After weeks of refusing to provide any concrete evidence to support their ban of Alberta license plates at Saskatchewan work sites, and just hours before leaving the Saskatchewan people on the hook for a potential $5 million fine, the Sask. Party have made it clear they had no credible justification or defense for their actions and have backed-down on their ban.
“From the beginning, it’s been clear that the Sask. Party had no justification for this attack. Now, even after backing down, they’re still playing games. We should be able to expect better from our government,” said NDP Deputy House Leader Carla Beck. “With unemployment rates hitting 20 year highs and small businesses struggling with PST hikes the Sask. Party needs to stop the posturing and chest thumping and just finally admit they were wrong.”
A report released today by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business shows that it is the actions of the Sask. Party – not other provinces - that are hurting the largest creators of new jobs in Saskatchewan. In fact, 71 per cent of Saskatchewan small-business owners cited the PST – which the Sask. Party hiked and expanded in the last budget while also cutting the subsidy for businesses that collect it – as being their primary concern.
“We need to support small businesses to create jobs and we need to remember that our Western provinces do best when we work together to create new opportunities for all of us,” Beck said. “Now, even as they admit they’re backing down, they seem more interested in picking fights with Alberta than working to reverse their own policies that have left the unemployment rate above the national average for the first time in over 40 years”
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.