NDP Leader Ryan Meili slammed Premier Moe’s record as Saskatchewan has seen the lowest wage growth in the country over the past two years, failing to keep up with the rising cost of living.
“Life in Saskatchewan is getting harder under this Premier,” said Meili. “People’s earnings aren’t keeping up with the rising cost of living because the Sask. Party is more focused on looking out for their friends than helping regular folks make ends meet.“
According to Statistics Canada, average weekly earnings for Saskatchewan workers went up only 1.1% from December 2017 to December 2019 — the lowest rate of increase in Canada. Over the same time period, the cost of living as measured by the Consumer Price Index rose 2.7 percent, meaning the cost of living is growing more than twice as fast as wages.
“Under Moe’s watch, we have the lowest minimum wage in the country, more than half of Saskatchewan people are living paycheque to paycheque, bankruptcies are skyrocketing, and one in four Saskatchewan kids is living in poverty,” Meili said. “That’s why New Democrats are committed to building an economy that works for everyone — including raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour.”
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.