Sask NDP Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon says Premier Scott Moe should “jam his budget through the paper shredder” and start over, slamming the Sask Party’s fiscal plan as “pure fiction” in the face of escalating global trade tensions and an alarming new agreement between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The opposition is calling for a complete budget overhaul after Trump announced his administration would help reintegrate Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports into the world market, a move made without any progress toward peace in Ukraine.
“This budget is a fantasy, nothing more,” Wotherspoon told the media on Wednesday.
“It’s not worth the paper it’s printed on. There’s nothing in it for tariffs and our economy, no contingency fund for producers, workers, industry, or small businesses.”
The Sask Party introduced its budget last week, touting a $12-million surplus.
But Wotherspoon said the surplus is “bogus,” given the impact of US tariffs on Saskatchewan steel and aluminum and the looming threat of broader duties on Canadian exports.
“Other provinces — Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Manitoba — have action plans in their budgets to address these risks. Ours has none,” said Wotherspoon.
On Tuesday, Trump’s administration announced support for Russian trade access while reaffirming his plans for a so-called “Liberation Day” on April 2, signalling additional tariffs against Canada and other trading partners.
Saskatchewan’s government has so far offered no adjustments or contingency measures in response.
Wotherspoon accused Moe of “ignoring or downplaying” the economic and geopolitical threat Trump poses, including his alignment with Russian interests and repeated attacks on Canadian sovereignty.
“What have they been doing for the past four months? Certainly not delivering for the people of Saskatchewan,” said Wotherspoon.
“If the Premier is finally listening, he’ll take this budget back to the drawing board and start actually working for the people of this province.”
Sask NDP is demanding a revised fiscal plan that accounts for the volatile trade landscape and includes meaningful support for Saskatchewan families, businesses, and industries facing uncertainty.