Throughout the Fall Legislative Session, Ryan Meili and the NDP stayed focused on the issues that matter to Saskatchewan people, particularly growing public frustration with the state of Saskatchewan classrooms and emergency rooms.
“Day after day, the Premier and the Sask. Party tried to change the channel to deflect from their failures on healthcare and education,” Meili said. “Our Opposition team kept the focus on the concerns that we’re hearing from across the province, while presenting ideas that invest in people and create a positive future for the province.”
Over the past weeks the NDP raised concerns around long wait times in emergency rooms, the prevalence of hallway medicine, and the brand-new Saskatchewan Hospital that already needs its roof replaced and where patients and staff still can’t drink the water. The NDP also shone a light on the culture of fear that has prevailed under the Sask. Party, revealing a hush memo that warned Saskatchewan healthcare workers not to speak out or keep detailed minutes.
On the education file, the NDP Opposition drew attention to the issue of overcrowded classrooms with too-few supports in schools across the province after the province’s failure to fund growing enrollment to the tune of $8 million.
The NDP also challenged recent Sask. Party decisions that are hurting the future of Saskatchewan workers, like the decision to kill the solar industry by ending the net metering program.
NDP MLAs put forward a number of ideas to better the future of the province, including pressing the federal government to rebate the cost of grain drying for farmers and restoring the AgriStability program to where it was before Harper’s cuts. The NDP also committed to ensuring that with an NDP government, no K-3 classroom would have more than 24 students. Critic for Northern Affairs Doyle Vermette introduced Bill No. 618 — The Saskatchewan Strategy for Suicide Prevention Act — to help prevent further tragedies that many communities are facing.
“There is no question that people in the province are facing a crisis in schools and in the healthcare system,” Meili said. “It’s time to put people first, give kids the best future, ensure our healthcare system is there when we need it, and build a healthy economy that works for people while keeps people working.”
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.