REGINA - Today NDP Associate Labour Critic Jennifer Bowes introduced Bill 603, the Saskatchewan Employment (Paid Sick Leave) Amendment Act to provide paid sick leave for workers in Saskatchewan who have sacrificed so much during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’ve called on the government to listen to workers, doctors and public health officials who have all called for paid sick leave to keep working people, their families and their communities safe,” said Bowes. “The government has refused to act, despite the prevalence of workplace outbreaks as variants spread in Saskatchewan. That’s wrong. Saskatchewan families deserve better.”
Bill 603 would provide 10 paid sick days each year during non-COVID times and 14 paid sick days during the COVID-19 state of emergency. While these sick days would be the responsibility of the employer, the Saskatchewan NDP believes that the government should work with businesses to support these efforts in a way that does not unduly burden small and medium sized businesses during the course of the pandemic.
“Under this government Saskatchewan families, workers and businesses have had the worst of both worlds: over 500 deaths due to COVID-19, crowded ICUs and thousands of jobs lost,” said Bowes. “The Sask. Party government has failed to contain COVID-19, failed to protect workers and failed to protect jobs. Paid sick leave is a crucial tool in the fight against COVID-19 and we urge the government to work with us to pass this bill.”
-30-
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.