Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe announced that residents 18 and older will receive a $500 “affordability cheque” this fall.
In a video posted on social media Monday, Moe said the province’s 2022-2023 first quarter fiscal update, which will be presented Tuesday morning, “will show that Saskatchewan’s economy is strong.
“More people are working, exports are growing and the province’s finances are improving much faster than expected.”
He says this is largely due to the resources sector, with high resource prices driving the economy. He said Saskatchewan residents should take advantage of high resource prices to help with the high cost of living.
This fall, our government will send a $500 affordability check to everyone in Saskatchewan age 18 and over.
That’s why… pic.twitter.com/kT01wdfigQ
—@PremierScottMoe
Government spokesman Matthew Glover clarified that only adults who have filed income tax in Saskatchewan will be eligible for the $500.
Treasury Secretary Donna Harpower will release the fiscal update for the first quarter on Tuesday at 10 a.m. CST. The Prime Minister says more details on accessibility checks will also be shared tomorrow.
When the budget was released in March, the deficit was $463 million.
The report will also look at how projected costs have changed in recent months.
Government should have offered relief ‘months’ ago: opposition
Saskatchewan’s opposition NDP says the government should have offered people relief “months ago.”
In a statement Monday afternoon, financial critic Trent Wotherspoon accused the government of relying on a windfall just ahead of the upcoming Saskatoon Miwassin by-election. Four parties have already selected candidates for the by-elections, but no date has yet been set for the vote.
“The Party Sask. will consistently put their political interests above the well-being of the people of Saskatchewan – as they did with this money to ‘buy’ elections,” Wotherspoon said in a statement.
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