Tomorrow, Saskatchewan families, producers, and small business owners will be hit by the latest of the Sask. Party’s unfair tax hikes – a new tax on insurance. Meanwhile, the Sask. Party’s corporate, wealthy, and well-connected friends will continue to reap the benefits of their $100 million tax giveaway.
“From their callous cuts to their desperate sell-offs and these unfair tax hikes, it’s clear, the Sask. Party isn’t working for Saskatchewan people anymore,” said NDP Finance Critic Cathy Sproule.
Recent reports have shown that the Sask. Party’s mismanagement, scandal and waste have left the Saskatchewan economy lagging behind other provinces, have left thousands more Saskatchewan people looking for work, and have left more and more Saskatchewan families struggling to make ends meet.
“On top of everything else, the dry conditions this summer have many producers very worried,” said Sproule. “This new Sask. Party tax on crop insurance is a hit on producers at the worst possible time and the last thing anyone in Saskatchewan needs right now is a new Sask. Party tax.”
As part of the billion dollars in fee and tax increases the Sask. Party announced this year, they raised the PST from five to six per cent and added it to everything from kids’ clothes to a cup of coffee. This Sask. Party tax grab includes all insurance premiums and made Saskatchewan the only province in Canada where people are forced to pay provincial sales tax on health and life insurance.
“Nobody likes paying their insurance bill but we all have to if we drive a car to work, need affordable medication, want to protect what we own, or ensure that our loved ones are cared for after we’re gone,” said Sproule. “The fact that the Sask. Party is making insurance even more expensive and pushing this protection – including health and life insurance – further out of reach for many in Saskatchewan, shows just how out of touch they have become.”
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.