The editor:
Premier Brad Wall鈥檚 latest scheme to resolve his mismanagement of Saskatchewan鈥檚 finances leaves much to be desired.
His solution of 鈥渦npaid days off鈥� leaves the sole responsibility of addressing his $1.2 billion deficit on the shoulders of our 62,226 public servants. Asking six per cent of our residents to pay for his bungled handling of our finances is ludicrous.
It was not these public servants who created the deficit, nor was it the individuals who voted Liberal, New Democratic Party, Green or other. It was Premier Wall and the individuals who voted for the Sask. Party that are responsible for this debt.聽
When times were good and resource revenue was at an all time high, did Wall increase royalties to be put into a heritage (rainy day) fund? No, instead he gave millions away to his corporate buddies (Global Transportation Hub, Regina bypass, corporate tax breaks, the new Regina stadium, the carbon capture and storage plant, etc.)
Finance Minister Ken Doherty says, 鈥淭he option (unpaid days off) is more attractive than lowering wages, as the government tries to whittle down its $1.2 billion deficit.鈥� In reality it is both. The government is asking the public sector workers to either roll back or accept a wage freeze on already negotiated and signed contracts, and then adds a 鈥淏rad鈥檚 bungled budget clause.鈥�
While Wall is the only premier who continues to receive a $37,000 top up wage from his party, he is once again targeting the most vulnerable 鈥� seniors, young people seeking education, those with health issues and low income earners.聽
We need just the opposite. We need more teachers, healthcare workers, public care homes and higher income jobs to get the economy moving until such time as resource revenues recover.聽
Joyce Neufeld
Waldeck, Sask.
