With Statistics Canada reporting that in the last month, the unemployment rate jumped, the number of people employed in the province decreased, and the number of unemployed people increased, Saskatchewan New Democrats are calling out specific Sask. Party policy choices for hurting job growth. The construction industry alone lost 1,900 jobs month over month.
“Faced with low resource prices and other challenges, the Sask. Party had tools at their disposal to boost our economy and strengthen job growth, but they’ve consistently taken the wrong approach,” said NDP Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon. “Protecting Saskatchewan jobs starts with scrapping the Sask. Party’s PST hike on construction labour, reinstating the film employment tax credit that was cut, and fixing the government’s flawed procurement policies that shut out Saskatchewan workers and businesses.”
“The Sask. Party’s failures in these industries have led to fewer jobs, cancelled contracts and work heading out of the province,” Wotherspoon added. “We need to be bolstering these industries and creating jobs in others through initiatives like Renew Saskatchewan, all while making smart investments in education and training.”