SASKATOON, SK: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released Insightrix polling showing 86 per cent of Saskatchewanians are concerned about how much money the provincial government is wasting on debt interest charges.

“The poll is clear: Saskatchewanians are fed up with how much money the government is wasting on debt interest payments every year,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director. “When the government continually spends beyond its means and balloons the debt, taxpayers are stuck with the cost of debt interest charges and they can’t afford it”

Since becoming premier, Scott Moe has more than doubled Saskatchewan’s provincial debt. In 2017, the debt stood at about $10.1 billion. By the end of this year, it will hit about $23.9 billion.

The government will waste $878.4 million on debt interest payments this year. That works out to about $695 in debt interest costs per Saskatchewanian. Debt interest payments have cost taxpayers more than $5 billion since 2017-18.

The Insightrix poll asked Saskatchewanians if they are concerned about how much money the government is spending on debt interest payments. Results of the poll show:

• 41 per cent are very concerned
• 45 per cent are somewhat concerned
• Eight per cent are not very concerned
• Two per cent are not at all concerned
• Four per cent are unsure

The government is planning to increase the debt by at least 22 per cent from 2025-26 to 2029-30.

“Saskatchewanians know that piling up more debt and spending more and more on debt interest payments is something that taxpayers can’t afford,” Haubrich said. “Moe needs to listen to Saskatchewanians and immediately cut spending and start to pay down Saskatchewan’s increasing debt.”