Saskatchewan’s employment numbers continued to decline last month, with numbers dropping year-over-year for the fifth straight month.
The latest numbers from Statistics Canada show that there were 6,200 fewer people working in June compared to the same time last year. The unemployment rate has grown to 6.1 per cent compared to 4.7 per cent last June and, while there are 7,000 more people calling Saskatchewan home than a year ago, there are 9,000 fewer jobs in the province to go around.
“These numbers show signs that Saskatchewan’s economy is slowing and that it’s getting harder and harder for people to find work,” said Regina Lakeview MLA Carla Beck. “These numbers make it clear that the Sask. Party's stubborn refusal to diversify the economy has left them with no plan to get Saskatchewan people back to work.”
In just the last month, 1,000 more people have been forced into the unemployment line, bringing the total number of unemployed people in the province to 37,000 compared to 28,000 a year ago.
The Sask. Party’s failure in job creation is particularly worrisome in the context of ongoing cuts to classrooms, job losses in the resource sector, and alarming and consistently high unemployment rates in First Nations and Métis communities.
“There are thousands of people in this province looking for work, and thousands of good, mortgage-paying jobs have been lost, but still, the Sask. Party refuses to take the situation seriously or admit they need a new strategy,” Beck said. “It’s time for the Sask. Party to change course and start helping to create jobs and get Saskatchewan people back to work.”
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.