Today, NDP Leader Trent Wotherspoon tabled a bill that will get big money out of Saskatchewan politics by updating Saskatchewan’s outdated and broken campaign finance laws.
“Saskatchewan’s democracy should be for Saskatchewan people, free from questions of influence from corporate or union donors, and not for out-of-province companies looking to pay-to-play,” Wotherspoon said. “It’s long past time for Saskatchewan's elections laws to be brought up to date. The introduction of the bill is that first important step.”
The bill bans corporate and union donations and restricts personal contributions so that only individuals who are residents of Saskatchewan can make donate and those donations are capped so they cannot exceed $1275.
“The people of Saskatchewan are on board with bringing this legislation in line with provinces throughout the country, and there is no good reason for the Sask. Party not to work with us to change these broken rules,” Wotherspoon said.
Aside from polls that show a majority of Saskatchewan people believe out-of-province companies should not be allowed to donate to political parties, business and union leaders have supported the idea of banning corporate and union donations.
“On behalf of our 100,000 working members, the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour fully supports this bill to update the province’s political donation laws,” said Larry Hubich, president of the SFL. “Limiting donations to only Saskatchewan citizens will enable us to have some faith in the political process once more, and to regain trust that political parties are looking out for regular Saskatchewan people as opposed to the interests of big corporations from outside our province.”
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has also publicly supported banning corporate and union contributions to Saskatchewan political parties.
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.