The spring session of the legislature came to an end today. It was a session that was marked by Sask. Party cuts, sell-offs, tax hikes, and overreaching power-grabs.
“The legislative session may have come to an end today but the devastating impacts of the Sask. Party’s cuts, sell-offs, tax hikes, and attacks will continue to hit Saskatchewan families and the most vulnerable,” said NDP Leader Trent Wotherspoon.
With the Sask. Party’s sell-off of the Saskatchewan Transportation Company going to court tomorrow, the NDP is calling for the government to undertake a value-for-dollar audit to learn the true cost of losing the STC.
“The Sask. Party has admitted that they did no cost analysis or planning before announcing that they were rushing to scrap this service that is so vital to so many families and businesses throughout the province,” said STC Critic Doyle Vermette. “The Sask. Party’s refusal to look at what the real costs are for this sell-off show what a desperate move this is and how little they care about the broader consequences and who is hurt by their mismanagement, scandal, and waste.”
Today, Saskatchewan’s Official Opposition called on the federal government to stand up for Western Canada when considering the recommendations of the Expert Panel on the Modernization of the National Energy Board.
“The Panel’s recommendation to move the head office of this important oversight body for the energy sector from Calgary to Ottawa just doesn’t make sense,” said NDP Leader Trent Wotherspoon. “Job creators in the energy sector have their head offices in Western Canada, and the National Energy Board’s head office should be there too.”
Today, Sask. Party MLAs from Regina voted to silence local voices at the Wascana Centre Authority in favor of handing total control to the Sask. Party government.
“The Sask. Party has been shutting down local voices in education and healthcare, and now they’re silencing local voices in the Wascana Centre Authority,” said NDP Parks Critic and Regina Elphinstone Centre MLA Warren McCall “These Sask. Party MLAs should be standing up to support the jewel in our Queen City’s crown, not voting along party line to hand control over to the government.”
It’s been nearly a year and a half since the tragic La Loche school shooting but still, many of the victims are suffering and not getting the help they need to heal mentally and physically.
“The victims did not ask to be in this tragic situation but the Sask. Party is forcing them to wait for the promised support from the government,” said NDP Deputy Leader and MLA for Athabasca Buckley Belanger. “The Sask. Party has offered tweets, speeches, and kind words but, when it comes to actual action and ensuring these victims are properly supported, the Sask. Party has been failing.”
With their budget, the Sask. Party hiked taxes, made deep cuts, and hurt industries across the province. Now, a month after the Sask. Party released their budget, there are 5,600 fewer jobs in Saskatchewan than a year ago.
“Since the Sask. Party formed government, the number of Saskatchewan people who can’t find work has doubled to 40,000. Instead of using their budget to create jobs and opportunities for families, the Sask. Party has chosen to further hurt important industries and Saskatchewan people,” said NDP Jobs, Skills and Training Critic Warren McCall. “There’s no two ways about it, the Sask. Party’s mismanagement, scandal and waste is costing Saskatchewan jobs.”