‘Fed up:’ NDP says farmers frustrated with high cost of living

The Saskatchewan NDP is calling for relief for farmers from “crippling” cost-of-living expenses.

NDP MLAs Trent Wotherspoon and Aleana Young were at the Vos family farm Wednesday to highlight the issues. The Vos family, they said, has struggled with high costs to feed their animals and run their farm.

“These are folks who work hard. They are raising their kids here. They have a beautiful spot outside of the city,” Young said, standing in the Vos family’s farmyard. “I think people have had enough.”

(Gillian Massie/980 CJME)

Due to last-minute medical concerns, the Vos family was unable to attend the news conference in person. In a statement, Angela Vos explained why her family is “fed up” with the provincial government.

“The current cost-of-living crisis is crushing family farming,” Vos said. “The recent utility increases approved by this government will mean astronomical costs to maintain our family farm. We don’t have a choice. This will be extremely difficult in the winter months.”

Vos said the provincial government simply doesn’t understand the struggles residents in rural areas face.

“I can’t believe how out of touch this government is with the needs of rural Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan families,” Vos said.

The NDP is calling on the provincial government to use high resource revenues to give Saskatchewan residents relief from high costs. Young said the NDP has been calling for relief for months.

“It’s been nearly six months since we have been calling on this government to act on the generational affordability crisis,” said Young, who accused the government of “crippling this province and affecting so many families in what should be a summer of fun and enjoyment.”

Previously, Premier Scott Moe said relief measures would be considered if Saskatchewan’s budget showed a surplus, but he stopped short of making concrete commitments.

Wotherspoon said resources were “through the roof” when the first fiscal quarter concluded 40 days ago.

“The provincial government has the resources, has the revenues, has the fiscal capacity, and the duty to Saskatchewan people who are the owners of these resources,” Wotherspoon said.

The NDP also called on the government to end its fuel tax, scrap PST on restaurant meals and children’s clothing, and stop collecting taxes on energy and power.

“This is a government that has acted,” said Young, “but what they have chosen to do is make life even more expensive. Every opportunity that this government has had, they have raised taxes. They have added fees and increased utility rates.”

SaskPower rates are set to increase by eight per cent by spring of 2023, in the company’s first rate hike since 2018. SaskEnergy rates are set to increase as well, pending provincial approval.

The NDP also called on the provincial government to commit to quarterly reviews of utility rates, something already being done in other provinces.