REGINA - Official Opposition Critic for Social Services Meara Conway called on the Sask. Party government today to immediately stop cutting and clawing back federal supports from the most vulnerable.
“This government is letting people down,” said Conway. “Especially as we are seeing staggering numbers of new cases, the Sask. Party needs to finally admit that this policy is literally leaving people out in the cold and putting lives at risk.”
The Social Services Appeal Board has already called on the Ministry to amend existing policies to reflect the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The New Democrat caucus is echoing this call.
Specifically, the NDP called on the Sask. Party government to immediately:
- Restore supports to all income assistance clients who were cut off after receiving the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) or the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB)
- Stop the clawback of so-called overpayments to income assistance clients who received CERB and CESB
Conway also called on Sask. Party government to reinstate the eviction moratorium ahead of the coldest winter months, and urged Social Services Minister Lori Carr to work with tenants, landlords, poverty advocacy groups and municipalities to ensure safe housing is in place for everyone in our community.
“This government has been several steps behind at every juncture in dealing with the pandemic,“ said Conway. “As Social Services critic, I am seeking a meeting with Minister of Social Services Lori Carr so that we might come to a consensus on how to move swiftly to protect and support the province’s most vulnerable people in this challenging time.”
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