For immediate release: April 23, 2025
Sask. Party Refusal To Partner With Frontline Workers Part Of Problem That Has Seen Healthcare Here Driven To Last Place
REGINA – Hundreds of members of CUPE Local 5430 representing healthcare workers in Saskatchewan held a rally at the Legislature today to demand fair wages and better working conditions from the Sask. Party government.
After over two years of bargaining, nothing has been resolved for healthcare workers in Saskatchewan. Members have not received a pay increase in more than three years. Meanwhile, inflation and the cost of living continue to climb.
“We used to lead the nation in healthcare and now here we are — in last place,” said Jared Clarke, Saskatchewan NDP MLA for Regina Walsh Acres. “Last place on patient outcomes, last place on wait times, and last place when it comes to retaining workers.
“Healthcare has become more important than ever and yet what did the Sask. Party do in the most recent budget? They cut healthcare funding by $17 million.
“The Sask. Party are the ones who broke our public healthcare system. They can’t be trusted to fix it.”
Over the last 12 years, the Saskatchewan Consumer Price Index has increased by 32 per cent. In the same period, Saskatchewan’s minimum wage has increased by 50 percent, but the wages for healthcare workers have only increased by 14 percent.
“Now is the time to invest in healthcare and it starts with a fair deal for healthcare workers in our province rather than cutting and gutting the system,” Clarke said. “The Saskatchewan NDP remains committed to these workers and we will stand up and fight for them every step of the way.”
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REGINA — The Saskatchewan NDP and the ALS Society of Saskatchewan are calling on the Sask. Party Minister of Health to immediately launch a full investigation into the Dr. Goodenowe Restorative Health Centre in Moose Jaw.
REGINA – The Saskatchewan NDP is calling on the Provincial Auditor to launch a special investigation into the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety and the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), following the government’s failure to properly maintain and deploy key firefighting aircraft during this year’s wildfire crisis.