Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

Meili calls on Sask. Party to reverse addition of PST to construction labour

NDP Leader Ryan Meili called today for a reversal of one of the several unpopular decisions in their 2017 budget that has not yet been reversed: the Sask. Party’s expansion of PST to construction labour.

“This is a government that saw the economy slowing down and they slammed on the brakes,” said Meili. “Adding PST to construction labour at such a time has hurt the industry and further weakened the broader economy. We’ve heard loud and clear from industry stakeholders how this decision would hurt them, and the numbers we see now are bearing that up.”

Meili expresses frustration about lack of vision and lack of action in Throne Speech

The Speech from the Throne was filled with “old news and old noise” instead of concrete plans to create jobs, restore funding to schools, or work towards better health outcomes for Saskatchewan people, according to NDP Leader Ryan Meili. Meili was also looking for some admission of the damage done by recent government choices, whether it’s the PST hikes or the ongoing mishandling of the GTH but saw none.

“We were disappointed that we didn’t see any commitment to addressing the underfunding of education, a focus on addressing the province’s worst-in-the-nation health outcomes, or the reversal of the harmful expansion of the PST to construction and restaurant meals,” Meili said. “This was the Premier’s chance to make his mark on the province by addressing the real issues that people are struggling with, but he chose not to.”

NDP Leader Ryan Meili enters fall session with a call to action

After months of outreach across Saskatchewan, a successful by-election, a critic shuffle that presented the province with an NDP government-in-waiting, and an energized and enthusiastic fall convention, Ryan Meili and the NDP are heading into the fall sitting of the Legislature calling for action to secure jobs for Saskatchewan people, improve our province’s health outcomes, and restore funding to our schools.

Meili slams Moe for failure to develop made-in-Sask climate change plan

Following the Federal Government’s announcement this morning that Saskatchewan residents would see a direct rebate of the money raised by their tax on pollution, Ryan Meili slammed Scott Moe’s Sask. Party government for surrendering the initiative to the federal government and leaving Saskatchewan without a plan designed by and for Saskatchewan people.

“Scott Moe has once again come up empty in providing Saskatchewan with sound economic and environmental leadership,” Meili said. “He’s spent the last year pointing fingers and railing against a flawed federal approach, but he’s shown no initiative and no leadership in putting forward a plan that works for Saskatchewan people.

NDP calls for proper funding for Sask. libraries, consultation for future success

In recognition of Saskatchewan Library Week, the Saskatchewan NDP joins the public in celebrating all that libraries do for Saskatchewan people. This year’s Saskatchewan Library Week theme is “Libraries Transform,” which focuses on how libraries can serve communities in many different ways and focus on local needs.

“As our communities change and grow, so do our libraries. Libraries often fill the gaps and offer valuable services to all community members,” said NDP Education Critic Carla Beck. “This is why we need a government that respects the role and voice of our libraries, so they can continue to serve communities across the province. Library staff and boards know what is needed to accomplish future library growth—they, and the communities they serve, must be a fully involved in any future planning.”

NDP raises concern about Sask. homeowners falling further behind

Through their failure to invest in Saskatchewan people and Saskatchewan jobs, the Sask. Party government has left homeowners struggling when it comes to meeting their mortgage payments. According to a recent report released by the Canadian Bankers Association, Saskatchewan has the highest rate of people who are behind on their mortgages.

“We’ve now climbed to three times the national average. That speaks to a lot of stress and heartache for families who are struggling to pay their bills,” said NDP Housing Critic Nicole Rancourt. “Instead of providing opportunities for economic growth and an increase in wages, the Sask. Party has cut funding to job creation programs and refused to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. They are holding Saskatchewan residents back.”