Sask. Party unveils new home renovation tax credit on Day 1 of campaign

In front of a home in Saskatoon’s Montgomery Place on Wednesday, Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe unveiled a new election promise.

Moe said if the Sask. Party is elected on Oct. 26, its new mandate will include the Saskatchewan Home Renovation Tax Credit. The credit will allow homeowners in the province to claim expenses undertaken on their primary residence, retroactive to Oct. 1.

The credit runs until Dec. 31, 2022, and homeowners taking full advantage of the program will be able to claim $20,000 in 2021 and 2022 for a maximum non-refundable tax credit of $2,100.

The credit will not apply on such items as furniture, televisions, appliances, other electronics or hot tubs, Moe said during the media conference Wednesday.

“New shingles, new carpet (and) hardwood floors would all be eligible. (So would) new paint inside or outside your home. (It covers) pretty much anything that is a permanent addition to your home,” Moe said.

“We expect the program will cost about $124 million over the next two years, which means it’s going to save Saskatchewan homeowners and Saskatchewan families $124 million. That’s money back in their pocket.”

Moe said the program will help drive the economic recovery through the COVID-19 pandemic, creating jobs in the sector and complementing other measures such as the PST tax cut on new home construction.

Moe answers questions on Saskatoon’s Safe Consumption Site

Oct. 1 isn’t just the retroactive date for the Sask. Party’s tax credit. It’s also the first day of operation for Saskatoon’s safe consumption site.

During questions following Wednesday’s announcement, Moe was asked if he would commit funding to the safe consumption site, which didn’t receive provincial funding in the last budget cycle.

It is now planning to operate on a donation-based budget, on scaled-back hours.

“We had just recently opened a number of beds in the community of Estevan dedicated solely to crystal meth rehabilitation … (and) urgent care centres both in Regina and Saskatoon. A portion of those urgent care centres is going to allow for a greater continuum of care for those with mental health and addictions challenges,” Moe said.

“We are investing in (the safe consumption site) up to and including this year. There are various ways that we can put forward supports for them and their families, and we’ll continue to do that.”

Moe said there’s “nothing saying that we wouldn’t look at funding” the safe consumption site and there’s a decision made around budget priorities annually.

Moe looks back on provincial COVID-19 response

Saskatchewan’s COVID numbers also came up while Moe was answering questions Wednesday. He said he was proud of the province’s response, but did admit there were things that could have been done better.

“(That includes) communicating the little information that we did have, as quickly and as rapidly to the people of the province. We’re in a time yet today of great uncertainty. A number of months ago, I think that uncertainty was even greater,” Moe said.

“We’re in a much better place.”

Moe said as government and health officials learned more about how COVID-19 was spreading, discovering what they needed to do to “flatten the curve” and communicating on a daily basis are examples of how they have improved their response.