With the federal government committing to ban asbestos by 2018, the Saskatchewan NDP is renewing its call for the Sask. Party to get to work addressing the issues faced by the 500 Saskatchewan schools that are on the asbestos registry, starting with those with crumbling infrastructure.
“Throughout Saskatchewan, there are schools with serious infrastructure issues,” said Education Critic Carla Beck. “When left undisturbed, asbestos in our buildings is not a big deal but, coupled with failing infrastructure such as crumbling roofs and leaky pipes, the possibility of danger becomes a reality.”
Government reports show that nearly 75 per cent of school roofs can fail in the next five years, and $1.5B is needed to address infrastructure needs in schools.
“Having a safe and healthy environment for our kids and their teachers is obviously the very least that can be expected,” Beck said. “But the Sask. Party has sat idly by while the infrastructure issues have mounted and they’ve taken no meaningful action on the asbestos registry since it was established.”
Jesse Todd, the chair of the Saskatchewan Asbestos Awareness Organization, knows firsthand the dangers of asbestos and feels the provincial government needs to make this issue a priority.
“We can no longer ignore the health risks that are associated with asbestos exposure and the mere fact that there are schools with asbestos in Saskatchewan that are currently sitting in a state of disrepair is disturbing to say the least,” Todd said.
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.