The Sask. Party recently sent a flyer to Regina voters bragging about “investing in Regina’s economy,” but the flyer made no mention of the Regina Bypass, their single biggest expense in 13 years of government.
Why didn’t they mention it? Doesn’t the Sask. Party want to claim responsibility for building the most expensive stretch of flat road in our nation’s history?
With news reports detailing major issues at the Carillion-built Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife that mirror the problems plaguing the Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford, the NDP has repeated their call for a Sask. First procurement policy and for the full release of a facility audit into the public/private build.
“This hospital, built by a massive out-of-province company, has been plagued with issues since it opened, and now we’re seeing similar problems at other hospitals involving the same company” said NDP Health critic Vicki Mowat. “Instead of putting the people of this province first by ensuring that our hospitals are built by our companies and our workers, the Sask. Party has let patients and staff down with a poorly built hospital that still isn’t fully open.”
Back when they were in Opposition, the Sask. Party supported an NDP government-led effort to remove non-renewable resources from the equalization formula. But when Stephen Harper asked them to drop the legal challenge, they did, selling Saskatchewan people out for the convenience of their friends.
Fast forward a decade: in an attempt to distract from his poor record on the issues that matter to Saskatchewan people like health and education, Premier Moe took up the equalization fight again as one of his three demands for the Prime Minister.
NDP Provincial Capital Commission Critic Nicole Sarauer has asked the Standing Committee on Public Accounts to convene at the earliest opportunity to examine the Provincial Auditor’s report on the controversial Brandt project in Wascana Park.
“The people of Regina and the province deserve answers as to why this project was so badly mishandled,” Sarauer said. “To get those answers, we need to fully canvas all the issues that were raised in the Provincial Auditor’s report, as well as those not covered due to its narrow scope.”
Throughout the Fall Legislative Session, Ryan Meili and the NDP stayed focused on the issues that matter to Saskatchewan people, particularly growing public frustration with the state of Saskatchewan classrooms and emergency rooms.
“Day after day, the Premier and the Sask. Party tried to change the channel to deflect from their failures on healthcare and education,” Meili said. “Our Opposition team kept the focus on the concerns that we’re hearing from across the province, while presenting ideas that invest in people and create a positive future for the province.”
According to information obtained by the NDP through Freedom of Information, schools at 80% of Saskatchewan school divisions are in "poor" condition or worse, with Regina Catholic School Board facilities listed as "critical."
“Our kids are struggling to learn in overcrowded classrooms with less support because the Sask. Party has failed to fund enrolment growth to the tune of $80 million,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “Today we're seeing that our schools aren't just overcrowded, they're crumbling, and the Sask. Party is letting Saskatchewan students down by failing to keep up with its infrastructure responsibilities.”