Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

NDP kept focus on economy, jobs, and improving health and education in successful fall session

The NDP wrapped up a successful fall session bringing the fight to the Sask. Party for their cuts to education, the deteriorating health outcomes and crisis in mental health and addictions, and their mismanagement of the economy as a whole and in particular their costly and failed megaprojects. While raising the concerns of people from throughout Saskatchewan in the Legislature, the NDP also proposed several ideas that would help better the lives of all people.

“Our caucus team has worked incredibly hard this session to hold this government to account for its damaging choices, while putting forward the good policy ideas that can make a positive difference in people’s lives,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili.

NDP table bill calling for paid leave for survivors of domestic violence

The NDP is continuing its fight to get survivors of domestic violence paid leave by introducing Bill No. 614 — The Saskatchewan Employment (Support for Survivors of Domestic Violence) Amendment Act, 2018.

“We have taken some positive steps to address the fact that Saskatchewan has some of the worst rates of domestic violence in the country, but there is still a lot more work to do,” said NDP Justice Critic Nicole Sarauer. “This bill is something that advocates have been calling for. We’ve seen other jurisdictions move towards having paid leave, and we’re hoping the government will do the right thing and finally pass this legislation.”

NDP and concerned parents call for fix to crumbling school

Parents with concerns about the condition of École St. Pius X joined with the NDP at the Legislature to call on the Sask. Party government to finally commit to repairing or rebuilding the school.  

“Having a school with cracking walls or a leaking roof is not a proper learning environment for any student,” said NDP Education Critic Carla Beck. “Parents and teachers have been raising the alarm about the unsafe state of St. Pius for years, but this government has failed to do anything about it.”

Reality Check: Sask. Party spins hard but can’t hide its mismanagement in GDP projections

The Sask. Party government has been known to play shell games to try to spin that its PST hikes and its cuts to education and healthcare don’t actually hurt Saskatchewan people. The falling GDP projections hidden within Saskatchewan’s mid-year financials is the latest example.

The Sask. Party bragged about “cumulative GDP growth” for 2017 and 2018 being “slightly higher than the budget forecast” in the media release accompanying the mid-year report, but that supposed growth was entirely due to higher actual growth in 2017. When 2017’s GDP growth is taken out of the picture, a much bleaker prognosis emerges.

Access to addictions treatment inadequate in every part of province according to NDP and mother

Kelly Csada, a mother-turned-advocate for improved supports for mental health and addictions, joined the NDP in the Legislature today to raise concerns about how people across rural and urban Saskatchewan are having trouble accessing proper treatment for addictions.

“This session we’ve heard so many concerns brought forward by families with different experiences with addictions,” said NDP Health Critic Vicki Mowat. “They all want to see the Sask. Party government improve access to proper treatment. It’s long past time this government finally commits to funding the proper resources to handle this crisis.”

Cost of mismanagement evident in mid-year update: NDP

The consequences of the Sask. Party government’s cuts to the most vulnerable and tax hikes for the middle class are on full display in the 2018-19 fiscal update, with growth projections down significantly since the budget, and spending on social services up.

“It’s the choices we make when times are tough that define us,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “And by that measure, Premier Moe and the Sask. Party will be remembered for making the economic downturn worse by cutting health and education, and by adding the PST to key economic drivers like restaurant meals, construction labour, and used car sales.”