Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

Job loss and unemployment rate rise in Saskatchewan

According to the July labour report from Statistics Canada, there are 12,300 fewer Saskatchewan jobs – 7,000 of which are full-time – compared to last month and there are 3,000 fewer jobs compared to this time last year. These jobs losses helped raise the province’s unemployment rate to 7.1 per cent, which is the highest rate in Canada outside the Maritimes and well above the national average.

“These numbers certainly are concerning for Saskatchewan people especially when it comes shortly after the announcement of major job losses at Cameco and Nutrien,” said NDP Jobs Critic Vicki Mowat. “Sask. Party decisions such as cutting $3 million out of job training and workforce development programs have impacts, and that is what we are seeing in this month’s report.”

Lack of land sales and growing debt highlight GTH Annual Report

The Global Transportation Hub’s annual report is showing major concerns for taxpayers as on top of the $150 million that has been already dumped into it, the debt level has risen to $40 million and the Sask. Party has made no land sales.

“I think the people of Saskatchewan should be concerned that the Sask. Party has so badly mismanaged the GTH with their sketchy land procurement methods that cost taxpayers millions of dollars and their lack of land sales despite constant assurances that they were going to happen,” said NDP GTH Critic Cathy Sproule. “It’s been a boondoggle and Saskatchewan taxpayers have been left on the hook to pay the tab.”

Statement from NDP Leader Ryan Meili in response to the announcement from the RCMP following their investigation into GTH land procurement

“We are thankful for the important work and diligence that the members of the RCMP put into this file. Having spent 28 months investigating it shows that there are some serious concerns around how the Sask. Party handled land procurement at the GTH. It’s important to note that even though no charges were announced today, it doesn’t mean that there wasn’t wrongdoing.”

NDP calls for comprehensive child welfare reform

The Sask. Party government has failed to make significant progress to address the Saskatchewan Child Advocate’s concerns regarding Indigenous children in the province’s care. Today, the NDP is calling on the government to follow through and stop ignoring the growing issue.

“Over the last several years, the Sask. Party has dropped the ball on addressing the needs of Indigenous children,” said NDP Deputy Leader Carla Beck. “Instead of making the changes that are needed to protect vulnerable children in care, they have failed to deliver on the comprehensive reform they promised back in 2010. Despite record revenues over the last decade, the Sask. Party has consistently made life harder for people living in poverty.”

NDP calls on Don Morgan to fix Saskatoon Legal Aid or resign

In light of comments made July 19 by a provincial court judge about the systemic shortage of Legal Aid lawyers in the Saskatoon Legal Aid office, NDP Justice Critic Nicole Sarauer is calling on Justice Minister Don Morgan to provide the resources needed to fix the problem, or resign.

“These comments from the bench speak to the seriousness of the resourcing problems at the Saskatoon Legal Aid office,” said Sarauer. “The Sask. Party government’s Minister of Justice is responsible for making sure Legal Aid has the resources it needs to advocate for vulnerable people. It’s clear from these comments that he is failing.”

Overcapacity issues leaving mental health patients behind

Overcapacity issues continue to plague the healthcare system and it’s making life harder for those trying to get proper mental health support.

“We have been constantly raising concerns about beds at the Irene and Leslie Dube Centre for Mental Health not being available because it is consistently overcapacity, but these concerns have not been taken seriously by the Sask. Party,” said NDP Health Critic Danielle Chartier. “Having patients with mental health challenges languish in emergency rooms or having multiple overnight stays in temporary ‘pods’ is not helpful, nor is it acceptable.”