With reports of people sleeping in cars and tents after losing their homes and businesses, the NDP says people whose lives have been turned upside down deserve more than vague promises. As well, many people continue to tell the Official Opposition they haven’t received a single cent of financial support while racking up thousands in debt for food and accommodation away from their homes.
"Rebuilding Denare Beach, East Trout Lake, and other affected areas won’t happen by accident. We need a clear, coordinated plan — not just for reconstruction, but for helping people live with dignity while that work gets done,” said Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck.
“The people we've talked to have felt abandoned and betrayed from Day 1 of this crisis — they deserve so much better from their government. We need a government that is focused on the future, on rebuilding the North, on protecting it for the future and ensuring such a horrific crisis — and complete government failure — never happens again.”
The NDP consulted with community leaders and residents across the North and has identified critical areas that must be addressed in any credible plan to rebuild the North. The plan must include:
· Urgently restoring access to healthcare and essential services.
· Medium-term housing for people who lost their homes until they can rebuild.
· Housing for construction workers tasked with rebuilding isolated communities completely destroyed, like Denare Beach and East Trout Lake.
· Proper and fair procedures for demolition and safe disposal of the waste associated with properties destroyed by fire.
· Immediate assistance from Crowns to help with fees and costs of rebuilding utility services like power, phone, and internet lines.
"There are many people in the North who will never forgive the Sask. Party for what has happened these past four weeks, but properly supporting them as they rebuild their lives is a step in the right direction,” said Jordan McPhail, Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Minister for Northern Affairs and MLA for Cumberland.
“Frankly, a proper plan to rebuild the North should already be developed and in place. People have waited so long to get back to their communities and what so many have found awaiting them is even more confusion and frustration."
“This is unacceptable. We are calling on the Sask. Party to do its job immediately or step aside so we can put a new government in place that actually cares about the people of this province.”
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