Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

NDP calls for action on child poverty in northern Saskatchewan

A recent report by an anti-poverty advocacy group shows that northern Saskatchewan has the second highest child poverty rate in the country. 

“The Sask. Party has known for years that action is needed to address poverty, but they just won’t act,” said NDP Social Services Critic Trent Wotherspoon. “Instead of making the smart investments we need to reduce poverty, we’re seeing shortsighted cuts to supports for the vulnerable, like the Rental Housing Supplement, that are only going to make this unacceptable problem even worse.”

NDP calls for immediate improvements in mental health care

The provincial auditor’s report released last week further clarified the challenges facing Saskatchewan patients in accessing mental health care, stating that “long waits can lead to people’s conditions getting worse, and in some cases, waits can even contribute to death.”

Psychiatrist Sarah Dungavell, who practices in La Ronge and Saskatoon, says that “waitlists across the province remain too high and my colleagues and I are unable to see patients soon enough.”

Statement from Official Opposition Critic for Social Services Trent Wotherspoon regarding the Rental Housing Supplement

I would like to thank the Heritage Community Association, End Poverty Regina, Regina Anti-Poverty Ministry, and Poverty Free Saskatchewan for raising their collective voices today regarding the Sask. Party’s cut to the Rental Housing Supplement. This is a mean-spirited and short-sighted cut that targets those living on the tightest of margins, and I join these community leaders in calling for the Sask. Party to scrap their cut to the rental housing supplement.

Meili and Steelworkers call for pipeline expiry dates to create jobs and protect public safety

Today NDP Leader Ryan Meili and United Steelworkers Local 5890 President Mike Day called on the Sask. Party government to improve pipeline safety and create jobs by introducing expiry dates for pipelines.

“The tariffs Donald Trump is imposing on Canadian steel will have serious negative impacts on steel manufacturing jobs here in Saskatchewan,” said Meili. “We have more than 100,000 kilometers of pipelines and flowlines in Saskatchewan, and many are old and should be replaced. We saw with the Husky oil spill last year how costly spills can be, and it’s time for the provincial government to introduce expiry dates on pipelines to protect Saskatchewan water and land while also creating jobs. It's all well and good for Scott Moe to go to Ottawa and Washington, but he needs to show leadership and help workers in Saskatchewan.”

NDP calls on federal government to drop legal case against former STC workers

Today, NDP Labour Critic Nicole Rancourt joined former STC employees in Saskatoon to call for the federal government to drop its lawsuit against former STC workers.

“The Sask. Party never should have shut down the STC, but it’s unacceptable for the federal government to be suing the former employees in federal court with an aim to take money out of their pockets,” said Rancourt. “The Sask. Party broke the law when they fired STC employees and those workers deserve the severance they were awarded.”

Reality check: Trump supporter who “wouldn’t waiver” is strange choice for Moe’s “new ally”

Last night, Premier Scott Moe didn’t just congratulate Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford on his election win, he said “tonight, Saskatchewan has a new ally.”

But in the wake of Donald Trump’s new tariffs – which have the potential to impact hundreds of steel jobs in Saskatchewan – Moe’s choice in allies raises more questions than answers.