Between February and March, 5,100 jobs were lost in Saskatchewan, and more families are facing a tough reality with deep cuts, tax hikes, and more job loss looming in the Sask. Party’s budget.
“The Sask. Party's spin provides no comfort to the 5,100 more families who have lost a job this month," said NDP Jobs Critic Warren McCall. “And that spin provides no comfort to the people who work for STC or in our libraries and our classrooms, and on the frontline of health care and seniors care who know they are the target of the Sask. Party cuts. It’s especially concerning considering we’ve been hearing about job losses coming as a result of the Sask. Party’s cuts to education, libraries, and the STC in their budget.”
While Saskatchewan is one of only three provinces in which jobs were lost over the last month, Alberta saw 20,000 new jobs created.
McCall said it is deeply concerning to see off-reserve First Nation unemployment climb back over 20 per cent.
The construction industry was one of the hardest hit sectors, with 1,800 jobs lost month-to-month and 4,600 jobs year-over-year. McCall notes that the Sask. Party’s new six per cent tax on construction projects will certainly hurt the industry and not help to reverse the job losses.
“Many Saskatchewan families are struggling, but we haven’t seen any concrete action from the Sask. Party to build a diversified and sustainable economy that will create jobs,” McCall said. “The cuts and tax hikes in the budget are hurting people all over Saskatchewan, and they are the ones who are having to pay for the Sask. Party’s mismanagement, scandal and waste.”
Some sectors with noteworthy job losses:
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.