Today Erika Ritchie, Official Opposition Critic for the Environment, wrote to Saskatchewan Environment Minister Warren Kaeding and Water Security Agency Minister Fred Bradshaw urging them to put pressure on the Government of Alberta to restore protections against coal mining that were recently scrapped by the Government of Alberta.
“People in Saskatchewan are very concerned that opening the door to open-pit coal mining in the Rockies is opening the door to serious contamination of the North and South Saskatchewan Rivers,” said Ritchie. “By repealing protections against coal mining that have been in place since 1976, the UCP government in Alberta is running the risk of polluting the major sources of Saskatchewan’s agricultural and drinking water supplies.”
In 2020 the Government of Alberta repealed regulations that protected large stretches of the Rocky Mountains and the eastern slopes from metallurgical coal mining. These protections had been in place since 1976, and since their repeal last year, many organizations, municipalities, and public figures have called for the restoration of the policy. Metallurgical coal mining projects in British Columbia have been found to contribute to damaged fish populations and contaminated drinking water.
“These Sask. Party ministers aren’t responsible for Jason Kenney’s decision to repeal these protections,” said Ritchie. “But these ministers do have a responsibility to stand up for our province and put pressure on Jason Kenney’s government to restore the coal policy and protect these valuable water sources.”
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.