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 on-time graduation rate across the province is 76 per cent but, for First Nation and Métis students, it is 42 per cent. The cuts to education are hitting students across the province and, with Sask. Party cuts resulting in a $9.7 million budget shortfall to the Saskatoon Catholic school division, 12 Aboriginal student retention workers have been eliminated. In the Regina Public school division, a $9.5 million shortfall has forced Indigenous advocates to be reassigned.
“The Minister of Education promised to raise First Nations and Métis graduation rates in Saskatchewan but turned around and forced these cuts on school divisions,” Beck said. “If the Sask. Party actually wants to keep their promise and improve the graduation rates, they need to stop these cuts and invest in these supports that are desperately needed in our classrooms.”
Poor working conditions, favouritism, $300K travel nurse pay at issue
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition released a letter signed by 49 emergency room nurses in Saskatoon. The letter slams the Sask. Party government for failing to support Saskatchewan nurses and curb the province’s reliance on expensive out-of-province travel nurses.
REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Critic for First Nations and Métis Relations Betty Nippi-Albright hosted a Day of Action with Indigenous leaders from Nekaneet First Nation, Yellow Quill First Nation, Waterhen Lake First Nation, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Carry The Kettle First Nation, Key First Nation and the residential school support team from Yorkton Tribal Council. Together, they continue to draw attention to the Sask. Party government’s disregard for the Duty to Consult process.
MOOSE JAW - Today, the Official Opposition stood with Taylor Enns, president of the Moose Jaw Firefighters Association, and Brayden Dutchak, the son of a cancer survivor. Together, they called on the Sask. Party government to reopen Saskatchewan’s only hyperbaric chamber.
Records show former Sask. Party Finance Minister lobbied for Calgary surgery scheme on behalf of a major Sask. Party donor
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition grilled the Premier and his Minister of Health after the Minister misled the public, claiming that he had not been lobbied by a former Sask. Party MLA when Saskatchewan's official lobbyist logs show the exact opposite.