NDP, Sask. Party continue war of words over 2026-27 budget

Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu

The Sask. Party and the NDP find themselves quarrelling once more about the provincial government, more than three weeks after the budget was unveiled.

On Thursday morning, the NDP once again called into question the province’s claim about Saskatchewan being the most affordable place to live – saying this was undermined by the province’s budget document itself.

“For months, Scott Moe has been repeating his claim that Saskatchewan is the most affordable place to live, all while Saskatchewan residents pay more in taxes and power bills than in Vancouver,” NDP MLA Sally Housser said.

“Maybe he forgot to read his own budget — or maybe this is just more Sask. Party math.”

Housser specifically pointed to a graph comparing the cost of taxes, utilities and housing across 10 municipalities across Canada – saying that a family of four in Saskatchewan making $75,000 a year is paying more than $1,100 more annually in provincial taxes and electricity than a family in Vancouver.

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The NDP reiterated its request for the government to cease its rate hikes for power and car insurance.

However, the province rebuked the province’s claims and accused the NDP of misrepresenting the data.

“Once again, the NDP is using selective and partial information to create a false narrative and run down Saskatchewan, in this case, making the ridiculous claim that it is more expensive to live in Saskatchewan than Vancouver,” read a statement from the Government of Saskatchewan.

“Pages 61 and 62 of this year’s provincial budget show that Saskatchewan is the most affordable place in Canada for a family of four at various levels of income to live, while NDP BC is the most expensive place in Canada to live.”

The graph listed the cost for Regina’s total taxes and utilities at $7,766 compared with Vancouver’s $7,753. However, the combined cost for total taxes, utilities and housing was $29,388 for Regina in 2026 compared to Vancouver’s $77,324, according to the province.