Sask. NDP lays out plan to pay for promises, Sask. Party announces return of some tax credits

At the end of the first official week of Saskatchewan's election campaign, its two major parties have begun laying out the plans they hope will lead to victory.

NDP Leader Carla Beck says she would cut $58 million in spending during her first year as premier should her party win the election set for Oct. 28.

Beck says she would axe the incumbent Saskatchewan Party's marshals service, slash government advertising and cut administration at the province's Crown Investments Corporation and Executive Council.

She says she would also restructure Saskatchewan's trade offices and do away with consultants.

Beck says she would spend more than $390 million in the first year to pay for her promises, including more money for education and health care.

The plan also includes forgoing $164 million in revenue to pay for suspending the gas tax, removing provincial sales tax on children's clothes and some grocery items, and other measures.

Beck says her plan is based on the government's budgetary numbers, and it forecasts deficits in the first three years with a surplus in the fourth year."

"For years, Scott Moe and his government have been spending money on the wrong priorities — $20 million and counting on a marshals service that has yet to deliver a single boot on the ground. That money could have and should have gone to existing police forces in our province," Beck told reporters Friday in Regina.

She has said she would direct savings from cutting the marshals service to the RCMP and mental health services.

"This is a plan for change. Now, I'm sure that Scott Moe and the Sask. Party are going to tell you that this can't be done, but that's a choice."

• Watch more Sask. election coverage, including full news conferences, on CBC Saskatchewan's YouTube page.

Saskatchewan Party Leader Moe has said Beck's plans are costly and would lead to large deficits.

Moe has promised widespread tax relief for families, which he has said would save a family of four more than $3,400 over four years.

He also plans to increase benefits for families looking to put their kids in sports and arts, along with a pair of tax credits to help current and prospective homeowners.

He said he plans to outline what his party's promises would cost.

Sask. Party says it would bring back home tax credits

If re-elected, Moe says, his party would increase and reintroduce a pair of tax credits designed to help current and prospective homeowners.

"The cost of buying your first home or renovating your home has gone up, so we want to make home ownership and home renovations more affordable," Moe said in a news release Friday.

Moe promised to increase the First-Time Homebuyers Tax Credit to $15,000 from $10,000 if his party wins the Oct. 28 election.

He says the Saskatchewan Party would also reintroduce the Home Renovation Tax Credit, which was a temporary program the government piloted between 2020 and 2022.

That tax credit would allow homeowners to claim up to $4,000 in renovation expenses on their income taxes. Seniors would be able to claim up to $5,000.

The party says the credit would allow homeowners to save up to $420 a year, while seniors could save up to $525 a year.

The Saskatchewan Party also announced Friday it would increase by 40 per cent the Personal Home Care Benefit, which provides low-income seniors living in care homes with monthly payments.

An increase of 40 per cent means the monthly income threshold would be $3,500 per month.

Currently those who qualify for the program receive monthly payments that, once combined with their existing income, ensure they have $2,500 per month. If a recipient's monthly income is $1,000, a 40 per cent increase to the program means the recipient would receive a monthly payment of $2,500.

An increased income threshold also means an estimated 1,500 more people would qualify for the program, the party said.

The Saskatchewan Party also said it plans to increase the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability benefit specifically for the 140 individuals under the age of 65 who live in a personal care home. The average increase for those recipients would be $115 a month.