Through their failure to invest in Saskatchewan people and Saskatchewan jobs, the Sask. Party government has left homeowners struggling when it comes to meeting their mortgage payments. According to a recent report released by the Canadian Bankers Association, Saskatchewan has the highest rate of people who are behind on their mortgages.
“We’ve now climbed to three times the national average. That speaks to a lot of stress and heartache for families who are struggling to pay their bills,” said NDP Housing Critic Nicole Rancourt. “Instead of providing opportunities for economic growth and an increase in wages, the Sask. Party has cut funding to job creation programs and refused to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. They are holding Saskatchewan residents back.”
Saskatchewan’s percentage of mortgages that are in arrears is 0.78 per cent, over three times the Canadian average of 0.23 per cent. Manitoba and B.C. are much lower than Saskatchewan, sitting at 0.33 per cent and 0.15 per cent respectively. The last time Saskatchewan’s numbers were this high was in November 1992, shortly after Grant Devine was swept from office.
“Just like 26 years ago, someone is going to have to come in and clean up this mess and get things back on track,” said NDP Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon. “Homeowners and families are struggling, and so many of the Sask. Party’s choices are making matters worse. New Democrats will continue to stand up for people and work to create jobs and build our economy.”
Further underscoring the pain homeowners are feeling, a response to a written question submitted by the NDP has revealed that the number of notices of intention of home foreclosures in Saskatchewan has increased 204 per cent in the last decade, climbing from 392 notices in 2008 to 1,192 in 2017. If the trend for the first three months of 2018 holds, there will be 1,788 foreclosures in 2018.
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.