With the British Columbia Premier Christy Clark committing to the creation of a non-partisan committee to review the province’s campaign finance laws, the Saskatchewan NDP is once again pushing the Sask. Party to get big money out of Saskatchewan politics.
“As the Sask. Party continues to announce its callous cuts and desperate sell-offs, it’s become more and more obvious that they often need a reminder that they work for the people of Saskatchewan, not just for big donors and out-of-province corporations,” said NDP Ethics and Democracy Critic David Forbes. “Saskatchewan democracy should be left firmly in the hands of Saskatchewan people. Our campaign finance laws are the worst in the country and, under the Sask. Party, we’re actually falling further behind. There is no good reason for the Sask. Party’s refusal to support our call to improve these important rules.”
The NDP currently have a Bill which would put a cap on donation limits and would ban corporate and union donations. Forbes noted that union and business leaders in Saskatchewan also support banning corporate and union contributions and that, until recently, the Saskatchewan Premier was the last in the country to take top-up bonus - funded by party donors - on top of his public-paid salary.
“The people of the province deserve to know how the Sask. Party is funded and be assured that no government access or influence is being bought,” said Forbes. “The Premier fought tooth and nail to keep his top-up, all while fighting to cut wages of public workers. By continuing to stand by the out-dated campaign finance laws, the Sask. Party is stomping on democracy and showing their true colours.”
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.