“Today’s jobs numbers show that there are almost 29,000 fewer jobs in Saskatchewan than this time last year, and that our economy is in serious trouble.
“To secure our economic recovery and get people back to work, we need a real plan to reopen schools safely and keep them open.
NDP Leader Ryan Meili and Education Critic Carla Beck were joined by Lynne Saas, a former teacher and school administrator as well as Director of Education for Scenic Valley and Prairie Valley school divisions, to call for a real plan that supports immunocompromised students and school staff and fills the need for additional off-site spaces.
“This is the worst plan in Canada. We’re only weeks away from schools reopening and there’s no consistent plan or funding to keep the students at greatest risk safe,” said Meili. “It’s clear, that securing the off-site spaces that would help make this possible was not a government priority. School divisions are doing their best, but they have been let down by this Education Minister and this Premier.”
“It has been two days since the Minister of Education delivered the worst Return-to-School Plan in Canada. They’ve downloaded responsibility onto school divisions with no funding – and crucially no funding to reduce class sizes.
“Maybe that’s why instead of holding a briefing today (August 6, 2020) – contrary to past practice during the Covid-19 pandemic – the Sask. Party has instead put out a release with no press availability, no minister quoted and no accountability.
Today, NDP Leader Ryan Meili said the Sask. Party had failed their homework assignment and called on them to provide a real plan before schools reopen in September. Education Minister Gord Wyant has repeatedly placed the responsibility for a safe reopening of schools on school divisions that have long been underfunded by the province.
“Parents, teachers and kids are worried, and they are looking for a plan that gives them the confidence they need to return to school,” said Meili. “Instead, they got the worst plan in Canada from this Sask. Party government and a minister trying to pass the buck to school divisions that were already struggling with tough budget decisions. This government needs to take responsibility and come up with a real plan, instead one that’s failing the test and passing the buck.”
Saskatchewan NDP Education Critic Carla Beck criticized today’s education update by Sask. Party Education Minister Gord Wyant as the worst plan in Canada. Other governments have provided detailed plans - what the Sask. Party has released today is what other governments provided months ago as a starting point in their planning.
“Our Saskatchewan NDP team has spent months talking to educators, health professionals and families,” said Beck. “There is a massive gap between what they are telling us needs to happen and what we see today from this Sask. Party government. What Gord Wyant has produced is not a plan for schools - it is a plan to fail the test of protecting students, families and education professionals.”
With the Global Transportation Hub (GTH)’s annual report showing debt continuing to pile on and still no land sales being reported, the NDP is committing to a public inquiry into the land scandal at the heart of the project, and is calling for the Standing Committee on the Economy to examine the last two annual reports – something the government once did but is now refusing to do.