Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

Children’s Advocate report highlights Sask. Party failings

The Saskatchewan Advocate for Children and Youth’s annual report shows that the Sask. Party is continuing to fail on many fronts when it comes to providing the best for Saskatchewan children.

“The Sask. Party has said they support closing the education funding gap for on-reserve students, but once again those are empty words that show no real action,” said NDP Social Services Critic Trent Wotherspoon. “Aside from our calls to action, the Children’s Advocate called on the Sask. Party to work with the First Nations on improved funding from the federal government, and it’s long past time for the Sask. Party to put aside their bluster and get to work on ensuring fairness for on-reserve students.”

Sask. Party’s hike on PST still slowing investment in construction

New figures from Statistics Canada show that the Sask. Party’s hike on PST is still hurting investment in the Saskatchewan construction industry, while other provinces are showing increases.

“The construction industry is vital to Saskatchewan’s economy, but what we are seeing is the Sask. Party’s PST hike having a negative effect on the industry and is putting many jobs at risk,” said NDP Finance Critic Cathy Sproule.

Reality Check: Sask. Party’s hypocrisy is showing

The Sask. Party’s hypocrisy knows no bounds. It seems they will say anything as long as it fits their narrative no matter what they intend to do later.

For example, in the 2018-19 budget, the Sask. Party reintroduced PST for used vehicles, which is something they campaigned against in the past. Then-premier Brad Wall said, “The government should avoid doing dumb things, and the idea of charging the PST on the same used car over and over again seems pretty dumb.”

Sask. Party’s education cuts hurting families throughout Saskatchewan

Despite pleas from concerned parents, the Sask. Party went forward with funding cuts in education and caused school divisions to cut preschool programs for kids with special needs.

“The Minister said that he wouldn’t sign off on a budget that made these cuts, but he did,” said NDP Education Critic Carla Beck. “Now, with last summer’s closure of the discovery and communications preschools, children with special needs have lost a valuable asset to their education, social development and personal growth.”

Most vulnerable targeted again as Rental Housing Supplement cut in Sask. Party budget

The cut to the Rental Housing Supplement in the budget shows more of the same from the Sask. Party, whose cuts continually hurt the most vulnerable in Saskatchewan.

“It is simply cruel and heartless to continue to cut programs that support the province’s most vulnerable,” said Social Services Critic Trent Wotherspoon. “The fact that the Sask. Party could cut a fundamental support, like housing, in order to make up for their mismanagement and balance the books speaks to their lack of vision, lack of compassion, and lack of planning.”

What they’re saying about the 2018 budget

It is clear the Sask. Party did not learn their lesson after last year’s disastrous budget. Premier Moe proved we will see more of the same from his government with their lackluster budget that isn’t properly funding education and is cutting services Saskatchewan residents need most.

Here is a sample of what people are saying about the budget: