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.”
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.