Sask. Legislature grapples with western separatism, tariffs in spring sitting

A legislative sitting that began in March with a focus on the threat of tariffs ended on Thursday with discussions about Saskatchewan's future in Canada.

The whiplash pace of the eight-week sitting reflects the break-neck pace of developments throughout Canada.

Saskatchewan's spring sitting opened on March 19, with Finance Minister Jim Reiter tabling the government's annual budget that day.

It was a rare move. Sittings normally open with a few weeks of business before the budget is tabled.

The Official Opposition immediately criticized the decision, saying it was proof that the government was uninterested in accountability.

The Saskatchewan NDP's dissatisfaction grew once it became clear that Reiter's budget projected a slim surplus of $12.1 million and had no contingencies to deal with the threat of tariffs from the United States and China.

NDP finance critic Trent Wotherspoon tore into the budget in March.

As the sitting continued, so too did Wotherspoon's attacks. He pointed to the falling price of oil and the province's decision to end its Output-Based Performance Standards (OBPS) program, which taxes large industrial emitters as a reason for to disbelieve the budget's surplus.

"This was a budget that really was off track from the get go, and certainly didn't step up as well to the challenges and pressures that people are facing," Wotherspoon said.

Although the NDP has used a larger caucus to try to get answers from the government, the Opposition has been frustrated by a Sask. Party government that has used its majority to not give an inch.

Private member's bills from the Opposition did not receive a vote, while efforts in committees were voted down by government MLAs.

The NDP attempted a variety of stunts this sitting. First, MLAs attempted to to wear Team Canada jerseys into the legislature. That quickly failed.

Wotherspoon later put a physical copy of the provincial budget through a shredder, saying it emphasized how the budget wasn't worth the paper it was printed on.

Premier Scott Moe and Reiter have emphasized that their decision to project a surplus would give the province the financial freedom to act as necessary.