Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

While the rest of Canada increases workers, Sask. Party holding workers back

According to a new Statistics Canada report, Saskatchewan was the only province, other than Newfoundland, that saw a decrease in the number of employees compared to this time last year.

“Earlier this month we saw 7,800 more Saskatchewan people out of work compared to the year before, and what we’re seeing today is that the trend is continuing,” said NDP Jobs Critic Vicki Mowat. “Once again every single province in Western Canada saw an increase in jobs over the last year except Saskatchewan, and it is clear that people are struggling because of the Sask. Party’s mismanagement of the economy.”

Lack of autism funding forcing families into difficult decisions

The Sask. Party has failed to deliver on their promise of proper supports for children living with autism and because of it, families are being forced to choose between providing the necessary needs for their children and day-to-day expenses.

“With the Sask. Party’s heartless cuts and tax hikes, families are finding it harder and harder to get by - especially those families who have a child with autism, who require additional care and supports,” said NDP Health Critic Danielle Chartier. “The Sask. Party broke their promise to support families living with autism, and then they chose to pile on even more costs for these families.”

Children with autism abandoned by Sask. Party’s broken promise

Far from keeping their promise to provide increased supports for children living with autism spectrum disorder, the Sask. Party heartless cuts and broken promises have left them and their families with fewer and fewer supports and – in some cases – without access to school.

“It’s hard for parents of children living with autism to trust the Sask. Party when they say they care about early learning, because all they’ve seen are broken promises and cuts to programs designed to help their children,” said NDP Early Learning and Childcare Critic Carla Beck. “The Sask. Party needs to do what’s right and help these children get access to the education and supports they need and deserve. We need more spaces. Not fewer.”

Sask. Party PST hike hurting businesses and costing jobs

Earlier this month, it was revealed that thousands more Saskatchewan people have been thrown out of work. Today, Statistics Canada released the latest economic indicators which, once again, show links between this rise in unemployment and the Sask. Party’s mismanagement as well as their PST hike on everything from kids’ clothes, and food and drinks to home insurance and the construction industry.

“It’s certainly concerning when we hear that 7,800 more people are unable to find work than a year ago,” said NDP Jobs Critic Vicki Mowat. “What we are seeing more and more is that job-creating industries in Saskatchewan have been hit hard by the Sask. Party’s PST hike. It’s causing job losses and explains why we are seeing more people moving to other provinces to find better opportunities than ten years ago.”

Sask. Party pushing for more public sell-offs

Despite promises to protect Saskatchewan’s crowns and respect Saskatchewan people’s ownership, the Sask. Party have shown again that their plans to sell off everything from SaskTel to government buildings are far from over.

“Whether it’s refusing to scrap all of Bill 40 – their proposed law to let them sell off our Crowns without asking the owners, the people of Saskatchewan, – selling off STC and our grain cars, or having meetings to sell SGI and SaskTel, it’s clear that the Sask. Party has an itch to put everything that isn’t bolted to the ground on auction block,” said NDP Deputy Leader Carla Beck. “They already called in the auctioneers for the STC and now want to go for more. Next thing you know, the Minister will be posting public buildings on Kijiji.”

Sask. Party continue to fail First Nations and Metis peoples

For nearly a decade, the Sask. Party has failed to close the gap in health, education, justice and income levels for First Nations and Métis peoples. On top of that, they have refused to keep their promise to apologize for the Sixties Scoop.

Today, the Saskatchewan NDP used their time in Question Period to shine a light on these issues.