Old shoes, new protection: The metaphor of Sask. finance minister's pre-budget news conference
CBC
Finance Minister Jim Reiter unveiled his footwear for Wednesday's provincial budget: The same black shoes as last year.
It's a tradition for finance ministers to purchase new shoes before tabling the all-important budget. It's meant to show the fiscal direction of the document.
Reiter admitted to finding the tradition "a bit silly," but made a brief appearance for media outlets on Tuesday.
He wore the same black shoes as last year, bringing with him a can of shoe protector.
"The shoes you see me wearing today are actually last year's shoes because they are in good shape. They just needed a little touchup and they needed some protection. So they've had a spray," Reiter said.
He told reporters he plans to wear the shoes on Wednesday and they fit the theme of the provincial budget: Protecting Saskatchewan.
The theme will also serve as the budget's title. On Tuesday, Reiter carried a green folder with the phrase emblazoned on its cover.
He deferred questions about the budget until he tables the document on Wednesday.
The provincial government has been clear there will be a deficit this year. The question now is how large that figure will be.
On CBC's Blue Sky, former deputy finance minister Ron Styles said he would've worn a pair of rubber boots if he was choosing to send a message about the upcoming budget.
"Things are pretty messy right now, and so I think you're gonna need something that comes up quite high,"Styles said.
Reiter's predecessor, Donna Harpauer, said she would have chosen a "very solid, basic shoe."
"Nothing flashy or fancy, but something that will keep us on solid ground," she said.
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