With oil prices down substantially, Premier Brad Wall appears to be hunting for ways to save money.

While his government has done a good job scrounging around for savings in the past, there are still plenty of things the premier could do to cut spending without impacting everyday Saskatchewan residents.

First, the government should cut all spending on special grants and loans for businesses; also known as “corporate welfare.” Plain and simple, the public is smart enough to decide for themselves if they want to support a business by buying its products or investing in its operations.

The government made some inroads with cutting corporate welfare a couple years ago when it eliminated the province’s film tax credit. The program was essentially a big grant program that took money from everyday Saskatchewanians and gave it to film companies so it was a wise decision for the government to end the handouts.

What the Wall team should do now is cut similar programs, such as the Labour Sponsored Venture Capital Program. Through the program, the government gives tax dollars to those who have invested in approved venture capital funds.

But, if you happened to invest in a Sask business that wasn’t supported by the program, you would receive nothing. Clearly that’s not fair. The government shouldn’t give some people money for their investment decisions but not others.

Just as the federal government has decided to phase out its tax credit out for labour sponsored venture capital funds by 2017, the Wall government should do the same. Doing so would save over $16 million annually.

Next up is the golden tax credit that people receive for making donations to political parties. Few people realize it, but if you make a $200 donation to a political party in Saskatchewan, you’ll receive $150 back from the government. Yet, if you donate $200 to a charity you would only receive $22 back from the government. This sweetheart deal – for political parties – costs taxpayers $1.3 million per year.

It may not be a lot of money compared with the provincial government’s overall budget (over $14 billion), but it would be a symbolic gesture by the Sask Party that it is willing to feel the pinch too. At the very least, the government should cut the credit down to the same rate charities receive.

If the previous two examples seem like small potatoes, consider what reforming government employee pensions could do for the province. In 2006, the Wall government spent $76 million on the pension plan that covers most healthcare employees in the province (Saskatchewan Healthcare Employees Pension Plan).

Due to the pension plan’s financial woes, the government hiked annual spending to $147 million annually as of 2013. That’s almost a 100 per cent increase in just seven years. Had the government kept this spending in-check for inflation, it could easily be saving $50 million per year or so.

And remember, that’s only one government pension plan.

If you like any of the aforementioned money-saving ideas, be sure to let the Premier know. After all, special interest groups will be actively encouraging him to scope out the alternative; tax increases.