Saskatchewan finance minister wearing tight shoes for tight budget

REGINA – Saskatchewan Finance Minister Ken Krawetz (KRAH’-vetz) is breaking with the tradition of getting new shoes for budget day and is instead wearing a pair of shoes that belonged to his late father.

Krawetz says the shoes are a little tight — like the budget will be when it is tabled in the legislature Wednesday.

The finance minister says revenue is down from last year, largely because the province is losing money due to the price gap between Canadian heavy oil and U.S. light oil.

He says tough decisions had to be made to keep the budget balanced.

The Opposition NDP presented their own shoe suggestion for Krawetz — a pair of clear, rubber ankle boots.

New Democrat finance critic Trent Wotherspoon says it’s to remind the government to present a transparent budget that doesn’t hide debt through health regions, school boards and universities.