SASKATOON, SK: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released its annual Finance Minister Report Card that ranks provincial finance ministers on spending, debt and tax relief in the latest provincial budgets.

Saskatchewan Finance Minister Jim Reiter received an overall grade of B-, the highest in the country. Reiter received an overall grade of B+ last year.

“Reiter is the best of the bunch this year, but he still has a lot of work to do to deliver for taxpayers,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director. “Reiter can’t get top marks until he stops racking up and debt burning more than a billion dollars a year on debt interest payments.”

The following key grades influenced Reiter’s overall ranking:

Debt: B

• The government is increasing the debt by about $3.4 billion compared to last year’s budget. The provincial debt will reach $26.8 billion, or about $21,055 per Saskatchewanian, by the end of the year. While Saskatchewan’s debt is growing, it’s still the second lowest in the country.

Debt interest payments: C+

• Interest payments on the debt will cost taxpayers about $1 billion this year, working out to about $816 per person. That’s second lowest in the country.

Tax relief: D

• The budget featured no new tax relief.

“Reiter’s budget increased spending almost across the board, but failed to make life more affordable for Saskatchewanians by cutting taxes,” Haubrich said. “With the rising cost of gas and groceries, cash-strapped taxpayers need tax relief, not more unaffordable government spending.”

Overall ranking of provincial finance ministers:

You can find the full report card and all individual grades HERE.