Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

Sask First Fail: SaskPower CEO letter reveals Saskatchewan companies and workers missing out

The Saskatchewan NDP is pushing for a Sask-First procurement model to ensure that Saskatchewan workers and companies get the chance to build Saskatchewan infrastructure. The latest call comes in response to a letter by SaskPower’s President and CEO dated April 7, 2020, which stated that less than a quarter of the funding for the Chinook Power Station went to local companies, and that Saskatchewan workers make up less than half the workforce onsite.

“Major infrastructure projects like the Chinook Power Station drive employment and trades experience that is crucial to our recovery, but the Sask. Party’s unwillingness to hire locally means we’re using our money to stimulate Alberta’s or France’s economy, not Saskatchewan’s,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “Saskatchewan workers and companies are struggling to make ends meet, while the Sask. Party keeps handing over hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts to out-of-province companies.”

NDP presses Sask. Party for details, funding commitments to support school reopening plan

The Saskatchewan NDP is pressing the government for details of how the province’s schools are to reopen safely, and how the plan will be funded, as teachers and parents continue to express misgivings about the plan presented last week.

“Parents, teachers, kids — everyone wants to see schools reopen safely this fall,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “But we’ve seen from other places, that is going to take a lot of thought, a lot of work, and some dedicated resources. It’s important we get this right.”

NDP and Samwel Uko’s family welcome Coroner’s Inquest, urge government action on suicide prevention

On the same day the Sask. Party voted down an NDP motion calling for a suicide prevention strategy, NDP Leader Ryan Meili joined Samwel Uko’s uncle Justin Nyee to welcome the announcement of a Coroner’s Inquest into Uko’s death, and to urge the government to act to prevent further deaths by sucide in the province.

Sask. Party spikes suicide prevention strategy bill, NDP vows to continue to push for action

Today the Sask. Party government voted down Bill No. 618 — The Saskatchewan Strategy for Suicide Prevention Act, which had been introduced by NDP Critic for Northern Affairs Doyle Vermette in November. 

“I’m at a loss,” said Vermette. “So many lives in our province, particularly in the North, have been devastated by the death of a loved one because of suicide. Many of those people joined us here in the Legislature to call on the government to act. How am I to explain to those families this government’s unwillingness to do what is so badly needed right now?”

NDP calls for inquest into Samwel Uko’s death, cites new figures showing 13 hour wait times

With government figures showing average wait times last year of approximately 13 hours to get an inpatient bed at the Regina General Hospital and the Dubé Centre in Saskatoon, the Saskatchewan NDP is calling for an inquest into the death of Samwel Uko, who twice sought help in a Regina Emergency Room the day he died. 

“The system failed Samwel Uko,” said Meili. “Sadly, he wasn’t the first person who sought help in a mental health emergency and didn’t find it. But we can and must make sure he’s the last, which is why we’re calling on the Province to call an inquest today.”

NDP introduce bill to provide WCB coverage to support frontline workers

Today NDP Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Critic David Forbes introduced Bill 621, an Act to amend The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 to provide presumptive Workers’ Compensation Board coverage for workers exposed to COVID-19 on the job.

“We’ve seen this pandemic take a heavy toll on working people throughout the province,” Forbes said. “People are struggling, living paycheque to paycheque, and are unsure how they will make ends meet. They deserve to have assurances that they’ll have presumptive coverage if they happen to fall ill. Other provinces are working on this, and we should as well.”