REGINA -- The province of Saskatchewan has announced it will only release a "scaled back" version of its 2020 spending plan, delaying its full budget, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The budget estimates will contain spending increases in most areas, including a significant increase in health funding,” Finance Minister Donna Harpauer said. “It includes a significant lift to the Saskatchewan Health Authority, which funds the doctors, nurses and other health professionals who are on the front line of the fight against COVID-19.”
She said the government is “taking the unusual step of tabling spending estimates without the revenue forecasts.”
Revenue forecasts will not be tabled on Wednesday, as they will no longer be accurate.“It’s hard to predict in Saskatchewan where our revenues would be, hard to predict in Canada, or any province across Canada what the revenue line items would be,” said Premier Scott Moe.
“It is important for us to move forward with our investment intentions and our spending plan [Wednesday], so that we can provide that certainty to those that are providing services, as well to provide certainty to the important infrastructure projects that need to continue along the path this summer or continue construction.”
