Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

NDP Calls Out Sask. Party’s Lack of Respect for Teachers

After an arbitration board ruled today on a three-year contract that would freeze teacher wages for two years followed by a one per cent increase in the third year, Saskatchewan NDP leader Ryan Meili called out the Sask. Party government’s continued poor treatment of our province’s teachers.

“This contract settlement is just further evidence of this government’s lack of commitment to education and lack of respect for the men and women who teach our children,” Meili said. “The government tried to cut teachers’ wages and the only thing that stopped them was the arbitrator’s decision.”

Rising Unemployment Shows That Premier Moe Isn’t Working For Saskatchewan: NDP

The number of Saskatchewan people out of work continues to climb, according to Statistics Canada figures released today.

The August labour report shows that Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate has climbed to 7.4% from 7.1% one month ago and 6.9% a year ago. The number of unemployed people in Saskatchewan now sits at 46,100, having climbed by 3,500 since August 2017 and by 16,300 over the past decade of Sask. Party government.

NDP calls for return to public control of Wascana Park

After widespread public outcry, including the City of Regina’s city council vote last week in favour of restricting further commercial development in Wascana Park, the Saskatchewan NDP is calling on the Sask. Party government to:

• Re-establish a fair balance with the University of Regina and the City of Regina by undoing the Sask. Party’s unilateral changes to the Provincial Capital Commission Act that gave the province a majority of the seats on the board,
• Work with a newly balanced board to end future commercial development in the park,
• Make the needed public investments to maintain the park and its buildings.

New school year brings same old problems in education: NDP

Students and teachers across Saskatchewan are heading back to school today, but because of Sask. Party cuts, many are going back to crowded and underfunded classrooms.

“The first day of school always brings new surprises, but we know that teachers are still struggling with class loads and that students will have a difficult time getting the one-on-one time they need,” said NDP Education Critic Carla Beck.

NDP calls for action to keep steel workers on the job

In light of the Federal Court of Appeal decision on the Trans Mountain pipeline, the NDP is once again calling on Premier Scott Moe to develop a schedule for replacement of existing pipelines to keep steelworkers on the job. 

“This decision highlights the failures of the federal Liberals to set clear goalposts for major projects. The fact that they went so far as to pay billions for a pipeline without being certain it could be built is the height of incompetence,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “For businesses, for communities and for workers, we need clear guidelines for major projects. The uncertainty produced by errors such as this jeopardizes public and investor confidence in our regulatory system and our economic future.”

NDP questions details of Sask. Party’s carbon tax

The Sask. Party’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions may still be full of ‘to be determines’ but what’s clear is they have decided to go down the road of implementing carbon pricing while also leaving to door open to a federally-imposed carbon tax.

“It’s a little bit rich for the Sask. Party to say they don’t want a carbon tax when they’re allowing the federal government to impose one on the province and now they are looking at what is essentially a carbon pricing plan,” said NDP Environment Critic David Forbes. “Unfortunately, as with much of the Sask. Party’s plan to reduce emissions, we still don’t know what the price of the penalties will be and what they will be based on.”