Saskatchewan’s budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year projects an $819.4 million deficit, with total expenses expected to reach $22.2 billion, a 5.7 percent increase from last year’s budget. This follows a forecasted $1.21 billion deficit for the previous fiscal year, indicating ongoing financial challenges for the province.
The Saskatchewan government aims to return to a surplus by the fiscal year 2030-31, with a projected surplus of $124.1 million. In the meantime, the budget allocates $8.47 billion for the Ministry of Health, marking an increase of $393.4 million from the prior year, while the Ministry of Education’s budget is set at $3.6 billion, reflecting a two percent increase.
Projected total revenue for the upcoming fiscal year stands at $21.4 billion. However, the province’s debt-related charges are climbing by $161 million to reach $1.2 billion, which represents about 5.5 percent of total expenses. This trend raises concerns about the sustainability of the province’s financial health.
In a move to address mental health needs, the budget includes $673.7 million for mental health and addictions, an increase of $49 million from last year. Additionally, the government plans to create 50 new specialized support classrooms across schools, aiming to enhance educational support for students.
University of Saskatchewan will receive $318.9 million in operating funding, an increase of $18.3 million over the previous year. Vince Bruni-Bossio, a representative from the university, stated, “This exceptional level of support is unmatched across the country and will allow our university to continue delivering strong returns on investment for Saskatchewan and its people.”
Despite these allocations, opposition leader Carla Beck criticized the budget, saying, “There’s nothing to offer a hint of hope or relief to those families that were already struggling.” In contrast, Minister of Finance Jim Reiter assured that the government would not be issuing layoffs, stating, “We are not going to be going and handing out pink slips.”
Saskatchewan has run deficits since the beginning of the decade, and while the government is targeting a return to surplus, details remain unconfirmed regarding the effectiveness of these measures in stabilizing the province’s finances.
