The many people on the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program are just a portion of Saskatchewan’s most vulnerable who has been hurt by the Sask. Party’s cuts. The Sask. Party’s changes to the SAID program negatively affected hundreds, and left them to pay for the mismanagement of the Sask. Party.
“I have heard from so many throughout the province who are struggling to make ends meet, or had their medical needs worsen because of the cuts made by the Sask. Party,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “The Sask. Party needs to understand that these cuts are harmful to not only the people affected by them, but to the whole province as well.”
One of the several hundred SAID recipients affected by the Sask. Party’s changes to the diet benefit is Charmaine Hartt. She suffers from a spinal cord injury and fibromyalgia, and requires a special diet. The Sask. Party will only provide her $150 per month for her diet, but a letter from her dietician shows that it’s not nearly enough.
“I feel like I’ve had to jump through so many hoops to get to this point, and now to be told that I won’t get the funding I need for my special diet really hurts,” Hartt said. “I know I’m not the only one who hasn’t been able to get full access to my dietary needs because of funding cuts. I feel I need to speak up on behalf of all them because this isn’t right.”
“These Sask. Party cuts are forcing people to choose between paying their rent and paying for food,” Meili said. “When people with complex needs don’t get the proper access to the diets they need, their conditions only worsen and that puts more strain on the province. It’s important to have the proper funds in place to help these people because when people stay healthy, everyone in the province does better.”
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.