Sask. MLAs wrap up spring sitting of legislature
Government politicians begin work on how to balance next year's budget
The Saskatchewan legislature is a little quieter this afternoon, as MLAs make their way home to their constituencies for the summer.
But Premier Brad Wall says the hard work of so-called transformational change will continue, as ministries provide suggestions to get the government's books balanced by next year.
Wall says this year's budget, delivered later than usual due to the spring election, is a significant one.
"With respect to the transformational change that we're going to be engaged in across the major envelopes of government — health care, education and social services," Wall said. "How do we balance better service, quality service, for people while reducing cost?"
The Opposition says the government could stop wasting money by overspending on land, pouring money into its carbon capture project and hiring consultants.
Instead, Opposition leader Trent Wotherspoon says the government is adding to the province's debt and asking others to cut back.
"The reality is that dollars have been wasted and at the same time that cuts are happening in classrooms all across the province and impacts are being felt for people," Wotherspoon said. "So there's a cost to this kind of mismanagement."
He says the NDP will continue to lobby for more money for classrooms this fall.
The premier says he will shuffle his current cabinet in August, in time for the fall sitting of the Saskatchewan Legislature.