Education and healthcare neglected in Throne Speech, NDP says
Today’s Throne Speech shows that Scott Moe is again letting people down by failing to address the crisis in Saskatchewan classrooms and emergency rooms. The speech relies heavily on pointing to increased investment since 2007, while ignoring recent cuts and failures.
“Parents expect a government that has a plan to deal with their child’s overcrowded classroom,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “Families worry that they’ll be facing long wait times and hallway medicine in our hospitals. This Throne Speech makes it clear that Scott Moe doesn’t care about the significant challenges we’re seeing in his two largest areas of responsibility: health care and education.”
Meili welcomed the Throne Speech’s commitment to jobs and growth but called on the government to acknowledge that sustainable growth requires real investment in people.
“We need a government committed to growth that puts people first,” said Meili. That means making sure that families are confident they can get the services they need.”
While touting increased education spending numbers since 2007, the Throne Speech ignores the fact that per-student funding has fallen each of the last three years as a direct result of the government’s failure to invest in sustainable growth.
“People struggling to make ends meet, whose kids are struggling to learn in overcrowded classrooms, aren’t interested in what happened ten years ago,” Meili said. “They’re asking what Moe has done for them lately, and what he’ll do for them now. According to this Throne Speech, not much.”
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.