Today (Tues) was the second reading of the Income Tax Amendment Act in the Saskatchewan Legislature, which brings us closer to receiving those $500 affordability cheques in the mail.

NDP Leader Carla Beck welcomes the affordability relief but suggests the government should make kids and families eligible for the program. She explained during Question Period that the way it is set up now, a couple with no children will get two chequest while a single parent of three will only receive one. Anyone who filed their taxes and is 18 or over as of the end of December is eligible for the rebate cheque. Beck says, “Four in ten Saskatchewan food bank visitors are children and one in four Saskatchewan kids are living in poverty – a figure well above the national average.”

Premier Scott Moe responded that his government is pleased that they are able to provide these cheques from the extra resource money and for anyone who files income tax in Saskatchewan, that then opens them up to a number of affordability supports. He adds that from the resource revenue, they are also paying down $1-billion in debt, which means saving $50-million in interest over the years.