In my mailbox today was an election flyer from my local Sask Party Candidate. As I read through it’s contents, I couldn’t help but think, are people in Saskatchewan really this stupid that we would believe these claims, facts and figures?
They claim:
“A family of four earning $50 000 now pays $8000 less income tax than in 2007”
But did you know the average Sask income according to Stats Canada is actually $71200. But let’s stick with $50 000. A family earning $50 000 represents about 5% of the population. That same family has also experienced an annual inflation increase of 2.8%. That means they are now paying an additional $7000-8000 on their disposable income. And don’t forget provincial sales tax, a percentage of the actual items which has increased by 2.8% annually. It’s also important to note that the consumer price index does not include the costs of food or fuel, which have increased approximately 18 – 23% which would realistically increase the cost of living substantially, unless of course you don’t eat and walk everywhere you go.
**Statistics Canada Web Site - CPI and CPI calcualtions
**Statistics Canada Web Site - CPI and CPI calcualtions
“Reduced Government Debt: Has reduced debt by over $3 billion”
Is it being dishonest if you only tell half the truth? Once again, not divulging all the facts. If the Sask Party government did not repeatedly rape and pillage the Growth and Financial Security Fund (rainy day fund), or raid smash the profitable crowns piggy bank every year, the Sask party would have produced a deficit budget each year. Instead, they proudly announced a $20 million dollar surplus. There is now said to be an urgent need by crown corps to invest in infrastructure, neglected over the years. Interesting. Similar to picking your pocket when you’re not looking and then gifting back your own money to you. Interesting indeed.
**Leader Post: Saskatchewan budget cuts taxes, shows surplus, increases health and social spending
**Sask. Party platform accomplishes what needs to be done
**Leader Post: Saskatchewan budget cuts taxes, shows surplus, increases health and social spending
**Sask. Party platform accomplishes what needs to be done
“Improved Health Care: There are now 900 more nurses and 200 more doctors working in our province.”
This is a great claim but it fails to also mention, according to the Sask Party web site, that the population has increased by 15 000 people since 2007. That means and additional doctor for every 75 people (assuming all 200 doctors are general practitioners) and 1 nurse for every 17 people (not considering the existing nursing shortage). As the provincial population increases, so does the demand on our human resources. This is not an improved health care. This is status quo health care. In fact, if you consider hospital closures, cuts to provincial chiropractic coverage, cuts to senior programs in Qu'appelle Health Region and cutting over 1800 jobs in social services care, to mention a few, our health care system is actually eroding at a slow and steady pace each year.
“Investing in Infrastructure – over $4 biliion has been invested in roads, hospitals and schools.”
But did we forget not a few months back March 2010, when the provincial budget indicated a reduction in capital projects by over $700 million? Did we forget about the four year plan of laying off over 1800 government positions in the same 2010 budget?
CBC News: Health region CEOs getting huge raises: NDP
Saskatchewan cuts jobs, spending
“Supporting Students – increased funding 40% - 650 new housing units, $2000 towards post secondary education.”
Due to Provincial funding shortfalls again, the University of Sask is raising tuition rates for 2010 by 5.2% Students in arts, agriculture, education, computer science and nursing courses will pay an additional 4.4 per cent in tuition. Law students will pay 9.8 per cent more for tuition, and medical students will pay an additional eight per cent. The Sask Party’s offer of $2000 over 4 years is not even enough to cover the needed rate increase of 3.2 per cent for the 2011-12 academic year - the $586 average increase in annual tuition. Would it not be easier to fund post secondary institutions such that tuitions could be frozen? I guess that wouldn’t have the same effect on a Sask Party brochure. Sounds like more “shell games” to me.
- **The University of Saskatchewan’s Board of Governors has approved an overall tuition rate increase of 5.2 per cent for the 2010-11 academic year, revenue from which will be directed toward both central operations and improvements in college programs and services.
