The Sask. Party's decision to break their promise and scrap the STC has left Saskatchewan students, families, and seniors stranded without transportation, including to school and medical appointments.
“This truly is a sad day for Saskatchewan,” said NDP Leader Trent Wotherspoon. “It’s a sad day for the families and businesses that depend on this essential service and it’s especially a sad day for the 224 people who are out of work because of this wrong-headed decision by the Sask. Party.”
Despite promising to improve First Nations and Métis graduation rates, the Sask. Party is nowhere near hitting their target and, instead of working to turn things around, are cutting more workers and programs that would help support these students.
“Across the board in education, the Sask. Party’s answer has been deeper cuts and fewer supports in the classroom,” said NDP Education Critic Carla Beck. “Even in the face of the tragic and costly gap in graduation rates, the government has stuck with their backwards approach to education and is making students pay for Sask. Party mismanagement, scandal and waste.”
The spring session of the legislature came to an end today. It was a session that was marked by Sask. Party cuts, sell-offs, tax hikes, and overreaching power-grabs.
“The legislative session may have come to an end today but the devastating impacts of the Sask. Party’s cuts, sell-offs, tax hikes, and attacks will continue to hit Saskatchewan families and the most vulnerable,” said NDP Leader Trent Wotherspoon.
With the Sask. Party’s sell-off of the Saskatchewan Transportation Company going to court tomorrow, the NDP is calling for the government to undertake a value-for-dollar audit to learn the true cost of losing the STC.
“The Sask. Party has admitted that they did no cost analysis or planning before announcing that they were rushing to scrap this service that is so vital to so many families and businesses throughout the province,” said STC Critic Doyle Vermette. “The Sask. Party’s refusal to look at what the real costs are for this sell-off show what a desperate move this is and how little they care about the broader consequences and who is hurt by their mismanagement, scandal, and waste.”
Today, Saskatchewan’s Official Opposition called on the federal government to stand up for Western Canada when considering the recommendations of the Expert Panel on the Modernization of the National Energy Board.
“The Panel’s recommendation to move the head office of this important oversight body for the energy sector from Calgary to Ottawa just doesn’t make sense,” said NDP Leader Trent Wotherspoon. “Job creators in the energy sector have their head offices in Western Canada, and the National Energy Board’s head office should be there too.”
Today, Sask. Party MLAs from Regina voted to silence local voices at the Wascana Centre Authority in favor of handing total control to the Sask. Party government.
“The Sask. Party has been shutting down local voices in education and healthcare, and now they’re silencing local voices in the Wascana Centre Authority,” said NDP Parks Critic and Regina Elphinstone Centre MLA Warren McCall “These Sask. Party MLAs should be standing up to support the jewel in our Queen City’s crown, not voting along party line to hand control over to the government.”