Far from keeping their promise to provide increased supports for children living with autism spectrum disorder, the Sask. Party heartless cuts and broken promises have left them and their families with fewer and fewer supports and – in some cases – without access to school.
“It’s hard for parents of children living with autism to trust the Sask. Party when they say they care about early learning, because all they’ve seen are broken promises and cuts to programs designed to help their children,” said NDP Early Learning and Childcare Critic Carla Beck. “The Sask. Party needs to do what’s right and help these children get access to the education and supports they need and deserve. We need more spaces. Not fewer.”
During the last election, the Sask. Party promised to finally catch up to other provinces and offer individualized funding for children living with autism spectrum disorder but they have failed to deliver on that promise.
“The Sask. Party has cut supports in schools and access to speech pathologists and occupational therapists,” Beck said. “Those heartless cuts are having a devastating impact on Saskatchewan students and their families.”
“It is getting harder and harder for parents like me because the proper supports simply aren’t in place,” said Brittany McDonald, a Regina mother whose daughter Ru was diagnosed with autism about a year ago. “What children with autism need is the full recommended amount of time with educational assistants, preschool programs to help high-need learners to be reinstated and adequate access to speech pathologists and occupational therapists in the school system.”
Poor working conditions, favouritism, $300K travel nurse pay at issue
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition released a letter signed by 49 emergency room nurses in Saskatoon. The letter slams the Sask. Party government for failing to support Saskatchewan nurses and curb the province’s reliance on expensive out-of-province travel nurses.
REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Critic for First Nations and Métis Relations Betty Nippi-Albright hosted a Day of Action with Indigenous leaders from Nekaneet First Nation, Yellow Quill First Nation, Waterhen Lake First Nation, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Carry The Kettle First Nation, Key First Nation and the residential school support team from Yorkton Tribal Council. Together, they continue to draw attention to the Sask. Party government’s disregard for the Duty to Consult process.
MOOSE JAW - Today, the Official Opposition stood with Taylor Enns, president of the Moose Jaw Firefighters Association, and Brayden Dutchak, the son of a cancer survivor. Together, they called on the Sask. Party government to reopen Saskatchewan’s only hyperbaric chamber.
Records show former Sask. Party Finance Minister lobbied for Calgary surgery scheme on behalf of a major Sask. Party donor
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition grilled the Premier and his Minister of Health after the Minister misled the public, claiming that he had not been lobbied by a former Sask. Party MLA when Saskatchewan's official lobbyist logs show the exact opposite.