Countering Saskatchewan Party 'Spin' On Huge Budget Deficit With Some Reality
The minute after Rod Gantefore told Saskatchewan that his provincial budget was over $1 Billion in deficit, Sask Party spin doctors started twirling and whirling their carefully crafted cover line.
"No one could have possibly projected the decline in revenue that is causing the deficit."
The spinners called into every open line talk show that they could - spinning and spinning. Even talk show hosts on certain Right leaning programs were repeating the Saskatchewan Party mantra ... 'no one could have projected this fall in revenue ...' blah blah blah!
Oh Really! Here is what the Financial Editor of the Regina Leader-Post has to say about the Sask Party 'line'!
"At the time, then-NDP finance critic Harry Van Mulligen warned production cuts announced by potash companies could easily derail the budget's revenue and economic projections.
"Bottom line,'' Van Mulligen said, "shaky economic and revenue assumptions, plus runaway spending, equals a potential fiscal trainwreck.'' As it turns out, Van Mulligen was remarkably prescient, unlike his counterpart in the government benches.
While Gantefoer can be excused for not forecasting the unprecedented cutbacks in potash production, he stands guilty as charged for failing to moderate his overly optimistic budget projections, despite the mounting evidence to the contrary."
Bruce Johnstone
Business Editor
Regina Leader-Post
Postscript:
Brad Wall's functionaries have a long history of trying to manipulate the public on key messaging.
"No one could have possibly projected the decline in revenue that is causing the deficit."
The spinners called into every open line talk show that they could - spinning and spinning. Even talk show hosts on certain Right leaning programs were repeating the Saskatchewan Party mantra ... 'no one could have projected this fall in revenue ...' blah blah blah!
Oh Really! Here is what the Financial Editor of the Regina Leader-Post has to say about the Sask Party 'line'!
"At the time, then-NDP finance critic Harry Van Mulligen warned production cuts announced by potash companies could easily derail the budget's revenue and economic projections.
"Bottom line,'' Van Mulligen said, "shaky economic and revenue assumptions, plus runaway spending, equals a potential fiscal trainwreck.'' As it turns out, Van Mulligen was remarkably prescient, unlike his counterpart in the government benches.
While Gantefoer can be excused for not forecasting the unprecedented cutbacks in potash production, he stands guilty as charged for failing to moderate his overly optimistic budget projections, despite the mounting evidence to the contrary."
Bruce Johnstone
Business Editor
Regina Leader-Post
Postscript:
Brad Wall's functionaries have a long history of trying to manipulate the public on key messaging.
