75-Minute Debate (7 April 2022)

From Hansard (7 April 2022)

 

Affordability and Cost of Living

The Assembly was debating the following motion moved by Jennifer Bowes (NDP - Saskatoon University):

That the Assembly condemns the government for the lack of action to address affordability and the 32 new tax and fee hikes imposed on Saskatchewan people, who are struggling with increasing cost of living.

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Mr. Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Four billion dollars, that’s how much the NDP promised to try and buy people’s votes during the last election campaign. Every day in this Chamber we hear demands for more programs, higher coverages, more staffing. And it’s not a politicalized slam at the members opposite, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Some of those requests are very real and they’re very heartfelt. But we’ve very worked very hard to get off this resource-royalty roller coaster in our budgets.

So to the member from Saskatoon University: how do you plan to pay for the promises? Is it through deficits? Is it cuts to other programs? Or is it going to be higher taxes?

Ms. Bowes: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the member opposite who doesn’t seem to understand. He and his entire government do not seem to understand what kind of taxation is progressive taxation in this province. They don’t understand that regressive taxes like PST . . . I can’t hear myself over these buffoons, I’m sorry.

The Deputy Speaker: — That’s called inappropriate language. Please refrain from inappropriate language in the House. And members opposite, come to order. Or members of the government, please come to order. Continue.

Ms. Bowes: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I was saying, the members on this side do not understand what progressive taxation looks like and they don’t care, because that’s not what they want, right? They do not want taxation that is fair for working-class people, that is fair for people who are of average means. They want to give all of the money and all of the tax breaks to their corporate buddies who scratch their back. And then it’s just a cycle.

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