Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

Sask. Party PST hike hurting businesses and costing jobs

Earlier this month, it was revealed that thousands more Saskatchewan people have been thrown out of work. Today, Statistics Canada released the latest economic indicators which, once again, show links between this rise in unemployment and the Sask. Party’s mismanagement as well as their PST hike on everything from kids’ clothes, and food and drinks to home insurance and the construction industry.

“It’s certainly concerning when we hear that 7,800 more people are unable to find work than a year ago,” said NDP Jobs Critic Vicki Mowat. “What we are seeing more and more is that job-creating industries in Saskatchewan have been hit hard by the Sask. Party’s PST hike. It’s causing job losses and explains why we are seeing more people moving to other provinces to find better opportunities than ten years ago.”

Sask. Party pushing for more public sell-offs

Despite promises to protect Saskatchewan’s crowns and respect Saskatchewan people’s ownership, the Sask. Party have shown again that their plans to sell off everything from SaskTel to government buildings are far from over.

“Whether it’s refusing to scrap all of Bill 40 – their proposed law to let them sell off our Crowns without asking the owners, the people of Saskatchewan, – selling off STC and our grain cars, or having meetings to sell SGI and SaskTel, it’s clear that the Sask. Party has an itch to put everything that isn’t bolted to the ground on auction block,” said NDP Deputy Leader Carla Beck. “They already called in the auctioneers for the STC and now want to go for more. Next thing you know, the Minister will be posting public buildings on Kijiji.”

Sask. Party continue to fail First Nations and Metis peoples

For nearly a decade, the Sask. Party has failed to close the gap in health, education, justice and income levels for First Nations and Métis peoples. On top of that, they have refused to keep their promise to apologize for the Sixties Scoop.

Today, the Saskatchewan NDP used their time in Question Period to shine a light on these issues.  

Sask. Party cuts hurting Saskatchewan’s most vulnerable

The many people on the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program are just a portion of Saskatchewan’s most vulnerable who has been hurt by the Sask. Party’s cuts. The Sask. Party’s changes to the SAID program negatively affected hundreds, and left them to pay for the mismanagement of the Sask. Party.

“I have heard from so many throughout the province who are struggling to make ends meet, or had their medical needs worsen because of the cuts made by the Sask. Party,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “The Sask. Party needs to understand that these cuts are harmful to not only the people affected by them, but to the whole province as well.”

7,800 Saskatchewan jobs lost since this time last year

As more jobs are lost, more people are looking for opportunities in other provinces

The latest report from Statistics Canada shows that there were 7,800 fewer people working in Saskatchewan last month than were a year earlier. While every other province except Newfoundland and Labrador saw an increase in the number of people working, Saskatchewan had the biggest drop.

“Both of our neighbours to the west saw significant growth in jobs – nearly 46,000 more people working in Alberta – but, here in Saskatchewan, the Sask. Party’s heartless cuts and bad management cost us 7,800 jobs,” said NDP Jobs Critic Vicki Mowat. “On top of the jobs we’ve lost, these latest numbers are also troubling because they show that more and more people have given up looking for work here in Saskatchewan.”

Sask. Party making Status of Women office a ‘one-person’ show

The Sask. Party has failed to support women across the province and has even failed to adequately support their own the Status of Women’s office. Emails obtained by the Saskatchewan NDP show how difficult it is for the single staff person to handle the caseload and provide proper supports to women across the province.

In an email received under a Freedom of Information request, the lone staff person writes, “When you are a one-person office all tasks even Admin tasks end up as one’s responsibility…just sayin!!”