NORTHERN COUNCILLORS SAY CRIME, DRUG CRISIS OVERWHELMING SASKATCHEWAN COMMUNITIES

Sask. Party Mental Health & Addictions Minister Hides Evidence Of Failure To Save Lives

REGINA – The Saskatchewan NDP is standing with councillors from the North to demand action to fight crime and the drug crisis, improve public safety and get people the lifesaving treatment they need.

On Wednesday, Saskatchewan NDP First Nations & Metis Relations Shadow Minister Leroy Laliberte was joined by Roy Sean Cheecham, a Councillor from Clearwater River Dene Nation, and Trevor Moberly, a Councillor from Birch Narrows, to plea for help.

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“People don’t feel safe in their own communities after 18 years of this Sask. Party government,” Laliberte said. “They talk a big game about getting tough on crime but there is evidence everywhere that their plan has failed — Saskatchewan’s severe crime rate is double the national average.

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“We know that criminals are flooding our communities with dangerous drugs and nearly a person a day is dying of overdose or poisoning. Often, the victims are kids — they are our future and this government has failed them so badly.”

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“While companies seeking to develop resources on our traditional territories are welcomed with open arms, major investments, and swift approvals, our communities are still asked to wait decades for basic services, health care, long-term care for our Elders, and reliable emergency response,” he said.

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“We’re not asking for charity or salvation. We’re here to raise longstanding shortfalls so that together — respectfully, collaboratively — we can build real solutions that keep our families safe, healthy, and supported on the lands we’ve always called home.

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“This is about fairness. This is about dignity. And this is about ensuring that northern and Indigenous communities are finally given the same urgency, priority, and respect that every other community in this province expects and deserves.”

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Last week, Laliberte addressed the Meadow Lake Tribal Council about the crime and drug crisis. He reinforced the need for funding more police and improve lifesaving addictions supports — in recent weeks, the Sask. Party hasn’t even been able to specify how many people trying to get their lives back were stuck on waitlists for treatment.

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“The Minister is either incompetent or a liar, or both,” Laliberte said. “She is either trying to hide evidence of failure after 18 years of this government or she actually doesn’t know how many people have turned to the very facilities she’s responsible for to get help.

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“The Sask. Party got us into this mess and they can’t be trusted to get us out of it.”

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