The NDP Opposition Caucus kicked off the spring session by directly challenging the idea that the coming budget will represent a return to “balance” for Saskatchewan. The Sask. Party government has yet to deliver a third-quarter financial report, are using special warrants to hide additional spending in last year’s budget, and have cut $74 million from education. Opposition members also reaffirmed their commitment to get big money out of politics and reverse the addition of PST to construction labour.
“A provincial budget should be much more than a marketing exercise, especially when so many families are struggling,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “This government has taken zero responsibility for how they squandered the good times and then cut services and sold off Crowns during the hard times.”
“How can they speak of ‘balance’ when the Sask. Party has raised taxes, piled on record debt, and cut crucial supports to classrooms?” Meili said. “What are they doing to address the fact that one in four kids in our province are living in poverty and nearly half of those relying on food banks are kids?”
In response to a crowdsourcing campaign seeking to promote public engagement in provincial politics, Meili opened Question Period with a question submitted by a member of the public, which addressed the Sask. Party’s cancelled Film Tax Credit and the significant revenue lost because of this damaging cut.
Meili also called on the Sask. Party to reject the proposed sweetheart deal that would allow one of their largest donors to “print money” in Wascana Park, while other questions addressed declining per-student education funding, child nutrition, and the PST expansion.
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.
Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital short 15 pediatric specialists
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition and concerned parents sounded the alarm on Premier Scott Moe’s failing healthcare staffing plan. The Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital is short at least 15 pediatric specialists, forcing families to travel to Toronto for basic care.
REGINA - According to new data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, Saskatchewan people face the longest average wait times in Canada for knee and hip procedures for the fifth consecutive year.
Scott Moe retains the worst jobs record in all of Canada since he took office in 2018
REGINA - The latest Statistics Canada report shows that, after six years in office, Premier Scott Moe still has the worst jobs record in all of Canada as the province loses 6,000 jobs, all of them full-time, in March.