Brad Wall stands on record, promises tax credit for volunteer firefighters

Brad Wall was in Regina for the first full day of the election campaign, addressing delegates at the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) annual convention.

While he had been asked not to get political, he raised some laughs while doing his best to avoid that request.

He reminded delegates of the importance of the agricultural sector, particularly in innovation and productivity. He credited the recent success of producers in providing financial balance as energy revenues have fallen.

Wall asked delegates to remember his record in government including the introduction of municipal revenue sharing – one point of the PST – and a reduction in the education portion of property tax.

During his speech, Wall announced a new tax credit worth $330 a year for volunteer firefighters and first responders. The new tax credit will cost the province $1 million a year.

Speaking to reporters after his speech, Wall was asked whether the NDP had stolen the Saskatchewan Party’s momentum by essentially campaigning a week before the writ dropped.

“I will let others decide that, but I note the poll today (Wednesday), which has us a 24-point lead. That’s a bigger lead than we have had in the last little while,” he commented.

While he maintains he will stand on his record, Wall thinks the NDP is taking the wrong approach.

“I think it is actually a tactical mistake, it is bad policy to over promise as the NDP are and what it will do to the budget.”

Wall spent Wednesday afternoon at campaign offices in Regina.