In releasing her report today, Saskatchewan’s Auditor found that the consequences of the Sask. Party’s mismanagement, scandal, and waste at the Regina Bypass have gone beyond the shocking increase in cost from $400 million to $2 billion. She also revealed that the Sask. Party is putting Saskatchewan roads and the safety of Saskatchewan people at risk.
“Since signing away $2 billion for the bypass to a foreign conglomerate, the Sask. Party have been syphoning off funding that should have been paying to fix and maintain highways across the province,” said NDP Leader Trent Wotherspoon.
The Auditor found that the Sask. Party has been ignoring highway safety practices – specifically weighing heavy trucks and enforcing weight and dimension regulations – which help to prevent damage to pavement and bridges. In fact, the Sask. Party have been running all provincial weigh scales 12 per cent less than the law requires.
“The Sask. Party have used the need for increased safety as a defense for the skyrocketing costs of the bypass but, the fact is, they have actually been cutting there too,” said Wotherspoon. “The Regina Bypass has already made two weigh stations obsolete and has led to one being removed. This is not acceptable.”
Damage caused to provincial highways by overweight vehicles costs the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways $10 million every year.
“The Sask. Party needs to stop mismanaging important projects and start serving those they’re supposed to be working for - Saskatchewan people,” said Wotherspoon.
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.