The province already carries more than $34 billion in total gross debt.
saskatchewan budget
The province's net debt will reach a projected $16.3 billion in 2024/25.
The provincial government revised its $1.0 billion projected budget surplus to a $250.5 million projected deficit.
Per-person spending will reach $14,790 in 2023/24—an increase of about 5 per cent from 2019/20.
The province has regularly posted budget deficits since 2014/15.
The province eliminated its rainy-day account in 2007/08.
The province's per-person spending increased from roughly $10,029 in 2005/06 to $13,831 in 2015/16.
Economic prosperity is clearly not a priority. That was the central message from Wednesdays provincial budget and precisely the reason young, educated, and skilled, Saskatchewanians continue to leave the province. Instead of focusing on economic growth with rising incomes, employment growth, and increased investment, the government chose to make Saskatchewan even more uncompetitive by raising taxes.