Legislative Report

NDP Government To Blame For Property Tax Revolt

More than a third of rural municipalities--over 100 in all—have joined the protest to withhold property taxes from school boards. This is a desperate act by rural families who have seen the value of what they produce go down, and their taxes go up. Deciding to break the law is not an easy decision for law-abiding citizens to make. However, these people have seen the Calvert NDP swimming in oil and natural gas revenues, while failing to provide substantive long-term property tax relief.

The ad hoc measures taken by the NDP so far have failed to fix this problem. As a result of re-assessment, many rural property owners in Saskatchewan are actually paying more in education taxes, even with the current rebate factored in. Minister Len Taylor says providing more relief is not simple, and a more permanent fix won’t come until 2007. These sentiments were echoed in year-end interviews conducted by Mr. Calvert, who said a plan will be introduced in 2006 for implementation in 2007. The Premier also openly speculates on Spring 2007 being an election year. So, once again we have a government cynically waiting until it can maximize the political gains while the families of this province suffer.

WE in the Saskatchewan Party do not condone law breaking. However, we understand that rural people have been pushed to the wall by a government that doesn’t seem to care. Let’s lay the blame for this tax revolt where it belongs: at the feet of NDP Leader Lorne Calvert.

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