Deficit expected in 2021-22 provincial budget

When the provincial government unveils the 2021-22 budget Tuesday afternoon, it’s expected there will be a lot more red than black on the page.

There is expected to be a large deficit on the books for the coming year, though whether it will exceed last year’s record-high deficit is unknown.

Last year and into the fall election campaign, the Saskatchewan Party and its government had predicted getting the province’s finances back to balance by 2024. But last month, Finance Minister Donna Harpauer all but confirmed that won’t happen.

There are expected to be many more millions of dollars going to many different ministries to continue dealing with the pandemic — between money for health care like vaccines, programs to help keep people and their businesses afloat, and capital projects to stimulate the economy.

The question on COVID-19 spending is how late into the year the money is budgeted to last.

There will be several campaign promises from the Sask. Party’s run in the fall that will have to be worked into the numbers, including the small business tax cut, the home renovation tax credit, and the SaskPower rebate which the party said it would repay SaskPower from the government’s coffers.

One big question for many in the province will be under the health portfolio — how much money is or is not budgeted for mental health and addictions. Advocates have called for swift action on the addictions file in response to the record number of drug overdose deaths over the past year.

Harpauer is expected to rise in the Chambers around 2 p.m. to deliver the budget.