“As Leader of the Official Opposition, my team of MLAs and I have spent countless hours touring the province, listening to various stakeholders on the issues that affect them the most,” said Lingenfelter. “I have personally met with students, parents, seniors, educators and many others who have told me they are worried about health care, the cost of living and finances. These are very real concerns that the NDP has always taken seriously, and they will be some of the main issues we will bring forward over the course of the spring session.”
Lingenfelter said higher utility rates are making it harder for residents to make ends meet and noted that wages are not keeping up with the cost of living. SaskWater announced this week that over 26 communities will see a 9% increase beginning in April. Adding to the financial burden is SaskPower’s announcement just two weeks ago of a potential rate increase of 7.5% to 8.5% in August.
“Brad Wall’s government has made life unaffordable for students, young professionals, seniors and families. The housing crisis in urban centres such as Regina, Saskatoon and Moose Jaw has gotten worse,” he said. “Our communities are seeing population growth but are not getting the support they need or would expect from the Wall Government. School boards were forced to dip into reserve funds and health regions are running huge deficits. Municipalities are not getting the full PST percentage point they were promised, which translates into higher property taxes for everyone. Can people really continue to afford to pay for Brad Wall’s financial mismanagement?” questioned Lingenfelter.
Lingenfelter said the Wall Government’s re-payment of royalties to potash companies signifies Brad Wall’s broader problems of managing the province’s finances. He noted the Sask. Party’s $1 billion deficit and inability to balance the books has led to a list of broken promises and endless cuts taken away from Saskatchewan’s towns and cities.
“It’s time the Wall Government takes responsibility. Their record in government proves they are anything but committed to being an accountable and transparent government. Saskatchewan’s communities expect and deserve experienced leaders who can manage the finances, demonstrate creative vision and deliver results. They are not getting that with the Wall Government,” concluded Lingenfelter.
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Health regions have announced that prenatal classes, breastfeeding support, and immunizations of school children will be suspended to give H1N1 vaccinations instead.
"By the end of the year there will likely be two consecutive quarters of negative growth in the province, which means Saskatchewan will be in a recession."
- Finance Minister Rod Gantefoer
NDP reminds Brad Wall that the Saskatchewan Legislature is 'not a dictatorship'...
March 24, 2010
"The person who should be reminding the premier that a majority government is not a dictatorship, the attorney-general of the province of Saskatchewan, rose up in the legislature today and unilaterally changed the rules of the legislative assembly in how we choose legislative officers." -NDP Justice critic Frank Quennell, The StarPhoenix
