Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

Lack of job opportunities driving people out of Saskatchewan

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.”

More families being hurt by the Sask. Party’s lack of long-term care facility funding

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.

Doing politics differently comes with fresh ideas and strong opposition during Spring Session

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.

NDP pushing to give parents access to extended parental leave

In an effort to allow families the ability to fully access parental leave benefits, the NDP introduced Bill No. 610 — The Saskatchewan Employment (Extended Parental Leave) Amendment Act, 2018.

The federal government has extended parental leave up to 18 months, but the Sask. Party continues to limit it to only 12 months and has failed to change the Saskatchewan Employment Act.

NDP urges Sask. Party to get on board with FSIN’s suicide prevention strategy

As suicides continue to disproportionately affect First Nation and Metis families throughout Saskatchewan, the NDP is urging the Sask. Party to support the strategy put forward by the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), and commit the proper funding needed to address this serious issue.

“We know First Nations leaders are experts in the needs of their communities and I would like to thank the FSIN for creating this valuable document,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “Sadly, the Sask. Party government has left the large task of preventing suicides in the hands of the affected communities instead of taking the leadership role and working with them to create a strategy.” 

NDP scores victory in their fight to protect Crown corporations

After years of providing staunch opposition to Bill 40, which gave the Sask. Party back door access to privatizing Crown corporations, the NDP has successfully forced the repeal of said Bill.

“The people of Saskatchewan have been crystal clear that they don’t want to see the Sask. Party sell off any of their Crown corporations. Why it took the Sask. Party years to listen is beyond me and it shows that the Sask. Party can’t be trusted with our Crowns,” said NDP Justice Critic Nicole Sarauer.