REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Critic for First Nation and Metis Relations Betty Nippi-Albright was joined at the Legislature by Okimaw Henry Lewis from Onion Lake Cree Nation, the Council of Onion Lake Cree Nation and Indigenous leaders from across the province to call on the Sask. Party government to halt the upcoming online Crown Land Lease Auction and meaningfully consult with First Nations.
“Consultation, if it is happening at all, is minimal at best,” said Nippi-Albright. “The lack of meaningful consultation is a hallmark of this Sask. Party government.”
Leaders from Onion Lake say they were not properly notified of the online auction but were first made aware of it after visiting the Government's website. Onion Lake Cree Nation Okimaw Henry Lewis added that “the loss of use due to Crown Land leases that are up to 33 years result in the unjustifiable infringement of our Treaty Rights to meaningfully hunt, trap, fish, harvest and gather on our traditional territories.”
An example of potential loss of traditional land use is the case of Yellow Quill First Nation. On December 30, 2022, they received a letter from the Sask. Party government regarding their relocation from their traditional gathering territory and provided them with 39 days to respond. This would mark the second time the provincial government has asked Yellow Quill First Nation to relocate from their traditional gathering territory.
Sask. Party Ministers have admitted that their Duty to Consult framework is outdated and ineffective.
“When you have a government that acknowledges their shortfalls but still refuses to address them, it's clear that they’re just paying lip service to the Duty to Consult and Reconciliation,” said Nippi-Albright. “This is why Indigenous communities are so frustrated. If you have a flat tire, you aren’t going to just point it out and keep driving — you do the work necessary to fix it!”
The Official Opposition NDP reiterates its call for the Government of Saskatchewan to stop the sell-off and lease of Crown Lands, codify the Duty to Consult framework in legislation and stop the displacement of Indigenous peoples from their traditional gathering territories.
-30-
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.