SASKATOON, SK: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the Saskatchewan government to find savings after the 2025 first quarter fiscal update shows spending already over budget.

“When unexpected costs like wildfires happen, the government needs to find other savings,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director. “When a Saskatchewan family has an unexpected car repair bill, they have to find savings in their vacation plans, but that’s not what the government does.

“Year after year, the Saskatchewan government racks up unexpected costs without finding savings anywhere else and the debt goes up.”

Budget 2025 projected the government would spend $21 billion this year. Spending is now up $189 million compared to the budget. Total government revenue is projected to be $172 million less than budgeted.

The government is spending $80 million more due to wildfire costs and $115 million more due to pension expenses.

Failing to keep spending in line with budget projections is a consistent pattern for the government. It spent $970 million more than projected 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.

Premier Scott Moe has more than doubled the provincial debt while in office. When Moe became premier, the debt was about $11 billion. By the end of this year, the debt will be $23.7 billion.

“This fiscal update isn’t a fluke; the Saskatchewan government has been blowing its budget every single year for a long time,” Haubrich said. “Moe needs to control spending, stick to his budget and work to pay down Saskatchewan’s increasing debt.”