3,200 more Saskatchewan people looking for work this year than last
Even as the devastating effects of the Sask. Party’s budget are still rolling out, Saskatchewan people are already paying the price.
While other provinces have seen their unemployment rates drop over the past year, Saskatchewan is one of only two provinces whose unemployment rates have grown.
“Instead of investing in training, creating jobs, and diversifying the economy, the Sask. Party has thrown people out of work with their callous cuts, desperate sell-offs, and unfair tax hikes that have hurt job-creating small businesses and industries,” said NDP Leader Trent Wotherspoon. “The Sask. Party have already cut close to a thousand jobs in health care, education and social assistance, but more job losses are coming and the Sask. Party’s cuts are still growing.”
In May of 2016, 35,800 Saskatchewan people were looking for work. That number rose to 39,000 by May of 2017. During the same period, the unemployment rate rose from 5.8 per cent to 6.3 per cent. Wotherspoon noted that those numbers will continue to rise with the 224 people thrown out of work by the Sask. Party’s sell-off of STC and the hundreds of other workers whose jobs have been put on the chopping block by the Sask. Party.
At 20 per cent, the First Nations unemployment rate is unacceptably high and hurts many families while the unemployment rate for those living on-reserve is even worse.
“The Sask. Party’s mismanagement, scandal and waste are costing Saskatchewan people jobs across the province and the most vulnerable are being hit the hardest,” Wotherspoon said. “No matter how much the Sask. Party try to spin the statistics the fact is, this year, thousands more people are struggling to find work to keep a roof over their families’ heads and put food on their tables.”
Other sectors with noteworthy job losses compared to last year include:
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.