Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

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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Statement from NDP Labour Critic Carla Beck and NDP Jobs and Economy Critic Aleana Young

Regina - “It is heartbreaking to hear about layoffs at the Co-op Refinery today.  These workers have already been through an extremely tough year after having been unfairly locked out of their jobs for months during a pandemic.  

Workers fought hard to protect their rights and their pensions and now they're out of a job. Another 87 people laid off and 87 more families facing the reality of unemployment. It’s a disaster. 

Mass layoffs and job losses in our energy sector like this are devastating for families and devastating to our local economy. After a very tough year so many people are struggling. More local layoffs spells trouble for our city and our province.

Scott Moe and the Sask. Party can’t keep pretending that everything is fine. We need a real jobs plan to help people who are out of work and a plan to protect our local economy. Scott Moe needs to show some leadership and help laid off workers instead of crossing his fingers and hoping things get better.”

Sask. Party government denies coverage for Sask. family’s fight against rare disease

REGINA – Today, Official Opposition Critic for Health Vicki Mowat joined Craig and Kirsten Finn and the Isaac Foundation’s Executive Director Andrew McFadyen to call on Premier Scott Moe to provide coverage for 4-year-old Conner Finn’s out-of-province care that limited the progression of his potentially fatal, debilitating rare disease. 

“Any family in Saskatchewan would have taken the advice of experts and done what the Finns did for their son Conner. This family did everything in their power to save their son’s life. This government has been offered ample opportunities to get this right. They need to listen to the recommendation of the Health Services Review Committee that sided with the family,” said Mowat. “How on earth could you deny life-saving coverage, three times, for a rare disease that could not be treated here in Canada?”

Meili calls on Sask. Party government to “Save our Summer” after $1 billion loss to tourism sector

REGINA – With Tourism Week being celebrated in Saskatchewan, New Democratic Party Leader Ryan Meili called on the Sask. Party government to adopt the “Save our Summer” plan proposed by the NDP to help the struggling tourism industry recover from the $1 billion loss in 2020. Jobs in the visitor economy have fallen by almost 30% with about 20,000 fewer people working in jobs that support the tourism industry since 2019.