Melfort Trade Alliance Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cal Gratton weighs in on provincial budget. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

By Cam Lee

Melfort chamber reaction

Melfort Trade Alliance Chamber of Commerce weighs in on provincial budget

Mar 20, 2024 | 5:49 PM

The provincial government has tabled their budget for 2024, and it’s in the red.

The province forecasts a $273 million deficit for the coming fiscal year, with no new taxes or tax increases while not offering any tax reductions.

The government maintained it will return to a surplus in 2025-26 citing increased revenue due to economic growth. However, there will be a provincial election in the fall and the Saskatchewan Party may or may not return to power.

The provincial government touted increased spending in education and health care, pointing to increasing classroom support and more money for acute care.

The budget earmarked $2.2 billion for operating funding for the 27 school divisions in Saskatchewan which the government called a record increase of $180.0 million over the previous year.

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Almost $4.7 billion is being allocated to the Saskatchewan Health Authority, with a $7.6 billion investment to the Ministry of Health as a whole.

The budget included funding for the planning of nine new schools, mainly in Saskatoon and Regina. Meanwhile, $516.8 million is being allocated for health facilities and equipment, including $180 million toward the new hospital in Prince Albert.

Melfort Trade Alliance Chamber of Commerce (MTACC) Executive Director Cal Gratton said the organization has a largely positive view of the budget tabled Wednesday.

“We’re a fan of the small business tax rate at one per cent, which is pretty much frozen,” said Gratton.

He said the chamber was hoping to see the provincial sales tax reduced, but the fact that it wasn’t was “understandable”.

Other positives from the budget for MTACC were the increased investment in health care and the ongoing support for the Saskatchewan Labour Market Strategy, recently established to help grow the provincial workforce.

Reactions from other local stakeholders will be featured on northeastNOW in the coming days.

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK