Saskatchewan NDP is joining with producers across the province in calling on the Sask. Party to finally act to clear the railway bottlenecks that have been making it harder for producers to get their grain to market and hurting the Saskatchewan economy.
“I’ve heard from producers throughout the province who see this as a major problem, and they can’t afford to have the Sask. Party stand as idle as the grain they’re refusing to help get moving,” said Agriculture Critic Carla Beck. “This is the same Sask. Party that refused to hold the Federal Government to account in 2014 when farmers were struggling to get their bumper crop to market. We can’t afford the Sask. Party’s inaction and ineffectiveness again.”
Over half of the hopper-car orders placed with Canada's two largest rail companies went unfilled in the second week of February. Adding to issues in grain transportation is the closure of producer car loading sites. In 2005, there were 79 loading sites on CP Rail lines in Saskatchewan, but the cuts have meant that there will be no more than 26.
In their budget, the Sask. Party sold off Saskatchewan’s grain cars without asking permission of the owners – the people of Saskatchewan. And, the Sask. Party failed to take any meaningful action when CP Rail announced they would be shutting down at least 10 producer car-loading sites in Saskatchewan. Whether it’s license plates, a federally-imposed carbon tax, or standing up for Saskatchewan’s agriculture industry, it is clear that the Sask. Party has lost all credibility with other governments and are failing to protect Saskatchewan families and businesses.
“On important matters such as getting grain to market, failing to act is failing our producers and failing Saskatchewan,” Beck said. “Producers already have to deal with the stress of harsh and temperamental weather in Saskatchewan, they shouldn’t have to face the stress of having their hard earned crop sit in bins while the bills pile up.”
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.