While agreeing to cut their own wages by 3.5 per cent, the NDP MLAs are demanding that, after 10 years in government, the Premier and the Sask. Party cabinet ministers accept responsibility for their string of billion dollar deficits.
“NDP MLAs are more than willing to take the 3.5 per cent pay cut,” said NDP Ethics and Democracy Critic David Forbes. “But, if this Premier and Sask. Party Cabinet are serious about fixing the mess the Sask. Party has created with their mismanagement, scandal, and waste, then they must do the right thing, step up, show some accountability and take responsibility for this growing crisis they have created for the Saskatchewan people.”
New Democrats called on the Sask. Party to take concrete steps to demonstrate they acknowledge their own blame and willingness to take meaningful steps to move forward. Specifically, the NDP said they Sask. Party Cabinet Ministers – those who created the financial mess - must take an additional 20 per cent cut to their Ministerial bonuses, the Sask. Party must initiate the process to ensure that there are five fewer MLAs for the next general election, and the Sask. Party must not use these pay cuts as an excuse to go after Saskatchewan workers with job and wage cuts.
“It’s pretty rich and arrogant for a Premier who has lined his pockets with close to half a million dollars in a top-up from the Sask. Party’s big corporate donors and failed to comply with their own balanced budget legislation,” said Forbes. “Using a 3.5 per cent pay cut to justify threats of cuts to public workers or give the government reprieve from its financial mismanagement is unacceptable. It’s long past time for this government to take some steps in the right direction to genuinely address the deficit they have left the province in.”