The Saskatchewan Party (SP) Finance Minister Donna Harpauer spent nearly $8,000 on a private plane to attend a chamber of commerce lunch just a few days after introducing the provincial budget, which contained 32 new fees and taxes..On Monday, new Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck held a press conference on the steps of the legislature to alert the public to the private flight..“This flight could have very easily been a drive. People are making changes to their summer plans because they can’t afford gas all while the minister is introducing new taxes and burning more money to get to a lunch than some people earn in months,” said Beck..On March 25, Harpauer used the Good Spirit Air Service to travel 400 kilometres from Regina to North Battleford, costing the taxpayers $7,872.60..Two days before, Harpauer announced the 6% provincial sales tax on the industries hardest hit by the pandemic, including entertainment, gyms, concerts, museums, and sporting events like Roughrider and Pats games..On January 10, Premier Scott Moe, Education Minister Dustin Duncan, and Rural Health Minister Everett Hindley chartered a private plane to the northern part of the province, costing the taxpayers approximately $16,000..“If Scott Moe’s Sask. Party can jet-set on the taxpayer dime, they can certainly do the right thing and scrap the PST increase, stop the utility rate hikes, and provide affordability relief to Saskatchewan families today,” said Beck. .“Maybe all this lavish spending and fiscal mismanagement is why Scott Moe and his finance minister have never balanced a budget. … It’s also perhaps the reason why you see a government that is so obviously out of touch with the realities of people in this province.”.The Saskatchewan Party did not make Harpauer available for an interview, but released a statement that the government “makes every effort to ensure responsible use of tax dollars when it comes to travel.”.“The flight to North Battleford was part of the finance minister’s in-person 2022–23 budget presentations. After limiting travel for the last two years due to the pandemic, the minister of finance visited multiple regions of the province,” said the statement. .“Community engagement following the introduction of the budget has been an annual practice for many years. It is a vital way to connect with local chambers and residents to give them more detailed information regarding the provincial budget and to receive feedback.”.According to the government statement, cabinet ministers normally drive around the province except “for longer distances and when long drive times would impact other commitments.”.The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) released a statement calling the flights “an insult to workers who are struggling to make ends meet.”.“It’s unbelievable that at a time when workers are finding themselves unable to put food on the table or to fill their cars with gas just to be able to get to work, the Sask. Party has no issue booking private jets and sending Saskatchewan people the bill,” said Lori Johb, the SFL president..“The Finance minister should pay back the cost of the flight and apologize to working people for being so arrogant and out of touch with reality.”
