With almost all of Saskatchewan already rated at either a “high” or “extreme” risk of wildfire, the NDP is calling on the Sask. Party government to reverse their cuts to wildfire management and restore funding to 2009/10 levels.
“In five of their last six budgets, the Sask. Party cut funding to wildfire management. The result was that funding for these vital services in 2014/15 was just over half of what was allotted in 2009,” said NDP Leader Trent Wotherspoon. “Considering the damage, destruction, and personal hardship that we saw during and after last year’s fires, it’s simply unacceptable that the government not step up and take action now to prevent it from happening again this year.”
Last year turned out to be one of the worst years on record for wildfires and the Sask. Party had only committed $56 million to manage it. With the risks already rising once again, Wotherspoon said this year’s budget should include adequate funding to ensure the safety and protection of families and communities.
Though the Sask. Party has said they will make more firefighting training available for northerners, Wotherspoon says the government must engage northern leaders in this process.
“These community leaders are the ones who know their land best and can play an important part to protect it,” said Wotherspoon. “When government ignores communities, it makes no sense and is certainly not part of a productive strategy to fight forest fires in the north or anywhere else.”
For get more information, download the backgrounder here.
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.