Will Brad Wall and his new Saskatchewan Party government provide gains for taxpayers and improve government accountability The Sask Party platform does give us reason to say "Yes." But even if Wall follows through with his plans, even more options remain that could take our prosperous province even further.

For one, income tax relief would be welcome. Why would ex-pats move back from Alberta when they enjoy a basic personal exemption of more than $15,000, and a single rate tax of ten percent The Wall government should at least put us in the ball park by raising our BPE to $15,000 and implementing an 11% single rate tax. Combined with a lower cost of living such a policy would repatriate the province's tax base and create home-based jobs and opportunity for decades.

Another large concern is the school portion of property tax (the highest in Canada!). The Sask Party's commitment to increase rebates (an NDP carry-over) is not enough. Systemic changes are necessary by having the province fund schools 75% from general revenues with the rest assigned to the property tax base. Related to this, flexible funding arrangements and reforms like charter schools should be considered as an alternative to simply closing and consolidating school districts.

The status quo of ever-increasing health care spending and long wait times also has to end. Eventually, the prohibition against private health care alternatives and patient choice will take effect throughout the country--not just in Quebec where the courts have ordered such. In the meantime, the government should seek to make the existing monopoly as efficient and cost effective as possible by outsourcing non-essential services to competitive tenders including cleaning, laundry, food preparation, maintenance, and security.

Because of the Sask Party's regrettable pledge not to privatize any crowns, taxpayers will remain saddled with ridiculous obligations that include a money-losing bus company. Yet in other areas they can simply open the door to competition. British Columbia for example has kept its government liquor stores, but allows private vendors to compete. Ending government's liquor monopoly invites better service, selection and job creation.

Governments across Canada are spending billions to build and upgrade infrastructure. It is critical that taxpayers get the best bang for their buck. Public Private Partnerships provide competitive pricing with guarantees for taxpayers against cost overruns and late delivery. They should be the rule in Saskatchewan, not the exception.

One of Ralph Klein's first steps to get Alberta's house in order years ago was to hand MLAs and top civil servants a 15 per cent pay cut. But our MLAs just received a $9000 raise, and recent severance payments for politicians totaled $900,000. Plus, 150 civil servants received a mind-boggling $4.6-million in severance. We need to reign in these amounts to levels consistent with the taxpayers that pay for them would expect. We should also require cabinet ministers, their staff, and senior public servants to publish quarterly their office expenses, as the federal parliament now does.

Accountability remains a centerpiece of what the public is demanding from their elected officials. Fixed election and budget dates are a welcome first step. Workable citizen-initiated referendum legislation should also be introduced, since 80% of voters supported the idea in a 1991 provincial referendum. Add to this a requirement that tax increases could only be approved via referendum, and Saskatchewan would lead the way in democratic reform.

The province's new era does seem filled with promise. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation will continue to lobby the government to keep its worthy pledges and to do still more. Let's all do our part to seize the moment and create the best Saskatchewan yet.