SASK. PARTY LEAVES SASKATOON HIGH AND DRY AS RIVER CRISIS DEEPENS

For immediate release: May 12, 2025

NDP MLAs and Prairie Lily Operators Call for Urgent Action After Warnings Ignored By Sask. Party

The South Saskatchewan River has been reduced to sandbars and shutdowns because the Sask. Party government ignored clear, repeated warnings. Now, the low river levels could dampen tourism and cause a negative impact to the local economy.

This didn’t come out of nowhere. Prairie Lily operators say that the took officials from the Water Security Agency out on their boat last summer to show them exactly what was coming. The government ignored them.

“This is a failure that reaches into daily life — our economy, our safety, our sense of place,” said Erika Ritchie, Shadow Minister for the Water Security Agency.

“The Prairie Lily is a local treasure and it’s been completely grounded. There are other impacts too. The South Saskatchewan River is so important to this community — especially during the summer — and the Sask. Party either doesn’t care or is incompetent when it comes to managing it.”

The Nutrien Fireworks Festival faces possible cancellation because the fireworks were going to be launched from boats this year due to construction on the Broadway Bridge, and there are fears that first responders, like Saskatoon Fire and the RCMP, may have difficulties accessing all parts of the river as they have historically in the event of an emergency.

“The Sask. Party didn’t just fail on water management — they failed the residents, workers, and communities who count on this river every single day,” said Kim Breckner, Shadow Minister for Trade and Export Development.

“There are jobs hanging in the balance, a negative hit to our economy and community events. This government is such an embarrassment.”

Nathaniel Teed, MLA for Saskatoon Meewasin, said his office has been flooded with complaints from those impacted by the low water levels. The Saskatchewan NDP is calling for immediate emergency action from the Sask. Party to save the river and answer why they let this crisis occur in the first place.

“We’re calling on the Sask. Party to work with the Water Security Agency immediately to come up with a solution,” Teed said. “We need the South Saskatchewan River — it’s such an important part of Saskatoon, now and into the future.”

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