Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

Official Opposition calls for accountability, focus on jobs in delayed spring session

Sask. Party government must get back to work so we can get the people of Saskatchewan back to work

REGINA - Official Opposition Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon and Jobs and Economy Critic Aleana Young stood in front of the Provincial Legislature today to outline the Saskatchewan NDP’s priorities for government accountability and getting people back to work in Saskatchewan for the critical provincial budget set to be released on April 6.

“In our pre-budget consultations we’ve been hearing loud and clear that it’s time for Scott Moe and the Sask. Party to get to work, get this pandemic under control and make a plan for how the province will eventually move out of it,” said Wotherspoon. “On the budget, on COVID-19 and on the economy the Premier has been trying to sell the people of Saskatchewan a false bill of goods. He needs to get back in the legislature and start answering some questions.”

Official Opposition statement on rising COVID-19 variants in Regina and area

In response to rising COVID-19 variants in Regina and area, Official Opposition Health Critic Vicki Mowat released the following statement:

"Today we are seeing the consequences of the Premier’s failures on COVID-19.

This afternoon the Premier and Dr. Shahab addressed the media for the first time since the government’s decision to relax household bubble limits and worship service limits last week. 

Mowat: Sask. Party must act immediately to address staff-shortages in healthcare and long-term care

Regina – Today, the Official Opposition joined health sector leaders to call on the Sask. Party government to immediately fulfill its campaign commitment to address short-staffing in the province’s healthcare system. The group also called for the development of a Health Human Resources Roundtable to address long-standing short-staffing, recruitment and retention issues plaguing the healthcare sector in the province. 

“This pandemic exposed what those in health care have been saying for years -- there just aren’t enough staff on the frontlines. At a time when we need more people providing patient care and also need more jobs, this should be a no brainer for Scott Moe but he keeps dragging his feet,” said Mowat. “This government campaigned on a promise to hire more than 300 continuing care aides and to increase healthcare resources, but this has proven to be another empty promise from the premier.”

Open Letter to Sask. Party government in regards to thoroughbred horse racing at Marquis Downs

In response to the disappointing news that thoroughbred horse racing has come to an end at Saskatoon’s Marquis Downs, the Official Opposition has sent the attached letter calling on the government to act now to protect jobs in Saskatchewan.

Scott Moe needs a plan to deal with plummeting job numbers

23,000 jobs lost since 2020 means real action must be taken says official opposition

Saskatoon - The latest jobs figures for Saskatchewan should be a wake up call for Scott Moe and the Sask Party. The numbers released by Statistics Canada this morning show that there are 23,000 fewer people working in the province than this time last year. 

“This has been a hard year for everyone but there are 23,000 people who are facing the additional hardship and stress of being out of a job,” said Official Opposition Leader Ryan Meili. “The Sask Party keeps trying to paint a rosy picture about our economy but these numbers tell the true story. Too many people are out of work and the numbers are getting worse. We need to see a real jobs plan from this government. There has to be real action.”

Reiter Lied to Legislature About COVID-19 Plan

REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Health Critic Vicki Mowat called on Premier Scott Moe to answer for former Health Minister Jim Reiter lying about the government’s plan to fight COVID-19.

“We asked Jim Reiter about his plan to address COVID-19 on March 10 of last year,” said Mowat. “He said that he had a plan and accused us of fear mongering. He released his plan the next day - one year ago today - to show how prepared he was. But the documents we’ve received show that was all a lie.”