Budget Debate (24 March 2025)

From Hansard (24 March 2025) (Page 31)

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Budget Debate

Megan Patterson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s an honour to respond to the ’25-26 budget presented by the Hon. Minister of Finance. I would like to thank him and his team for delivering this budget, as it would be very difficult in such a volatile time. I’d also like to thank our Premier for his astute and steadfast leadership through these challenging times.

I also want to thank my family, thank my husband, Sean, who is at home with my boys tonight. I had three boys going three different directions tonight, so with the help of my parents, my mom and dad, you know, we were able to get everyone where they were supposed to be. But without their help I wouldn’t be able to do this work.

I also want to thank the constituents of Moose Jaw Wakamow for electing me and giving me the opportunity to represent them in this Assembly. It has been a privilege over the past several months to get to know our members in this House better. I am so impressed by the kindness, experience, and knowledge that this government possesses.

When I gave my maiden speech at this Assembly, I spoke a little bit about my life experience. I spoke about my injury, the years of recovery that followed. I spoke about my work, education, and the successful career I had out east, but that I chose to come back to Saskatchewan because of the quality of life it offers.

Being close to my family, giving back to my community, and having the opportunity to impact lives in a meaningful way is important to me. I mentioned that I wanted to inspire and enable people to achieve their potential. I wanted to make Saskatchewan an even better place to live, work, and raise a family and start a business, as does every single one of my colleagues.

I spoke about my vision for a respectful Assembly. In a few short months my desire to contribute and make a positive difference has not changed, but unfortunately my perspective on the dynamics of this Assembly have. The members opposite talk a great deal about our government’s plan, but they lack a coherent one of their own.

They have a lot of great hockey analogies — over the boards, stick on the ice — but when it comes to the very real threat that tariffs imposed by China and the United States present, the only reasonable measures that they suggest are actually already a part of our plan. Despite the many hockey analogies, they’re missing one important analogy: taking penalties, posturing, hurts your own team.

For the member from Regina Mount Royal to say that this government lacks a plan and the fiscal foundation for the challenges we are currently facing is simply not true. This government has been planning for growth and diversification for years, planning to expand in the markets we’re already competing, and expanding the number of markets that we compete in. This government has opened nine additional trade offices and grown our export market from 17 billion to almost 50 billion.

This Premier and this government has spent the last several weeks engaging with people and businesses who can actually influence US policy. This government has the second-lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the country, the second-highest credit rating, and is poised to be a leader in national growth and financial strength.

In contrast the opposition actually did mix up the revenue and expense columns when they published their budget during the election. It is very clear which side of this Assembly should be managing this province’s budget especially during these challenging times.

But the opposition wants to know what this government is doing specifically to address the tariffs from foreign governments. Well for starters, we’re aligned with all other provinces in the need to take targeted measures, including the stopping of purchasing of US alcohol and prioritizing Canadian suppliers in government contracts.

Here in Saskatchewan that means real measures, like the recent announcement from Saskatchewan Crowns to procure steel from Evraz in Regina. But what we don’t do, Mr. Speaker, unlike the members opposite, is we don’t take unnecessary penalties or score on our own net. That means we will continue to work alongside other premiers, ministers, and businesses to engage with the US government at all levels to reinforce the harm that these tariffs are causing on both sides of the border.

Unlike the members opposite, this side of the House has long stood on the importance of vital infrastructure projects like pipelines, ports, and railways. We’re certainly glad to see the NDP finally wake up to the importance of pipelines and the energy sector, not only here in Saskatchewan but for all of Canada. Maybe they could take a moment to let their own party leader know.

With a federal election under way, it will be interesting to see who the members opposite endorse and campaign for. Will it be the same two federal parties that not only impose a costly and ineffective carbon tax but have also spent the past decade blocking every major pipeline project in this country?

Now I’m not sure how many members opposite have partaken in true, serious negotiations, but here’s a hint: insulting and condemning the other party, whether or not they are on the other side of the Assembly or in another country, is not an effective strategy. I am relieved and surprised that the members chose to pass our amended motion and support the Government of Saskatchewan’s tariff response plan. I look forward to a future of reasonable debate and collaboration.

This budget, titled Delivering for You, is one we can be proud of. Delivering for you means strengthening our economy and growing our province. It means advocating for Saskatchewan’s economic interests so we remain the best place to live, work, raise a family, and start a business in Canada. This budget prioritizes affordability and fiscal responsibility while delivering on the programs and services that Saskatchewan people need and deserve.

This government delivered a balanced budget with a surplus of $12 million. Forecasted revenue is 21.1 billion, and total expenses are expected to be 21 billion. I will repeat: we have the second-lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in Canada and the secondhighest credit rating. These measures are important because they allow us to access additional funds if and when needed and earn us a lower interest rate on borrowed funds.

Now this budget is focused on affordability. In December we introduced The Saskatchewan Affordability Act. Thirteen commitments from that Act are being funded through this budget to reduce taxes for every resident, family, and small business in the province. Saskatchewan has one of the highest tax-free thresholds in Canada. A family of four pays no taxes on their first $63,000 of income. Under the NDP, a family of four started paying income tax at just $26,150.

We are delivering the largest personal income tax reduction in the province since 2008 by increasing the personal exemption, spousal and dependent child exemption, and seniors’ supplement by $500 per year for the next four years. These changes will allow a family of four earning a combined income of $100,000 to save more than $3,400 over the next four years, while two seniors with a combined income of 75,000 will save more than $3,100.

We are increasing monthly income benefits by 2 per cent for Saskatchewan income support and the Saskatchewan assured income for disability. This government also increased the allowable income earned by persons with disabilities, an initiative very close to my heart. Our SAID program ranks among the top five nationwide for residents living with a disability. This budget also delivers a 25 per cent increase to the disability tax credit. These measures are a part of this government’s ongoing efforts to enhance financial support and affordability for individuals with disabilities in Saskatchewan.

This budget makes life more affordable for seniors, families with children, persons with disabilities, caregivers, new graduates, first-time homebuyers, and people renovating their homes. This budget also delivers on our commitment to support access to fertility treatments by offering a refundable tax credit of 50 per cent towards the cost of eligible fertility treatments.

In this budget we have also delivered on our commitment to permanently maintain the small-business tax rate at 1 per cent. This change will benefit more than 35,000 small businesses, saving them more than 50 million in corporate taxes annually.

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