Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

NDP call on Sask. Party to put people, and public pools, before politics

The Saskatchewan NDP is calling on the provincial government to end its bizarre stand-off over the funding of two Regina pools, and get to work on behalf of the people of the Queen City instead of using them to score cheap political points.

“These pools are the heart of their neighborhoods, and are cherished by Reginans,” said NDP Municipal Relations Critic Trent Wotherspoon. “The fact the Premier and his Sask. Party government are playing cheap political games over recreational spaces for our kids is incredibly petty and unprofessional.”

NDP uncovers Sask. Party’s secret Crown sell-off committee

A newly released report from the Information and Privacy Commissioner shows that the Sask. Party’s plans to sell off SaskTel were much more developed than previously known. Documents released by the Saskatchewan NDP show that cabinet created a secret sell-off committee of cabinet to explore ways to sell off up to 50% of the Crowns. 

The NDP is calling for the release of all documents the Commissioner recommended be released, and all the documents prepared by the private companies the Sask. Party was looking to sell SaskTel off to. Wotherspoon condemned the Sask. Party for sharing SaskTel’s commercial information with its competitors and exposing SaskTel to potential harm. 

Changes needed to make government accountable: NDP

Today, the NDP called on the Sask. Party government to strengthen legislation to prevent conflicts of interest and backroom deals, after Conflict of Interest Commissioner Ronald Barclay’s 2019 annual report noted that the government has yet to implement any recommendations from his previous report.

“The people of Saskatchewan deserve a government they can trust, and that means an open and transparent government,” said NDP Ethics and Democracy Critic David Forbes. “People are rightly concerned about the effect that the Sask. Party’s wealthy donors and insiders have on their government.”

Meili calls for investment in Saskatchewan’s energy city

NDP Leader Ryan Meili is in Estevan today to discuss the region’s future with local leaders.

“Estevan has always been an energy city. With the best solar exposure in the country and great opportunities for wind and geothermal, the future can and should be bright for this community as we modernize our energy system,” Meili said. “But that takes leadership, and the Sask. Party government isn’t providing any direction or clarity about the future.”

Reality check: “Hold my wine”? Moe’s Sask. Party trumps Ford’s Conservatives when it comes to sketchy political donations

Ontario Premier Doug Ford may be catching heat for promoting a winery on his propaganda network after accepting $2,050 in donations from its president, but Saskatchewan is still the ‘wild west’ when it comes to campaign finance laws.

Thanks to outdated laws that the Sask. Party has refused to change, Saskatchewan is the only province in Canada that still allows big money to dominate its elected government and its decisions. Corporations, unions, organizations and individuals, including those from out of province, are allowed to donate unlimited amounts to Saskatchewan political parties and candidates. And the Sask. Party takes full advantage of the legislative vacuum, raking in millions from many of the same people and businesses that in turn enjoy lucrative government contracts and Crown board appointments. 

Families desperate for help, NDP calls for suicide strategy

According to the latest figures from the Saskatchewan Coroner’s Service, there were 209 suicides in 2018, an increase of 16 per cent over the previous year. That represents a 69 per cent increase over the number of suicides in the province that took place in 2005, with more than 2,100 lives lost to suicide since then. 

In recognition of the growing crisis, the NDP Mental Health and Addictions Critic and Critic for Northern Saskatchewan joined mental health advocate Marilyn Irwin in Saskatoon today to call on the Saskatchewan government to implement a province-wide suicide prevention strategy.