Legislative Report

Another NDP Slush Fund

Last week, the government released its mid-term financial report – a report that gives a snapshot of the state of the province’s finances halfway through the fiscal year. One surprise announcement was that the NDP was stashing away nearly a billion dollars into an election slush fund.

This is not unheard of when a tired government is preparing to fight an election. The NDP do not have fresh ideas to go to the public with, so making sure they have a lot of money at their disposal likely seems like a necessary ace in the hole.

The NDP are claiming they are doing this to be more “transparent.” Well, it is transparent in that the people of this province are sure to see right through it to what it really is – a slush fund set up to buy votes before the next election. It’s clear this is a government desperate to stop its slide in the polls. With their popularity plummeting, the amount of money socked away to buy votes increases by a staggering amount.

That’s what makes this fund so applauding. The people of Saskatchewan need that money to help shorten waiting lists, to hire more healthcare workers, to assist with education programs, social program, cancer programs and senior’s programs. The help in these and so many other areas government has control over, has been needed for a long time. When we have a billion dollars we don’t need it dolled out at whatever time is politically advantageous for the NDP, we need it when our people are hurting….. and waiting….. and leaving.

One provincial economist has called the move a “parlour trick”; while the Provincial Auditor says the fund actually “obfuscates transparency”. It looks more like the NDP is trying to lift its sagging fortunes by buying votes leading up to the election.

Past Legislative Reports