Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe arrives to meet with his party’s candidates prior to a media event in Saskatoon on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020.The leaders of Saskatchewan’s two contending political parties may have been a stone’s throw from each other as they released their election platforms Friday, but they were quick to emphasize the distance between their policies.
Outside the building and down some stairs near the edge of the South Saskatchewan River, NDP Leader Ryan Meili pledged spending increases for health care and schools, while taking more time to dig the province out of the red.“We’re confident that the investments we’re making are going to contribute to economic growth and allow us to reduce the deficit quickly and come to balance early in our second term,” Meili said, while refusing to set a specific date.
Meili has attacked Moe for his plan to deal with the economic headwinds caused the by the COVID-19 pandemic through austerity and cuts. But Moe characterized the NDP as reckless spenders with no credible plan to deal with the deficit. He has committed to introduce a new tax credit for home renovations and provide a 10 per cent rebate to SaskPower customers on their bills, which the party has framed as a plan to boost economic growth and affordability.