While our neighbouring western provinces are creating more jobs and expanding economic activity, two recent reports highlight just how far Saskatchewan is falling behind with Scott Moe’s Sask. Party at the helm. Scotiabank released their economic outlook for 2018-19 on Friday, and it showed fewer people being hired in Saskatchewan, with provincial employment down 0.3 per cent year over year. It also showed that inflation in Saskatchewan leads the country aside from B.C., likely the lingering result of last year’s PST hike.
“The Sask. Party is doing nothing to bolster the economy and address the alarming economic indicators we’re seeing. People can’t find work and have nowhere to turn,” said NDP Jobs Critic Vicki Mowat. “Provinces such as Alberta have responded proactively to a struggling job market and created jobs and training programs to improve the economy. The Sask. Party strategy seems to be to keep repeating ‘this is fine’ in the hopes it eventually is.”
This month, the Canadian Payroll Association released the results of a survey that found Saskatchewan employees burdened by debt and chronically under-saving for retirement. The report found that fully half of Saskatchewan workers report feeling “overwhelmed” by their level of debt, while one in four people working in Saskatchewan say they couldn’t come up with $2,000 within a month for an emergency expense. Saskatchewan workers reported the primary reason for their increased debt is the increase in taxes.
“Workers are suffering as a result of this government’s inability to face the reality they created,” said Mowat. “The Sask. Party needs to reinstate funds they cut from job training programs and actively create more training opportunities, especially in northern Saskatchewan.”
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.