The Saskatchewan Party made a new promise, while the NDP hammered home its plan to ease taxes.
One day after triggering the 30th general election, Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe has pledged to expand a popular program aimed at keeping recent post-secondary graduates in the province.
If re-elected at the end of the month, his government would expand the graduate tuition tax credit by 20 per cent, promised Moe, speaking Wednesday morning from one of the party’s campaign offices on Saskatoon’s west side.
This means those who graduate with a four-year degree will be eligible for a $24,000 rebate, an increase from the current $20,000.
The Graduate Retention Program (GRP) has returned $800 million to graduates since it came into effect in 2007, according to Moe. The increased rebate is meant to help recent graduates who, like everyone else, are dealing with a higher cost of living.
“Students, like families across this province, are facing increasing costs and expenses,” said Moe, before criticizing past NDP governments for the number of young people who left Saskatchewan while they were in office.
He also claimed that the NDP would axe the GRP if elected, which Saskatoon Eastview NDP MLA Matt Love immediately refuted.
At an impromptu media conference outside the campaign office where Moe had just made his announcement, Love said the program was an idea originally brought forward by the New Democrats and there are no plans to do away with it.
“Every quarter for the last six years, more people have left this province then have moved here,” he jabbed back.
Moe also pledged to create a rebate for those pursuing Class 1 truck-driver training, which will be worth up to $5,000. When asked why, he said the industry has undergone some changes, which has made getting a licence more costly.
“We need … qualified Class 1 drivers in the industries that are creating wealth in Saskatchewan communities,” Moe said.
NDP candidate for Regina Mount Royal Trent Wotherspoon also spoke out against Moe’s claim.
“No, he’s lying” he said from a news conference in Regina later the same morning where he also took aim at tax hikes and expansions that have occurred under the Sask. Party government.
“I’ve been around long enough. I’ve seen this movie before, as have Saskatchewan people,” said Wotherspoon, pointing to tax expansions following the 2016 general election, which he called “the biggest tax hike in Saskatchewan’s history.” Wotherspoon also touched on the expansion of PST onto things like children’s clothing, certain groceries, tickets to concerts and sports outings, used cars and more.
“Scott Moe only seems to provide affordability and tax cuts when he needs your vote,” said Wotherspoon, adding that the NDP would cut the gas tax on Day 1, while removing the PST on several other items by Christmastime time, should they form government.
Both Love and Wotherspoon said they would have to look at the specifics of the proposed GRP increase before making commenting on whether the NDP would commit to doing the same.
In response to criticisms about the records of previous NDP governments, Love said he felt it was a tactic being used as a distraction by the Sask. Party leader to avoid talking about his time leading the province.
“What he doesn’t want to do is run on his record,” Love said.
