NDP take stand for Saskatchewan workers
This morning, New Democrats stood their ground in defence of Saskatchewan families and workers. NDP Caucus Chair and Ethics and Democracy Critic, along with NDP House Leader Warren McCall, shut down a meeting where the Sask. Party was attempting to pass their latest plan to attack Saskatchewan families and workers with even deeper cuts.
“We will accept a pay-cut for us. What we won’t accept is Sask. Party Ministers dodging their own responsibility and punishing Saskatchewan people for Sask. Party mismanagement, scandal, and waste,” said Forbes. “We will not rubber stamp a government scheme that would include even more cuts across our schools, hospitals, and the workers who provide the services Saskatchewan families rely on.”
Forbes and McCall made it clear that they and their NDP colleagues would still make good on their commitment to cut their salaries immediately but refused to support the Sask. Party’s plans to punish workers.
In addition to the pay cut for all MLAs, the NDP has demanded that:
When Sask. Party members of a parliamentary committee – the Board of Internal Economy (BOIE) – made it clear they would not consider the NDP’s demands, Forbes and McCall refused to enter the meeting. The Sask. Party hold the majority of votes on the committee so the only way for the NDP to block their plans and protect public workers was to not attend.
“The Sask. Party is playing games and trying to pretend they are taking the same hit as everyone else,” said Forbes. “A 3.5 per cent cut for an MLA or a Premier who has been accepting tens of thousands of dollars every year in top up from his party’s wealthy out of province donors, is very different than a pay cut or jobs loss for a single mother, a senior, or a family struggling to get by. It’s wrong for the Sask. Party to play coy while attacking Saskatchewan people like this and we are not going to stand for it.”
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.