Last year, the Saskatchewan government spent $8.022 billion on health and is now only planning to spend $8.004 billion this coming year, a cut of $17.1 million (page 27).
“The intensive care unit here at the Battleford Union Hospital was closed for 48 days,” Jorgenson said. “This is the Health Minister’s own riding and people can’t get the healthcare they need. Jeremy Cockrill needs to look the Battleford people in the eyes and explain how he has the audacity to cut healthcare funding at a time like this.
The budget also lacked a contingency fund for potential tariffs, and presented no tangible measures to protect workers, producers, businesses, or industry from the Donald Trump trade war.
“This budget denies the serious reality of the massive challenges people right here in the Battlefords are facing,” said Jorgenson. “The Sask. Party is asleep at the wheel”.
“The Battlefords rely heavily on the agricultural and oil and gas sectors – both of which will be hammered hard by tariffs. This budget leaves the people of The Battlefords out to dry,” Jorgenson said.
Saskatchewan NDP Carla Beck has put forward an ambitious plan to build infrastructure to get Saskatchewan products to market, calling on the Sask. Party to build more rail lines, pipelines and power lines. The Sask. NDP have also called for the twinning Highway 1 from coast to coast, the prioritizing of Saskatchewan steel companies, and the banning of US contracts.
“I am proud to be part of a team that’s focused on the future. We’ve condemned the repeated attacks by Trump on Canada’s sovereignty,” Jorgenson said. “Unlike the Sask. Party, we are a team that steps up — we don’t suck up.”
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