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Saskatchewan introduces budget with spending hikes but also $819-million deficit

  • Jeremy Simes

  • Canadian Press

  • March 18, 2026

Saskatchewan Finance Minister Jim Reiter looks on after a press conference before the release of provincial Saskatchewan budget in Regina, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu

REGINA -- Saskatchewan has introduced a new budget that avoids tax hikes and program cuts but carries with it a big deficit.

Premier Scott Moe's Saskatchewan Party government spending plan for 2026-27 projects the bottom line will be $819 million in the red.

The government also predicts more deficits in the years to follow.

Finance Minister Jim Reiter says the province is protecting public services by not making cuts or raising taxes.

"We chose to protect Saskatchewan," Reiter told reporters Wednesday before introducing the budget in the legislature.

"We could have increased some taxes. We could've not put as much funding into key areas like health care. We decided now is not the time to be doing that."

The budget shows the province plans to spend nearly an extra $1.2 billion, with most of the dollars going to health care, education, social services and policing.

Revenues are also projected to be up by $360 million, largely due to the province receiving more provincial sales taxes, but it expects less money from natural resources.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 18, 2026.