No provincial budget before election, but a financial plan is expected

REGINA – Don’t expect to see a budget ahead of the April 4th provincial election.

This doesn’t mean the province won’t be revealing a financial plan ahead of time though. On Wednesday Premier Brad Wall said the upcoming third quarter report will include a “short-term” financial plan that looks beyond 2016.

“The third quarter report will look at the next four years and make some forecasts, to the extent those are valid right now with commodity prices, but it will make them based on the information we have from the industry and from forecasters,” explained Wall.

The third quarter report is expected sometime in February prior to the writ being dropped.

Wall added that he will eventually be revealing more details on how the government plans to tackle financial issues in the wake of slumping resource prices.

Opposition leader Cam Broten is skeptical of the plan, and said it’s unclear what exactly is going to be covered in the upcoming report.

“This government absolutely needs to be clear with Saskatchewan people about what the plan is,” he said.

“What cuts will we see? And what his plan will be to address the situation.”

Broten also called on the need for a provincial auditor to verify the information contained in the upcoming third-party report.

While Wall was hesitant to reveal many details about future financial plans he hinted at one item, trying to avoid tax increases.

“I believe the last the economy of this province needs are higher costs on those who are trying to retain jobs or create jobs. Government can control one of the costs businesses face, and that’s taxes,” said Wall.