Removing PST ‘should not be a partisan position’ says Cumberland MLA
Emokhare Paul Anthony
Local journalism Initiative Reporter
Daily Herald
Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck has called on the provincial government to step up and eliminate the PST on construction labour to help rebuild hundreds of homes, commercial buildings, and cabins already been destroyed by fire this summer.
“This call is about getting help to people in the north so they can get back on their feet and start rebuilding their lives,” said Beck.
Beck made the comments after touring affected areas of the north first hand. She said communities like Denare Beach, and areas like East Trout Lake, and Sucker River will take time to recover.
Beck added that northern residents are eager to get to work, but will need support to rebuild.
“We have met so many incredible people again who have faced so much but continue to pitch in to bring ideas forward, those very interested and doing everything that they can to rebuild their communities,” Beck said
Beck said eliminating the PST is an important show of goodwill that will help get that rebuilding underway.
“These are people who’ve been incredibly strong during this crisis. They’ve done everything that they can and so it’s time for the provincial government to step up, take them up on this idea and start rebuilding those hundreds of structures that have been lost right now,” said Beck.
NDP MLA for Cumberland Jordan McPhail echoed those sentiments. McPhail said he’s heard directly from constituents in areas like East Trout Lake that removing the PST on construction labour would help them rebuild.
McPhail said the provincial government has been too slow to respond in many cases. In others, he accused the government or ignoring requests for help.
McPhail said there are thousands of people who remain evacuated from their homes who have had the worse summer of their loves and they need support.
He added that construction labour typically accounts for 30 to 50 per cent of the total building cost. Removing the PST, he said, is the ideal way to keep those costs low.
“This should not be a partisan position,” McPhail said. “It’s simply the right thing to do.”
The provincial government has created a number of programs to help northern Saskatchewan residents impacted by the wildfires. In June, it provided $15 million to the Canadian Red Cross to assist northerners displaced from their homes.
The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency also provided $40 per day to the head of a household who was forced to evacuate a primary residence, plus $20 per day for additional members of a household. The daily maximum was $200.
The Provincial Disaster Assistance Program (PDAP) has also been extended by one hear to help residents impacted by the wildfires.
“After a disaster, households have a lot to manage and take care of as they work through recovery,” Saskatchewan Public Safety President Marlo Pritchard said in a press release. “The Recovery Task Team will continue to look for ways to support and take some of that pressure off of the communities and their residents.”
–with files from Jason Kerr/Daily Herald
