CTF Prairie Director Colin Craig was there as the Saskatchewan Budget was delivered March 25. Here is what he had to say about the budget:

Analyzing the Budget Numbers by Bruce Johnstone (Calgary Herald / Leader-Post)

Colin Craig, provincial director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, conceded that the Saskatchewan budget really isn't balanced. "It's not quite a balanced budget. They're taking $194 million from the rainy day fund and they're going to use that give them a small surplus this year.''

"On the whole, it's not ideal, but it's pretty darn close to being really A-plus budget ... These guys made some tough choices and they should be applauded for that.''

Craig, who also serves as the CTF's provincial director for Manitoba, said the Saskatchewan budget is far better than the NDP government's budget in Manitoba, which came down Tuesday with a $545 million summary deficit for 2010-11.

"In Manitoba, they're running a $545-million deficit, because they didn't make the tough choices. Here in Saskatchewan, they've made the tough choices. That's why it one of the best budgets in Canada this year.''

From a business perspective, Colin Craig, Prairie director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, also praised the government's announced intention to reduce the number of tax-free cigarettes sold on First Nations, stating, "If you can level the playing field between activities on reserve and off, I think that's a step in the right direction."

Colin Craig with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation believes the budget does a good job of getting the provincial finances under control. His only criticism is that the province dipped into its "rainy day" fund to the tune of 194 million dollars rather than finding more efficiencies in government.