Prince Albert Herald: SIAST tuition rates climb higher
- **2009/2010: Statistics Canada: Two provinces ended freezes on tuition fees with increases — Manitoba (+4.3%) and Saskatchewan (+3.4%)
Strengthening farm families – reduction in education property tax, cut farm taxes by 80%, funding crop insurance all time high $161 million.
This is the ultimate magic trick! Reduce the education tax on property in rural Sask, eliminate local boards ability to set mill rates, and instead provide that portion from provincial coffers, and the icing on the cake, they claim to be contributing more than ever to our education system. Yet teachers salaries don’t keep pace with inflation, educational assistants are reduces by 75%, and the entire Sask curriculum is renewed from k to 12 without additional resources to implement new curricula.
**CBC News: Saskatchewan school boards stripped of power to set taxes
**CBC News: Saskatchewan school boards stripped of power to set taxes
But the Sask. Party has done their homework indeed. The majority of his winning seats are in rural Saskatchewan. Keep the farmers happy as we approach an election year, and smooth sailing ahead indeed. Property taxes for the urban areas has been on a steady increase. In Saskatoon, property taxes increased 5.44% in 2008, 3.86% in 2010, with similar increases in Regina.
**CBC News: Saskatoon budget aims for 3.86% tax hike
**Canada.com: Sask. residents unlikely to see property tax relief
**CBC News: Saskatoon budget aims for 3.86% tax hike
**Canada.com: Sask. residents unlikely to see property tax relief
So what does the Saskatchewan Advantage Really mean?
Despite the UNPRECEDENTED Advertising campaign where you will see billboards, web site banners, flyers, image wrapped vehicles and on and on to the point where radio talk show host Vic Dubois complains, here are some statistics you won’t see on Sask Party Billboards:
· Crime rates – across Canada falls to lowest rate since 1973, but in Saskatchewan, still has the highest crime rates in the country with Regina reported the highest Crime Severity Index, followed by Saskatoon. CBC News: Regina and Saskatoon continue to post the worst crime statistics among major Canadian cities
· Tax REDUCTIONS for business have been reduced from 4.5% to 2% and will reduce a futher 3% for big corporations 2011 Saskatchewan Budget Tax Highlights
· Off-sale beer retailers get a break, with the government hiking their beer discount for the first time since 1993
Questionable advertising tactics - What the Sask Party has demonstrated they are very good at, it's marketing. Have you ever wondered why a political party that is said to have a "cake walk" election has to spend millions on Billboards, web sites, and an advertising campaign second to none in the country? Not to mention never before seen radio campaigns against the SGEU, STF, SHSA, SIAST and every other public sector bargaining group.
· Political parties are to refrain from campaign advertising prior to an election call, yet Sask. Party members have invested thousands in vehicles clad in party colors and members images, placed strategically throughout the city as roving billboards.
· Despite city bylaws prohibiting advertising on public property, Sask party candidates freely place their election signs, often in rows only a few feet apart, on boulevards entering neighborhoods creating a sea of visual pollution for all.
What I would like to know is why does the Sask Party feel the need to invest unprecedented money into advertising? I think you know the answer to that question. The Saskatchewan Advantage is real, but only for a select few. It is the essence of capitalism of which neither you nor I are included. If you can honestly say you are better off than you were four years ago, vote accordingly. If you cannot, if you pay more in property tax, provincial tax, income tax, fuel costs, food costs, energy costs; if your child is now in a classroom of 30+ students without support, if you pay more for chiropractic care, if your salary buys less today than it did four years ago, then you just realized the Saskboom is in reality, Saskadoom if we continue on this course.
Before you cast your vote, ask yourself truly and honestly, the province claims we have moved from a have-not to a have province. What benefits have you received? Can you honestly say your life is better because you live in Brad Wall's Saskatchewan? Do you beleive the thousands fo billboards, radio and TV ads, are you experiencing the "Saskatchewan Advantage" or are you still waiting for what's left to hopefully, trickle down?
“Capitalism: An economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit.”
“Capitalism: An economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit.”
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