REGINA – Voters head to the polls in Saskatchewan Monday. Few new spending promises have been made by the two main contenders, as the province faces a deficit. Here are some of the promises:
FULL COVERAGE: Decision Saskatchewan 2016
THE SASKATCHEWAN PARTY
The incumbents have just six new platform commitments totalling $105 million over four years.
The costliest promise is $70 million over three years for additional repairs to highways.
Other promises include allowing seniors with household incomes under $70,000 to defer the education part of their property taxes; funding for pre-school children with autism; a plan to help graduates with a down payment on a home; expanding a robotics telemedicine pilot program that lets doctors connect with a patient remotely in the north; and extending leave to 26 weeks from eight for people caring for family members near the end of their lives.
Leader Brad Wall also announced a new tax credit for volunteer firefighters and first responders, but it would be implemented only as the province’s finances strengthen.
The Saskatchewan Party also promises to sell 40 of the 75 government-owned liquor stores.
THE NDP
One of the most expensive promises from the New Democrats is for $106 million over four years for health-care workers, including 400 new workers for care homes.
The NDP says it would hire 300 more educational assistants and 300 more teachers, as well as cap class sizes at about 20 students for kindergarten to Grade 2.
The NDP says it would let seniors defer property taxes and implement a small tax cut for middle-class families, saving nearly 70 per cent of people about $90 a year. The tax cut would be largely offset by increasing taxes one per cent for people who make more than $175,000.
The New Democrats plan to bring back the lowest cost utility bundle for home heating, electricity and telephone.
They also plans to sell two of the government airplanes and convert the third into an air ambulance for the north.
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