NDP raises concerns about limited public consultation following stealth libraries review

Responding to the Sask. Party government’s Report on Saskatchewan Public Libraries Engagement, NDP Education Critic Carla Beck said that public consultation “appears to be an afterthought” in the libraries review process, “when it should be front and centre.” The government released the report late yesterday afternoon, setting a two-week limit on comment on the report, with no public meetings scheduled and no opportunity to engage broader questions about the role or future of libraries in Saskatchewan.

Beck noted that Saskatchewan libraries were only saved from deep cuts in the 2017 budget by widespread public outcry, with thousands of people rallying in support. The government walked back those cuts, announcing it would conduct a review of the library system to determine next steps.

“People were furious when the Sask. Party government moved to slash library funding in 2017,” Beck said. “People care about libraries — 14,000 people signed a petition to save them, and thousands participated in read-in protests around the province. This short survey is what passes for public consultation?”

Beck pointed out that the online survey is limited to inviting comment on yesterday’s report, not on the evolving role of libraries more generally.

Recent NDP Freedom of Information requests about the report were effectively stonewalled, with one turning up eleven almost-completely redacted pages. And advocates have previously raised concerns about the way in which the public has been shut out from the libraries review process.

Latest posts

JEREMY COCKRILL IS FORCING HEALTHCARE WORKERS TO A STRIKE VOTE — AND HIS OWN COMMUNITY WILL PAY THE PRICE

Pattern Of Failed Bargaining Attempts Mean Workers Leaving For Good And Putting System In Increasing Danger: Roy
NORTH BATTLEFORD – Carla Beck’s team is in Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill’s own riding today, calling him out for forcing 14,000 desperately needed healthcare workers to vote on a strike as they have gone four years without a contract.

CARLA BECK’S TEAM CALLS FOR ACTION TO SUPPORT SASKATCHEWAN PRODUCERS IN WAKE OF DAMNING REPORT ON PRODUCERS BEING SHORTED AND SQUEEZED

Agriculture Producers Association Of Saskatchewan Says Costs Rising, Farm Share Falling For Saskatchewan Producers
REGINA – Carla Beck’s team, while taking in Ag in Motion in Langham, is calling on Scott Moe and the Sask. Party to take action to improve the bottom line for producers.

THE SASK. PARTY CLAIMS ABOUT IMPROVING SAID PROGRAM DON’T MATCH THE REALITY OF CLIENTS WHO ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO GET BY

Scott Moe, Sask. Party Focused On Photo Ops & Political Spin While Those In Need Suffer
REGINA – Today, Carla Beck’s team is calling out the Sask. Party for their continual failures to provide sufficient support for SAID clients here in Saskatchewan.

POTENTIAL HEALTHCARE WORKER STRIKE ENTIRELY THE FAULT OF SCOTT MOE, JEREMY COCKRILL

Carla Beck’s Team Demands A Fair Deal For Frontline Workers After Four Years Without A Contract
REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is laying the potential of a fall strike involving thousands of healthcare workers squarely at the feet of Scott Moe and his ignorant Health Minister — who seems to cause strikes everywhere he goes — and demanding immediate action to get to the bargaining table and deliver a fair deal.

NDP Caucus Office