Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

Sask. Party making life less affordable for Saskatchewan people

A new report shows that the Sask. Party is making life more and more expensive for Saskatchewan people. In fact, compared to last year, prices for everyday products rose more in Saskatchewan than in any other province.

“The Sask. Party have raised SaskPower rates three times in the last two years, they gave cities and towns no choice but to raise their own fees and taxes and, of course, they also raised the PST and added it to everything from kids’ clothes to life insurance,” said NDP Finance Critic Cathy Sproule. “It’s clear that the Sask. Party have mismanaged the economy and are now making it harder for Saskatchewan people to make ends meet.”

Sask. Party cuts leave seniors struggling in long-term care

Recently released long-term care reports show that the Sask. Party continues to fail seniors and residents in Saskatchewan’s long term care facilities. Staffing was identified as an issue in nearly every single health region as Sask. Party cuts have resulted in too few staff in facilities, who are being forced to take on too much.

“These reports are saying the same thing that we’ve been hearing from seniors and their families over and over again; long-term care in Saskatchewan is dangerously understaffed and our parents and grand-parents ­– the women and men who helped build this province – are not getting the care they need and deserve to stay healthy and live with dignity," said NDP Health Critic Danielle Chartier. "Health care workers want the best for residents in their care and are working hard for them, but the reality is that they are being run off their feet. Sask. Party cuts have made it impossible to properly staff long-term care facilities, and both residents and health care workers are left paying the price."

Sask. Party PST hike hurting Saskatchewan business and families

Statistics Canada has released a report that shows the Saskatchewan economy struggling since the Sask. Party hiked the PST. According to Statistics Canada, Saskatchewan is one of only two provinces to see housing construction drop over the last year and is the only province where sales in the food and beverage industry have dropped. These are two industries that were hit hard by the Sask. Party’s billion-dollar PST hike.

“Across the province, small businesses and other industries are struggling with the PST hike that the Sask. Party recklessly imposed on them and Saskatchewan families,” said NDP Finance Critic Cathy Sproule. “When these businesses are struggling, they’re not creating jobs, and that makes it harder for Saskatchewan people to find work. No wonder more people are leaving Saskatchewan to find opportunities in other provinces than were before the Sask. Party was elected.”

Saskatchewan producers, economy hurt by lack of Sask. Party support for grain transportation

Saskatchewan NDP is joining with producers across the province in calling on the Sask. Party to finally act to clear the railway bottlenecks that have been making it harder for producers to get their grain to market and hurting the Saskatchewan economy.

“I’ve heard from producers throughout the province who see this as a major problem, and they can’t afford to have the Sask. Party stand as idle as the grain they’re refusing to help get moving,” said Agriculture Critic Carla Beck. “This is the same Sask. Party that refused to hold the Federal Government to account in 2014 when farmers were struggling to get their bumper crop to market. We can’t afford the Sask. Party’s inaction and ineffectiveness again.”

Sask. Party cuts put another preschool program at risk

The Sask. Party’s cuts to education have led to another important preschool program being put on the chopping block. With the Premier offering only a fraction of the reinvestment he promised, a growing list of important programs remain at risk and many students are still not getting the supports they need.

“The Education Minister promised $55 million and the Premier promised $30 million,” said NDP Education Critic Carla Beck. “The Sask. Party can’t just offer up a fraction and call it a win. Our kids deserve the whole number.”

Growing number of people leaving Saskatchewan

A newly released Statistics Canada report shows that, despite the Sask. Party’s claims, today’s reality is that even more Saskatchewan people are being forced to move away to other provinces to find opportunities compared to the number of people that were leaving ten years ago.

“The Sask. Party’s heartless cuts and unfair tax hikes are making it harder and harder on young people throughout the province to find and keep steady employment,” said NDP Jobs Critic Vicki Mowat. “While other provinces are finding ways to create more jobs, the Sask. Party is letting Saskatchewan fall behind. More and more people are realising they have no choice but to move somewhere else to start their careers or support their families.”