Moe, Beck clash on taxes as announcements and promises fly

Premier Scott Moe hit the pre-campaign trail in familiar territory this week and levelled criticisms at the NDP's early election promises.

Moe spent time at the Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show alongside Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, announced increased timber allocation to a Saskatchewan company in Prince Albertand was in his constituency of Rosthern to unveil the potential site of a new hospital in the community.

With less than three weeks until an election call, Moe's government and the Opposition have made a flurry of announcements.

Moe was asked Thursday about the NDP's promises not to raise taxes, cut the $0.15 gas tax, and remove the PST on children's clothes and some grocery items.

"I'd ask how we're going to pay for it. I would say it's less of a savings to Saskatchewan families than foregoing the carbon tax on their natural gas as well as their electricity and how they heat their homes," Moe said.

Earlier in the week, Moe posted on social media that the Saskatchewan NDP was "now pretending to no longer support the carbon tax" with quotes from four NDP candidates' past comments on the federal policy.

Beck was asked about Moe's message, given that she has come out against the the consumer carbon tax.

"I'm the leader of the Saskatchewan NDP, and the position of the Saskatchewan NDP has been clear and should be clear to the premier," Beck said.

"This team is all onboard. They understand the impacts of the carbon tax on the economy here. But unlike the premier, this is a team that also understands we need to reduce emissions."

WATCH |The 306 political panel checks the temperature of Sask. politics as election approaches:

The 306 political panel checks the temperature of Sask. politics as election approaches

18 days ago

Duration 17:40

We don't know when we'll vote in the next Saskatchewan provincial election. But we know it will happen soon. So it's the perfect time to bring back The 306 public affairs panel. Dale Richardson is principal at Earnscliffe Strategies and a former political staffer with the Saskatchewan Party. Jack Saddleback is a professional speaker who formerly ran for a federal NDP nomination and is also a regional organizer with the Society of Queer Momentum.

On Tuesday, Beck pledged to introduce rental protections that would see rules governingrent increases by landlords. In addition, the NDP promised to rent 3,000 vacant government housing units within four years at a cost of $100 million. Beck said the party would also reinstate direct pay to landlords forrenters on income assistance.

Moe pushed back on the cost of Beck's promises.

"They still haven't explained how they're going to pay for it. That's the question that they need to answer. And I haven't heard an answer yet."

Beck has told reports her platform will be fully costed and will have a balanced budget in four years, but has not mentioned specific things her party would cut or scale back.

The NDP has said it would get the money by "growing the economy, finding efficiencies, and cutting Sask. Party waste and mismanagement."

Moe said the NDP hasmade more than "$3 billion in promises."

"That's how they'll pay for it, is by cancelling projects, raising taxes and increasing the deficit. There is no other choice," Moe said.

Moe and the Saskatchewan Party government have not made specific pledges to cut the PST or remove it from certain areas.

Beck said taking to PST off certain grocery items would save families $500 over four years.

"If it's food and you buy it from a grocery store, you shouldn't have to pay tax," Beck said in Saskatoon on Thursday.

"Cutting the Sask. Party's grocery tax is one common-sense step we can take to put more money back into people's pockets."

The NDP's plans to remove the PST on kids clothes and groceries are not new. Beck has previously promised both.

The Saskatchewan Party government raised the PST tosix per cent from five per cent in 2017 and removed exemptions for things including children's clothes.

PST revenue rose to $2.0 billion in 2017-2018 from $1.2 billion in 2016-17. It was $2.89 billion in 2023-24 and is projected to rise to $3.1 billion this fiscal year.