Responding to the Sask. Party government’s Report on Saskatchewan Public Libraries Engagement, NDP Education Critic Carla Beck said that public consultation “appears to be an afterthought” in the libraries review process, “when it should be front and centre.” The government released the report late yesterday afternoon, setting a two-week limit on comment on the report, with no public meetings scheduled and no opportunity to engage broader questions about the role or future of libraries in Saskatchewan.
Beck noted that Saskatchewan libraries were only saved from deep cuts in the 2017 budget by widespread public outcry, with thousands of people rallying in support. The government walked back those cuts, announcing it would conduct a review of the library system to determine next steps.
“People were furious when the Sask. Party government moved to slash library funding in 2017,” Beck said. “People care about libraries — 14,000 people signed a petition to save them, and thousands participated in read-in protests around the province. This short survey is what passes for public consultation?”
Beck pointed out that the online survey is limited to inviting comment on yesterday’s report, not on the evolving role of libraries more generally.
Recent NDP Freedom of Information requests about the report were effectively stonewalled, with one turning up eleven almost-completely redacted pages. And advocates have previously raised concerns about the way in which the public has been shut out from the libraries review process.
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.