Saskatchewan’s economy falling further behind, NDP calls for action

While our neighbouring western provinces are creating more jobs and expanding economic activity, two recent reports highlight just how far Saskatchewan is falling behind with Scott Moe’s Sask. Party at the helm. Scotiabank released their economic outlook for 2018-19 on Friday, and it showed fewer people being hired in Saskatchewan, with provincial employment down 0.3 per cent year over year. It also showed that inflation in Saskatchewan leads the country aside from B.C., likely the lingering result of last year’s PST hike.

“The Sask. Party is doing nothing to bolster the economy and address the alarming economic indicators we’re seeing. People can’t find work and have nowhere to turn,” said NDP Jobs Critic Vicki Mowat. “Provinces such as Alberta have responded proactively to a struggling job market and created jobs and training programs to improve the economy. The Sask. Party strategy seems to be to keep repeating ‘this is fine’ in the hopes it eventually is.”

This month, the Canadian Payroll Association released the results of a survey that found Saskatchewan employees burdened by debt and chronically under-saving for retirement. The report found that fully half of Saskatchewan workers report feeling “overwhelmed” by their level of debt, while one in four people working in Saskatchewan say they couldn’t come up with $2,000 within a month for an emergency expense. Saskatchewan workers reported the primary reason for their increased debt is the increase in taxes.

“Workers are suffering as a result of this government’s inability to face the reality they created,” said Mowat. “The Sask. Party needs to reinstate funds they cut from job training programs and actively create more training opportunities, especially in northern Saskatchewan.”

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