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Moe announces plan for housing affordability through tax incentives

The first week of the Saskatchewan Party’s campaign for re-election was focused on affordability and cost of living.

On Friday, Scott Moe announced that a re-elected Saskatchewan Party government would introduce a permanent Home Renovation Tax Credit, and increase the First Time Home Buyer’s Tax Credit.

In a video, Moe said, “The Saskatchewan Home Renovation Tax Credit was first introduced in 2020 as a temporary two-year measure coming out of the pandemic. A re-elected Saskatchewan Party government will make the credit permanent, allowing homeowners to claim a provincial income tax credit of up to $4,000 in renovation expenses each year, resulting in savings of up to $420 a year. Seniors will be able to claim an additional $1000, resulting in savings of up to $525 a year.”

He added, “A re-elected Saskatchewan Party government will also increase the Saskatchewan First-Time Homebuyers Tax Credit from $10,000 to $15,000, increasing the benefit from $1,050 to $1,575. Combined with the federal tax credit of $750, first-time homebuyers will be eligible for a $2,325 benefit.” Moe also promised to increase the Personal Care Home Benefit by $1000 a month, or 40%.

Moe made the announcement in the constituency of Regina Mount Royal.

These tax measures accompany the active families benefit and, graduate retention program expansion, in addition to reducing income taxes.

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Learn more about the great work the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association and its members are doing at saskheavy.ca.

NDP announce platform, address how to pay for promises

On Friday the Saskatchewan NDP announced their fiscal plan for the first term to fix healthcare, cut taxes, and balance the budget by the end of their first term.

NDP leader Carla Beck said, “We’ve looked closely at the government’s books. Scott Moe and the Sask. Party haven’t been honest with Saskatchewan. You deserve better. Our plan takes existing revenue and invests it in recruiting, training and retaining the frontline staff we need to fix our health care. We will do all of this without raising your taxes and while still balancing the budget in our first term.”

Beck was joined by Ron Styles, a former Saskatchewan civil servant who joined Beck’s team last year as an advisor. Styles said, “The NDP plan is affordable, it’s fiscally responsible, and it’s less than a quarter of the spending increases the government has made over the past four years.”

The NDP’s plan is available to read here.

Sponsored by Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce

The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce has launched "Fueling Momentum 2024," a policy platform for the 2024 Provincial Election. Based on extensive consultations and research, it outlines key priorities from the Saskatchewan business community to inform all political parties.

Learn more here.

Sask. Party, NDP clash on proposed fiscal framework

The Saskatchewan Party is going after the NDP’s costed platform with both parties alleging the other would be a bad fiscal manager of the province’s purse strings.

Saskatchewan Party campaign co-chair and longtime MLA Donna Harpauer released a statement calling the NDP’s plan ‘dishonest’ claiming they did not account for $3 billion.

Harpauer told reporters in Regina that the NDP has promised $2 billion in education, but its NDP plan shows $800 million over four years. Harpauer, who is not running for re-election, said Beck has also not accounted for the NDP promises to fund a school lunch program and to renovate vacant government housing units. She said, “I think that this is a document that is fantasy and fiction and nothing more.”

The NDP said the $2 billion in education money is accounted for through “accumulated funding.” The NDP also said Moe, as premier, missed his own budget projections by $9.3 billion in the last four years and has added $14 billion to the debt in six years.

Both parties have ruled out reviewing potash royalties if elected.

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Sask. Party releases new attack ad

The Saskatchewan Party is going on the offensive, releasing a new ad highlighting NDP candidate comments in support of the federal carbon tax.

The ad reads, “The SaskNDP pretend they don’t support the Trudeau-NDP Carbon Tax, but if they were being honest…” The ad then shows various NDP candidates and personnel and quotes made regarding the federal carbon tax. The ad ends saying, “The NDP want to keep the Carbon Tax. Don’t let them.”

NDP leader Carla Beck has said that she does not support the federal Carbon Tax and voted with the government to remove the carbon tax off home heating. The NDP responded on social media with the following:

We will be looking at ads from all the parties later this week.

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CBC Sask. interviews 50 residents, confirms top issues facing voters

CBC News’ Janani Whitfield interviewed 50 different voters from different areas of the province to see what issues are top of mind as the provincial election begins.

Healthcare is a top issue with most of the people citing long waits for care and healthcare staff shortages as cause for concern. The NDP spent time last week focused on healthcare and have promised $1.1 billion in additional funding for healthcare if elected.

The cost of living and affordability consistently polls as the top issue for voters across the country right now. This was confirmed when speaking to residents. Housing affordability and the general cost of living are issues for voters. The Saskatchewan Party spent the first week of the campaign focused on these issues promising tax relief. The NDP have also promised to pause the gas tax, remove the PST on a number of items and pledged not to raise taxes.

Education does not poll as a top issue, but is no doubt an issue for voters, especially voters with children in school. With the teacher strikes last year, education is an issue fresh in voters minds. The NDP have promised to invest $2 billion over four years in education funding.

In most cases, residents were just learning that an election is underway. Now that the campaign has officially started, candidates are doorknocking, and promises have been rolled out, many people understand that an election has begun and will think more about the issues.

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More news and info

• Parliament 'ground to a halt' over Conservative allegations of Liberal corruption (Canadian Press)

• 🏠 7 in 10 Saskatchewan voters think housing should be a top priority for elected officials. That is why Saskatchewan’s Housing Leaders have launched Secure Homes, Strong Future­ – a housing policy blueprint for Saskatchewan ahead of the 2024 provincial election. Built on grassroots consultation and expert insight, this plan provides common sense ideas that will improve affordability, unlock development, lower construction costs and build more homes faster. Click here to learn more.*

• Ottawa to announce changes to CBC's mandate, appoint new CEO in the next four weeks: source (CBC News)

_{*Sponsored by Saskatchewan Housing Leaders (Saskatchewan REALTORs Association, Saskatchewan Landlord Association, Saskatoon and Region Home Builder’s Association, and Regina and Region Home Builder’s Association).}

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