NDP calls for real investment to reverse Sask. Party’s legacy of failure on rural connectivity

REGINA - NDP Critic for SaskTel Trent Wotherspoon called on the provincial government to stand up for rural communities and allow SaskTel to invest properly in rural connectivity.

“Rural residents deserve so much better from this Sask. Party government, a government that’s taken them for granted for too long,” said Wotherspoon. “We hear a lot from families who want to know why this government won’t make rural connectivity a priority. In the 21st century, connectivity isn’t a luxury; it’s an essential service.”

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission recommends standard internet speeds of 50 mbps for download, 10 for upload. In 2019 (the most recent statistics available from CRTC) Saskatchewan has 71.1% of households meeting that target, far below the national average of 87.4%. In terms of rural household connectivity, in 2019 Saskatchewan was at 23.9% - behind every province but Manitoba and below the national average of 45.6%.

“The Sask. Party has stripped $373.4 million in dividends in the last five years to pay for their failures - and has left rural families behind as a result,” said Wotherspoon. “It’s long past time for the Sask. Party to allow SaskTel to hold on to more of its dollars, so it can responsibly invest in making connectivity happen all across Saskatchewan as a provincial initiative.”

“We know coming out of COVID-19 that connectivity will be crucial to the economic success of our province - in our cities, our farms, our towns and on reserve,” said Wotherspoon. “We have the unique opportunity to put our telecommunications Crown to work providing good jobs right now here in Saskatchewan, and contributing to the prosperity of our province for the future.”

Latest posts

CARLA BECK’S TEAM WANTS ANSWERS ON WHO WILL PAY TO POWER DATA CENTRE JUST OUTSIDE REGINA

Scott Moe, Sask. Party Continue To Hide Details On Impact Of Massive Project

REGINA – Carla Beck’s team has written to the president and CEO of SaskPower seeking full transparency on how the new AI Data Centre project in the Rural Municipality of Sherwood, just outside of Regina, will be powered, who will pay to power it and more.

BIG RIVER SAWMILL CURTAILMENT LATEST IN SERIES OF SCOTT MOE FAILURES, BROKEN PROMISES ON FORESTRY

Jobs Lost, Communities Take Major Hits As Data Shows Forestry & Logging Activity Shrinking Under Sask. Party
SASKATOON – Carla Beck’s team is calling out Scott Moe for failing to support Saskatchewan’s forestry sector — and the communities and workers relying on it — in the wake of a major curtailment at sawmill in Big River, announced Thursday.

SCOTT MOE’S TRADE MINISTER TELLS PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET TO SUCK IT UP

Warren Kaeding Tells Podcast Audience Those Complaining About Affordability They’re Lucky They Weren’t Living In The 1980s
REGINA – Scott Moe’s out-of-touch Trade Minister has dismissed widespread concerns among Saskatchewan people about the sky-high cost of living, saying things were much worse 40 years ago.

CARLA BECK'S TEAM SOUNDS ALARM AS SASKATCHEWAN LOSES 6,900 JOBS IN FIRST HALF OF 2026

Prince Albert & Northern Saskatchewan Hit Particularly Hard With 2,400 Jobs Lost

PRINCE ALBERT – Carla Beck's team is calling out Scott Moe for failing Saskatchewan workers, as the province lost nearly 7,000 jobs over the first half of 2026.

NDP Caucus Office