Brad Wall wants federal budget to give Sask. $570M back

As the federal government delivers its first budget next week, Brad Wall is hoping it will include $570 million for Saskatchewan.

That is the amount of money taxpayers in the province provided in equalization.

Given that contribution, Wall would like some recognition of the struggling energy sector.

“We’re hoping perhaps to get a little bit more than what we would usually get recognizing this $570 million we’re putting into equalization, we’d like to have it back,” he told reporters in Regina Wednesday. “We’re also hoping to see the oil well clean-up program supported.”

Wall argues it is no less than Saskatchewan taxpayers deserve, given the amount they have provided over the years.

The premier addressed reporters in the Harbour Landing subdivision in Regina, seen as an example of how the province’s population continues to grow.

The population grew by 13,509 people in 2015 to 1,142,570.

Wall maintains that shows his party’s record of job creation is working and repeated what he has often said, “Saskatchewan used to be the place to be from, now it’s the place to be”.

NDP call for fairer equalization payments

Saskatchewan NDP leader Cam Broten said he would also like to see a review of equalization payments because the province is “being punished for non-renewable resource wealth”.

He also wants to see more money for public infrastructure projects.

“I want to see these types of dollars steered into projects which help the economy. So we would actually employ and contract with Saskatchewan businesses to do this work,” he said.

Broten was asked about the budget at an education funding announcement in Saskatoon.