MOE MUST COME CLEAN ON GROUNDED WATER BOMBER

Public Was Lied To During Wildfire Crisis: Mowat

SASKATOON — The Saskatchewan NDP is calling on Premier Scott Moe and the Sask. Party government to be honest with the people of Saskatchewan and explain why they failed to disclose that the province’s brand-new water bomber was grounded during the worst stretch of wildfires in a decade.

Premier Moe has yet to address why he lied to the public during a provincial state of emergency — after making false claims in public briefings on June 6 and 11 that the new water bomber had not yet arrived.

“Premier Moe needs to answer why he kept the people of Saskatchewan in the dark about this grounded water bomber,” said Vicki Mowat, Deputy Leader of the Saskatchewan NDP. “Either the Sask. Party deliberately misled the public, or the Premier and his ministers weren’t paying attention to critical emergency files.

“Frankly, neither is acceptable.”

April ChiefCalf, Saskatchewan NDP MLA for Saskatoon Westview and a wildfire evacuee during the 2015 La Ronge fires, said the news raises serious concerns for families already grappling with the trauma of evacuation. On the weekend, ChiefCalf visited communities severely damaged by fires.

“If those water bombers had been in the air, things could have turned out differently for so many families,” she said.

“I visited communities like Sucker River, where 15 homes have been destroyed. That community is a 15-minute drive from where this bomber sat unused at La Ronge Airport.

“This isn’t just about water bombers. It’s about whether families in this province can trust their government in a crisis.”

The Saskatchewan NDP is calling for Scott Moe to immediately face reporters and for the full public release of all briefing materials related to Saskatchewan’s air tanker fleet that were provided to the Premier and Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod.

-30-

Latest posts

BECK PLEDGES BETTER WAGES, LOWER COST OF LIVING TO RETAIL WORKERS

Leader Delivers Address At Convention In Humboldt, Calls Workers The ‘Backbone Of Saskatchewan Economy’

HUMBOLDT - Carla Beck told delegates at the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) Convention Wednesday that they “deserve a damn raise” a government laser-focused on making life more affordable in Saskatchewan, and that a Saskatchewan NDP government would put working people first by strengthening labour rights, raising wages and tackling the rising cost of living.

SCOTT MOE’S MLAS BLOCKS EFFORTS TO GET TO THE TRUTH ABOUT THE $26 BILLION COAL CATASTROPHE

Sask. Party Blocks Motion Calling for Provincial Auditor Investigation Into Coal Cost Overruns — Ten Times What Was Publicly Reported

REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is calling out Scott Moe and the Sask. Party for once again refusing to come clean about their $26-billion coal catastrophe after government members blocked a motion Thursday at the Public Accounts Committee requesting an independent investigation by the Provincial Auditor.

CARLA BECK’S TEAM CALLS FOR HALT TO CHILDCARE FUNDING CHANGE THAT WILL HAMMER RURAL COMMUNITIES, PUT PARENTS OUT OF WORK

In One Month, Funding Will Be Cut For Children Attending Childcare Part-Time, Or As Casuals
REGINA – Carla Beck and her team are joining rural childcare advocates to call on Scott Moe and the Sask. Party to fix their broken childcare deal.

CARLA BECK’S TEAM DEMANDS ACTION TO MAKE COMMUNITIES SAFER, CRACKDOWN ON GANGS IN WAKE OF SHOOTINGS IN NORTH

Pelican Narrows Community Leaders Have Been Beggin Scott Moe For Support For Years

SASKATOON – Days after the tragic events in Pelican Narrows and Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Carla Beck’s team is demanding that Scott Moe and the Sask. Party stop ignoring the needs of Northern Saskatchewan and step up to support the communities dealing with a flood of poisonous drugs, rampant gang activity and constant crime.

NDP Caucus Office