After nearly a decade of Sask. Party mismanagement, scandal, and waste, the government is now threatening to force the people of Saskatchewan to pay the price for the government’s $1.2 billion deficit.
“The Sask. Party came into government during a time of record revenues and a fully stocked Rainy-Day Fund,” said NDP Leader Trent Wotherspoon. “During the election less than a year ago, the Sask. Party lied about the finances and now, they're saying the only solution they have for their own mismanagement is to make the people of the province pay the price with cuts to jobs and programs that families rely on like education and health care. The people of Saskatchewan did not cause the Sask. Party’s mess, so making them pay the price is simply not acceptable.”
During the bear pit session at the SUMA convention, many councilors and municipal leaders expressed their frustration with the Sask. Party’s threats and fears because of what it will mean for their communities. Many were concerned that proper funding would not be provided for things like classrooms, mental health, and infrastructure. Concerns were also raised about health and school board amalgamation as well as the potential sale of SaskTel and the rest of the Crowns.
Wotherspoon added that in conversations throughout the convention, he heard many people talk about the ballooning cost of the contract signed with a foreign company for the Regina bypass – from $400 million to $2 billion. Many also had concerns with the Global Transportation Hub (GTH) scandal, particularly revelations reported today that the land that was purchased by the GTH should have been bought years earlier for a tenth of the cost. As a result of the Sask. Party’s GTH scandal, two Sask. Party supporters made $11 million of profit out of the pockets of Saskatchewan taxpayers.
“Mayors and councilors, just like the rest of us, are consistently being told by the Sask. Party to do more with less,” Wotherspoon said. “The Sask. Party’s excuses are growing tired and weak. The go-to line for the Premier and the Sask. Party has been to blame the previous government but, after nearly a decade in government, it’s long past time for the Sask. Party to take responsibility for their own mismanagement, scandal, and waste.”
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.
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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.