Cabinet Ministers must clear up confusion caused by Sask. Party announcement this week
Earlier this week, a Sask. Party press conference about legalized cannabis sales left Saskatchewan families, business owners and municipal leaders with more questions than answers. Sask. Party cabinet ministers must answer questions and address growing concern and provide much-needed clarity about their plan.
“The Sask. Party have left municipal and business leaders to wait, knowing they’ll have to scramble at the last minute. It’s irresponsible,” said NDP Leader Nicole Sarauer. “The Sask. Party SLGA Minister made the announcement this week but, time and time again, neither he nor his officials were able to answer the questions being asked. The Sask. Party still won’t even say what age limit they’ll set for buying cannabis.”
The Minister announced in which communities retail licences would be made available but did not say exactly how communities could opt-out or how licenses would be awarded.
“The Minister provided few details about how the retail or wholesale businesses would work and wouldn’t even say whether or not wholesalers would have to be based in Saskatchewan,” Sarauer said. “SLGA has the experience and the infrastructure to responsibly and effectively handle, at least, the wholesale distribution, but the Sask. Party have rejected that opportunity and blocked our Crown Corporation from the obvious economic benefits.”
Municipalities are currently in the process of preparing their annual budgets and, even though they will be forced to cover additional costs from zoning to policing, the Sask. Party are still refusing to share any additional tax revenues with them.
“The Sask. Party’s delays and refusal to work with municipalities have consequences. Some cities have even been forced to cut or freeze policing budgets,” Sarauer said. “The Sask. Party must, at least, reverse their cuts to municipal funding. The provincial government will be collecting taxes from cannabis sales but all municipal leaders know is that their costs are going to go up and the Sask. Party is leaving them high and dry.”
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.