I am not sure why everyone continually blames the government that is in power , no matter who is serving.
You must sit down and think long and hard about WHERE and to WHO current money is going and WHY it is going there.
We are entering a recession , this is what happens when a recession hits, no political leader can stop it or foresee its full wrath.
I am not taking sides but I will make a few key points for all to consider.
What did it cost to have 800 workers protest in front of legislature?They all had holidays that day?
-Hunting and fishing licenses have NOT increased in price relative to inflation.It is very inexpensive to hunt in relation to many other hobbies, also hobbies are elective, nobody is forcing you, you chose knowing there are expenses.
-Spending has greatly declined in the province as a result of layoffs and cut backs in other provinces as well, many of those workers aren't spending here like they used to(tax generation) as well as some have had to take cuts within province, again, not spending like they used to.Much of this lost revenue was from people employed in the private sector generating non tax based revenue.
-The cost of public sector unionized jobs. What do all those benefits and pension plans and reimbursements actually cost? I spoke with a large private company manager and estimates the COST on average , per employee is $120 to $150/hr.(these are average paying jobs 40-60K/yr)This is with only a fraction of benefits that public sector workers receive.
-Paid sick days.Most Private sector jobs don't have this.
-The ABUSE of paid sick time - DO NOT deny this happens , we all know it does.One employee calls in sick and still gets their wage AND benefits while not at work.The person who comes in makes typically time and one half PLUS benefits maybe even paid meals if over a certain length.So this has COST an additional 150% more than original.Now if that job costs $100/hr(very low but giving the benefit of the doubt here for easy math) to fill that shift just cost $3000.00 if it was a 12/hr shift.
-The ABUSE happens when this is a staged sickness so that someone can get some OT , they trade off every so often so each person benefits.
-The province has lost major revenue generated through taxation of resources and property as well as personal income tax with the closure of mining and oil industry businesses and employees.How is private company closure the premiers responsibility?
-Go to any government run facility and see the wasteful tactics of any job, how many employees it actually takes to do a job, now go to the private sector and compare equivalent work and the man power involved and the cost of manpower.I can get into much greater detail on this.
-Everybody wants their raise as per the collective agreement every year and without basing it on performance or attendance , only because "it says in here" type justification, and, they get that raise every year without remembering where it comes from.The very tax they pay goes DIRECTLY to their wages AND benefit packages.
-We have an aging infrastructure system that YOU want up to snuff, costs money
-We have a medical system where YOU want the best care, costs money
This list goes on.
The government announced many month ago about wage and salary freezes and cut backs in legislature , people forget that, they took the hit first.
Ask yourself this...
What does it cost McDonalds to have a janitor?
What does it cost the Sask Gov't to have a janitor?
Do I like paying more? Of course not , BUT there are people working at the SERM offices, in the field, university studies , SERM studies and analysis to ensure there is fish and game to harvest, oh wait...... fish filleting stations at the lakes , boat launches , docks.Need I go on? I have no problem paying these increases.
This is just the tip of the iceberg , now like I said sit back and really think WHERE/WHO it comes from and WHERE/WHO it goes to and WHY.Those numbers just don't magically appear on paychecks and your teeth really don't get fixed by a fairy , and those hard hats and work gloves weren't just gifts.
A little FYI , the private sector has been cutting costs and employees for some time now and some are just plain out of work.I don't see them complaining near as much.