The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Is the Government of Saskatchewan's recently unveiled first quarter financial report good news or bad news? The answer depends on who you ask. Armed with the report, the Sask Party government boasts about remaining on track to balance the province's books in 2013-14. The financial report, released by Finance Minister Ken Krawetz, showed revenue up $11.8 million (0.1 per cent) from the amount budgetted, primarily due to higher oil revenue. 'Saskatchewan's economy is resilient and continues to perform well in 2013, with stronger-than-expected employment growth and higher oil prices,' Krawetz said. 'Through the first quarter, Saskatchewan's economy and finances remain on track. And while it is too soon to know the specific impact, we have reduced our potash revenue forecast by $21.3 million, largely to reflect uncertainty stemming from recent global potash market developments.' Expense was up $43.6 million (0.4 per cent) from budget primarily, the province said, for the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program. The opposition NDP called the report 'a manipulated, invalid report that doesn't explain why debt is going up while the government is making cuts in a strong economy.' The NDP said the province withholds all summary financial information in its report, showing only a sliver of the provincial books called the General Revenue Fund (GRF). This is a practice the independent provincial auditor has called 'wrong' and 'misleading,' said the NDP, which calls on the province to end this tactic. 'This government's first quarter report is not worth the paper it's printed on,' said Trent Wotherspoon, NDP deputy leader and finance critic. 'This government is misleading the public by hiding the summary finances, and this report certainly doesn't explain why the government is making cuts and failing to deliver on things families count on.' Added Wotherspoon: 'Saskatchewan people deserve better.' _ Compiled from Government of Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan NDP news releases
