Saskatchewan's premier is defending his government's decision to give $3 million to the food delivery business Skip the Dishes.

But Brad Wall also says the government cannot afford a similar deal for others.

The company is planning to add 300 employees to its Saskatoon office — with help from the taxpayer.

Wall says he is not going back on his longstanding promise to avoid "picking winners and losers" in the economy.

However, he says the government will not be able to give the same help — $10,000 for every new job — to other companies after the budget on June 1.

"We're simply not going to be able to afford that same sort of training allowance per job going forward just because of where the budget's at," Wall told reporters in Saskatoon on Wednesday evening.

This year's upcoming budget, to be tabled June 1, is expected to have a deficit greater than $260 million.

Wall says the high-tech company will create hundreds of good jobs in the province, which is worth the investment.

"There will be 300 jobs created here," Wall said. "I think it's going to be important as we continue to diversify the economy, especially that these are tech-sector jobs. This is going to be important not just for Saskatoon but for the province."

Wall says in future, when the government helps businesses with training it will offer more general support rather than help a single company.