Post by : Meena Ariff

The Saskatchewan government is on track to overspend its budget by over $1 billion, raising fears of a larger deficit.

In a recent committee meeting, it was disclosed that SaskPower requires an extra $813 million to address escalating costs, in addition to $194 million in unpaid carbon fuel charges.

Critics from the opposition have lambasted Premier Scott Moe’s government for their lack of transparency, noting that Crown Investments Minister Jeremy Harrison was absent from the session.

NDP spokesperson Aleana Young emphasized the unprecedented financial difficulties faced by SaskPower and cautioned that this could lead to increased power bills for households. Finance critic Trent Wotherspoon labeled the government's approach as “irresponsible” and challenged their evasiveness.

Earlier predictions indicated a $12-million surplus, but the latest forecast suggests a staggering $427-million deficit. Should these additional expenses be accepted, Young forecasts the deficit could swell to at least $1.4 billion.

Government representatives argue that attending committee meetings is not mandatory for ministers, although the opposition pointed out that no billion-dollar requests were made in similar meetings last year.

To date, SaskPower has not released any statements regarding potential repercussions, including possible increases in rates.

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