SASKATOON, SK: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the Saskatchewan government to control spending after the 2025 mid-year update shows the government’s spending is over budget.

“The government needs to control spending and cut back to stay within its own budget,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director. “When the government faces unexpected costs like wildfires, the right thing to do is to find savings in other areas.

“Year after year the government continues to spend over budget, borrow more money and increase the debt.”

Spending is now $521 million over budget. Government revenue is up $82 million compared to the budget.

The government is spending more than budgeted on its wildfire response, health-care costs and pension expenses.

The government is increasing Saskatchewan’s debt to $23.9 billion by the end of the year. That’s $398 million higher than budgeted and a $2.1 billion increase in borrowing compared to last year. The Saskatchewan government has increased the debt by 136 per cent since 2016.

The government has consistently failed to stay on budget for years. It spent $970 million more than budgeted in 2024. In 2023, the government went over budget by $2.2 billion. In 2022, it was $1.4 billion. And in 2021, it was $2.5 billion.

“Taxpayers can’t afford for the government to borrow more than $2 billion this year,” said Haubrich. “Premier Scott Moe needs to balance unexpected costs by finding savings, not by saddling taxpayers with more debt and higher debt interest payments.”