Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

Statement by NDP Deputy Leader and Justice Critic Nicole Sarauer on Pine Grove Correctional Centre

“I was shocked to learn from workers and SGEU of the concerning situation at Pine Grove Correctional Centre. According to a memo sent to affected staff, a COVID-19 outbreak in the centre has left correctional service workers in an impossible situation. Those staff who worked between May 17 and May 31 are required to continue working but must otherwise self-isolate. This amounts to workers paying the price for Minister Christine Tell and Sask. Party’s failure to control COVID-19 and keep it out of correctional centres.

 These hard-working provincial employees are being punished for the minister's complete abdication of duty and oversight. The Sask. Party government should have prioritized vaccinating staff and inmates when they had the chance, as recommended by both national guidelines and public health officials in the SHA. Employees (mostly women and many with families) are now having to pay for the Sask. Party government’s mixed messages and incompetence.

Once again, it is working families being failed by this government. It’s unacceptable. Saskatchewan deserves better.”

Official Opposition joins calls to protect rural ambulance services

REGINA – Today, Official Opposition Health Critic Vicki Mowat joined the Mayor of the Village of Glenavon Bill Sluser in calling on the provincial government to commit to providing funding to fill ambulance vacancies resulting in service disruptions to communities in Saskatchewan’s Southeast.  

“This is another example of how this government has completely sidelined the health and safety of rural residents. Thank God there hasn’t been a fatal accident. It shouldn’t take an avoidable fatality to convince this government to invest in rural healthcare,” said Mowat. “The people of this province expect essential health services like ambulances to be available when they need them the most.”

Wotherspoon asks for answers on impact of credit rating downgrade

Today, Official Opposition Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon wrote a letter to the Finance Minister demanding answers on the potential future costs facing Saskatchewan as a result of the latest downgrade of the province’s credit rating by Moody’s.

NDP: Saskatchewan Must Move Forward on Calls to Action from Truth and Reconciliation Commission as National Indigenous History Month Begins

REGINA - On the first day of National Indigenous History Month, NDP Leader Ryan Meili and Betty Nippi-Albright, Critic for Truth and Reconciliation & First Nations and Métis Relations, called on the Sask. Party government to act quickly on the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

“June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada. It is a celebration of First Nations, Inuit and Métis culture, history and achievements,” said Meili. “This year, as we mourn the discovery of the bodies of 215 children at a former residential school in British Columbia, we stand in solidarity with Indigenous peoples and commit to turn our grief into action.”

Saskatchewan New Democrats stand with farmers and producers to demand Agristability fix

REGINA - NDP Leader Ryan Meili and Agriculture Critic Trent Wotherspoon joined producers on a family farm outside of Regina n to call on the Sask. Party government to stop stalling and sign on to the full AgriStability fix proposed by the federal government before the June 30 deadline for farmers and producers to enroll for the program.

“The federal government’s proposal has been on the table for months, but so far the Sask. Party government has been asleep at the wheel,” said Meili. “I was proud to stand with Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley and Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew to make a joint call on the prairie conservative governments to back this much-needed fix in April. It’s shameful that this government has refused to lead on behalf of our farmers and producers.”

Statement by Official Opposition Critic for Truth and Reconciliation, First Nations and Métis Relations, Betty Nippi-Albright

“Our hearts are heavy at the discovery of a mass grave containing the bodies of 215 children at the site of a former residential school in British Columbia. The legacy of the residential school system lives with us to this day.

The Official Opposition joins the call of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) for all parties and all levels of government to work with FSIN and ensure that a full radar ground search is done in Saskatchewan and across Canada.

So many children never returned home. The heartbreak is unimaginable. We encourage everyone in Saskatchewan to read and commit to the Truth and Reconciliation Commisson’s calls to action.”

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