Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

NDP calls for action to cap credit card interest and end predatory lending

With thousands of Saskatchewan people facing financial challenges because of the economic impacts of COVID-19, NDP Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon is calling on the banks to cut credit card interest rates, and on the provincial government to protect families from predatory lending. 

“People in our province were already stretched before COVID-19 hit, with half of Saskatchewan families living paycheque to paycheque. Now, with mounting job losses and layoffs, many families are at a breaking point,” said Wotherspoon. “We need to act now, before more families get trapped by massive credit card bills and gouged by predatory lenders during this vulnerable time.”

Ryan Meili statement in response to release of updated modeling

We heard some stark numbers today. Every person in Saskatchewan is now doing the math in their head, thinking about the health of their loved ones. I’m doing that same math right now, thinking about my friends, my parents and so many of my colleagues working in healthcare.

But as a province, we don’t have to take these numbers lying down. We can work together, stay home and reduce the toll that COVID-19 will take on the people of our province.

Meili renews call for united front on COVID-19

Today, the Leader of Saskatchewan’s Official Opposition Ryan Meili wrote Premier Scott Moe renewing the opposition’s call for a special committee to address the immediate and long-term impacts of COVID-19, a call that has recently been echoed by constitutional expert Howard Leeson and political columnist Murray Mandryk.

NDP Pushing for Protocols and Protections in Northern Saskatchewan

The Saskatchewan NDP is calling on the provincial government to work more closely with northern communities to ensure clear protocols and protections for stopping the spread of COVID-19, including clear answers for northern municipalities seeking to restrict access to their communities to limit the spread of COVID-19.

“Our northern communities need support and solutions as we grapple with the spread of this virus,” said Highways Critic and NDP MLA for Athabasca Buckley Belanger. “Some communities are wanting to restrict access, and many are concerned about liquor stores remaining open. The province has so far been inconsistent in providing clear direction or support.”

NDP Leader to call for province to make non-medical masks available to the general public

With Canada’s Chief Medical Health Officer confirming today that wearing a cloth mask is an “additional measure that you can take to protect others around you in situations where physical distancing is difficult to maintain,” NDP Leader Ryan Meili is calling on the Saskatchewan government to facilitate the production of non-medical masks for distribution to the public.

“While medical grade masks must be reserved for frontline healthcare workers, Saskatchewan people can do their part in limiting the spread of COVID-19 by wearing simple cloth masks when they need to be out in public,” Meili said. 

Meili encourages wearing of cloth masks to further slow the spread of COVID-19

With a public health consensus quickly emerging that wearing a cloth mask can slow the spread of COVID-19, NDP Leader Ryan Meili is encouraging Saskatchewan people to begin wearing cloth masks in public, while continuing to stay home as much as possible and practice physical distancing.

“Saskatchewan people are staying home as much as they can. But every day, essential workers are going to work. Every day thousands of people are going to pharmacies, grocery stores, medical appointments, their jobs. Because they have to. Which is why we have to use every measure available to protect people,” said Meili.