The spring session in the Legislature ended with the NDP holding the Sask. Party to account for their PST hikes, money-wasting scandals, and lack of vision to stimulate the province’s economy and create jobs, while also proposing ways to make Saskatchewan better for everyone.
Despite the opportunities to improve Saskatchewan’s future with their 2018/19 budget, the Sask. Party continued down the path of mismanagement and hurting the most vulnerable. They did not fully restore the $54 million cut from education funding in the last budget; they cut $5 million from the rental housing supplement; and they cut $3 million for job training and workforce development programs.
“Saskatchewan has one of the worst records in job creation in the country and yet we didn’t see any vision or plan from the Sask. Party to get people back to work or make life more affordable for families whether it's in rural Saskatchewan, the cities or the North,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili.
Similar to previous sessions, the Sask. Party has dodged questions about their scandalous GTH pet project. With its lack of land sales, the GTH is continuing to cost the people of Saskatchewan more and more.
Even with a new premier, the Sask. Party has failed to address many of the concerns laid out by the Saskatchewan Advocate for Children and Youth. They still have not provided the necessary mental health supports that have been called for by community leaders.
“The Sask. Party has yet to take meaningful action to address the growing number of First Nations and Metis children in the province’s care. The lack of progress shows this government does not take these concerns seriously,” said Meili. “The Sask. Party needs to fulfill its promises to Indigenous communities and close the gaps in education, health services and the justice system.”
The NDP put forward a number of pieces of legislation, and saw many successes with proposing change. The NDP continued their push to get big money out of politics, to get the province to implement sexual assault and domestic violence strategies, and to get parents access to extended parental leave. The NDP, with the backing of the people of the province, forced the Sask. Party to repeal Bill 40, and continued their fight to protect the Crowns. Meili and the team of MLAs called for fair minimum wages, investment in education and advocacy on national pharmacare.
“This session was about doing politics differently, and with that comes the work of holding the government to account, but more importantly, proposing new ideas,” Meili said. “Over the summer, the NDP team will continue to reach out to the province, listen to stakeholders, and do our part to make the lives of all Saskatchewan people better. The work starts with winning the upcoming byelection in Regina Northeast.”
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.