By announcing a cabinet today that has a majority of the same ministers who presented the cruel and heartless cuts and unfair tax hikes in the most recent Sask. Party budget, Premier Moe made it clear that he is ignoring the Saskatchewan people who have been calling for something better.
"Meet the new bosses. Same as the old bosses," said Saskatchewan NDP Leader Nicole Sarauer. "At a time when Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate is the highest it’s been in two decades and, for the first time in over 40 years, is as high as the national average, Saskatchewan people can't afford more of the same.”
Jeremy Harrison is back in charge of the economy, even though he oversaw the jobs file while thousands of Saskatchewan people were thrown out of work. He is also the same minister who, while briefly running for leader, spoke out against his own official comments about the Sask. Party’s GTH scandal saying he had simply "defended the position of the government” instead of acting in the best interest of Saskatchewan people.
The Minister who oversaw the scrapping and sell-off of STC and allowed other Crowns like SaskTel to be put on the chopping block is still in charge of Saskatchewan’s Crown Investment Corporation. Despite arrogantly showing a complete lack of understanding of her last two files, Premier Moe chose to keep Bronwyn Eyre in cabinet. She will also continue to be joined at the cabinet table by the Minister who announced, mishandled, and then was forced to back away from the losing license plate fight with Alberta.
In 2016, Brad Wall announced that he was saving $450,000 by reducing the size of cabinet. Today, Premier Moe reversed that decision.
"The Sask. Party has threatened to cut thousands of jobs and the Premier is threatening to cut thousands more in the public service, so I’m not sure how he can justify adding another minister to his cabinet – especially since he still only allowed four seats at the table to be given to women,” Sarauer said. “This was a real chance for the new Premier to show he was listening to Saskatchewan people but, instead, he showed that he stands by the heartless cuts and unfair tax hikes.”
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.