NDP held government accountable for COVID-19 failures and focused on jobs in strong spring session

NDP Leader Ryan Meili calls for independent review into handling of COVID-19 pandemic

REGINA - This session, NDP MLAs held the Sask. Party government accountable for their pandemic failures and proposed real solutions to get Saskatchewan people back to work.

“Saskatchewan families were having a tough time before COVID-19 hit - and the Sask. Party’s failure to act to contain the pandemic when they had the chance left those families even further behind,” said Meili. “Far too many people have lost loved ones because this Premier let them down. As we end the session, I call on the Premier to reverse his decision to deliberately not learn the lessons of COVID-19 for our province. We need a public inquiry in this province.”

Meili noted that the Sask. Party failed families this session by:

Refusing to accept responsibility for their failure to contain the second and third waves of COVID-19
Refusing to support paid sick leave for Saskatchewan workers
Not taking action against those who organize dangerous anti-mask, pro-COVID rallies
Not including a jobs plan in their budget that works for people and gets people working
Not removing the PST from construction labour and restaurant meals
Leaving Saskatchewan with the lowest minimum wage in Canada
Not investing properly in hard-hit areas like long-term care and in our classrooms
Not acting to diversify our economy and take advantage of the real opportunities in green technology to create sustainable jobs for the future

Meili also noted that the Saskatchewan NDP Caucus saw many successes over the course of the session. “I was humbled and proud to be in the legislature as the Sask. Party government finally voted for Doyle Vermette’s Suicide Prevention Strategy bill,” said Meili. “This is a ground-breaking moment that we hope will lead to real change for the better for families in Saskatchewan.”

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