Last night, Premier Scott Moe didn’t just congratulate Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford on his election win, he said “tonight, Saskatchewan has a new ally.”
But in the wake of Donald Trump’s new tariffs – which have the potential to impact hundreds of steel jobs in Saskatchewan – Moe’s choice in allies raises more questions than answers.
For the second month in a row, numbers released by Statistics Canada show the Sask. Party government’s failure to create jobs has led to Saskatchewan having the worst job growth in Canada. In May 2018, 7,300 fewer people were working in Saskatchewan than in May 2017.
“These numbers show a startling trend that has been ongoing for years under the Sask. Party’s failed leadership,” said NDP Jobs Critic Vicki Mowat. “It’s disappointing to see our economy suffering and our workers struggling to find and keep employment. When you see job numbers like these, you can understand why people are leaving Saskatchewan for better opportunities in other provinces.”
The Provincial Auditor released volume one of its 2018 report today, and it shows the damaging effect that the Sask. Party’s cuts and clawbacks have had on Saskatchewan students with special needs as well as those dealing with mental health issues.
“We’re always grateful for the good work that the Auditor and her team does, but it’s disappointing to see in this report just how badly the Sask. Party is failing the most vulnerable people in our province,” said NDP Deputy Leader Carla Beck. “And this comes in light of the most recent budget from the Sask. Party, which saw a funding cut to the rental housing supplement and the failure to fully restore funding to school divisions.”
Recent statistics show that more people are leaving Saskatchewan to look for better job opportunities in our neighboring provinces out west.
“The Sask. Party has not improved the job market and has in fact cut nearly $3 million for job training programs in this year’s budget and we’re losing valuable workers because of it,” said NDP Jobs Critic Vicki Mowat. “We had the lowest GDP growth outside of Atlantic Canada for 2017. In April, Saskatchewan had 1,800 fewer jobs compared to the same time last year. These numbers don’t lie. The Sask. Party can’t ignore the writing on the wall.”
The Sask. Party’s lack of funding and mismanagement in long-term care is having a negative trickle down affect that is causing more and more issues for Saskatchewan families.
The lack of proper care and funding led to nearly 100 seniors being forced to move from Pioneer Village Long-term Care facility. This week, families utilizing the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre’s hostel have been told the displaced seniors need the space and have been given less than two weeks’ notice that they will no longer have a place to stay.
The spring session in the Legislature ended with the NDP holding the Sask. Party to account for their PST hikes, money-wasting scandals, and lack of vision to stimulate the province’s economy and create jobs, while also proposing ways to make Saskatchewan better for everyone.
Despite the opportunities to improve Saskatchewan’s future with their 2018/19 budget, the Sask. Party continued down the path of mismanagement and hurting the most vulnerable. They did not fully restore the $54 million cut from education funding in the last budget; they cut $5 million from the rental housing supplement; and they cut $3 million for job training and workforce development programs.