turned the province from a leader to a laggard in health care, education and the economy.

She said it doesn’t have to be this way, promising shorter wait times for health care, smaller classrooms and cheaper gas.

“It’s time for change,” Beck said.

Ahead of the four-week campaign, Beck pledged to suspend the 15 cents per liter gasoline tax for six months and eliminate the provincial sales tax on children’s clothing and convenience groceries, without raising income taxes. other taxes.

She has said the gas tax suspension would save families $350 over six months.

Moe ridiculed those changes as petty and capricious.

“(Our plan) is significantly more than any temporary gas tax reduction that the NDP (is promising),” Moe said.

“It’s not temporary. It will stay in place, saving every Saskatchewan person money every year.”

Moe also promised a fully budgeted platform would be released in the coming days and challenged the NDP to explain how it would pay for its promises.

Beck has also said she would make good on her commitments, which were earmarked at $3.5 billion over four years.

She said Saskatchewan does not have a revenue problem.

“Saskatchewan has a management problem, a mismanagement problem,” she said, adding that Moe has increased fees and raised taxes.

“Children’s clothing is not a luxury. But you know what is? (Moe’s) million-dollar (trade mission) trip to Dubai. It’s time in this province for a leader to park the limousines and step up to the plate.”

Earlier in the day, Moe met with Lt. Gov. Russ Mirasty to dissolve the House and issue subpoenas directing the election.

Moe, who took over as prime minister in 2018, is seeking his second term in the top job.

He is expected to rally support around his government’s record of growing the economy, creating jobs and increasing the population.

Moe, who represents Rosthern-Shellbrook, has also said his administration’s decision not to pay the federal carbon tax on home heating has saved people money.

Beck has been the NDP MP for Regina Lakeview since 2016 and is running for party leader for the first time.

Recent polls indicate a tight race between the two parties, but the division of constituencies means an uphill battle for the NDP.

Polls show the New Democrats are stronger in the cities and the Saskatchewan Party is dominant in rural areas. To win a majority in the 61-seat parliament, the NDP would have to capture the 28 seats in the three largest cities – Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert – and hope for help elsewhere.

Moe has warned voters that an NDP government under Beck would return Saskatchewan to a time of hospital and school closures, people moving to other provinces and a stagnant economy.

“Let’s never go back to that time,” he said.

The NDP last governed in Saskatchewan from 1991 to 2007 and has been in opposition since then. Cuts were made after the former Progressive Conservative government nearly declared the province bankrupt.

Moe took over as leader of the Saskatchewan Party after former Prime Minister Brad Wall retired. Moe won his first mandate in the 2020 election during the COVID-19 pandemic and has feuded with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals over the carbon tax and natural resources policies.

His pre-election budget projected a $354 million deficit, with increased spending on education and health care.

Beck has said Moe mismanaged the province’s finances while failing to adequately fund health care and education.

She also pointed to recent problems in the Saskatchewan Party caucus — including criminal charges, retirements and resignations — that reduced its membership from 48 to 42 upon dissolution. Sixteen of those members are no longer running, including eight who served in Moe’s cabinet for the past four years.

At the time of its dissolution, the NDP had fourteen members. There were four Independents and one vacancy.

Recent unrest in the Saskatchewan Party caucus has turned members against each other.

In the spring, chairman Randy Weekes accused the ruling party of bullying. He also said that Jeremy Harrison, the Secretary of Trade and Export Development, had brought a gun into the Legislature nearly a decade ago.

Moe supported Harrison, who denied the incident but later said he remembered it happening. Harrison was removed as leader of the government house but retained his cabinet position.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2024.

Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press