REGINA - The Saskatchewan Liberal party has zeroed in on reducing poverty during an election campaign kickoff.

The Liberals announced Saturday night in Regina they would raise the provincial minimum wage to $13 an hour by July 2017.

They say they would also raise the base personal income tax exemption to a level equivalent with a full-time minimum wage job.

The Liberals further pledge that a working tax credit would be available for people whose income doesn't exceed the basic personal amount.

Liberal leader Darrin Lamoureux says the governing Saskatchewan Party's insistence on exploiting the Temporary Foreign Worker Program has provided the service sector with new labour, while keeping wages low.

Voters will go to the polls in Saskatchewan on April 4.