Not long after it was reported that the value of building permits dropped, Statistics Canada announced today that investment in building construction in Saskatchewan has dropped year over year, leading the NDP to once again call on the government to remove the PST from construction labour and contracts.
“This drop in investment represents a drop in steady, mortgage-paying jobs in the construction industry and a drop in dollars flowing into the province,” said NDP Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon. “It’s clear the Sask. Party’s unfair tax hike has done nothing but hurt businesses and workers.”
According to the seasonally adjusted figures from Statistics Canada, total investment in residential and non-residential construction in November 2018 was at $304.1 million, down from $330 million in November 2017.
In that same time period, investment in non-residential construction fell from $118.4 million to $101.3 million. Investment in commercial construction fell from $71 million to $58.5 million.
“Instead of taking smart steps to get more projects off the ground and more workers back on the job, the Sask. Party is standing by its destructive tax hike,” Wotherspoon said. “Their mismanagement of our economy hurts Saskatchewan business and leaves families paying more.”
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.