REGINA - As school divisions prepare to submit their budgets to the provincial government by June 30th, the impact of the Sask. Party’s cuts to the classroom are becoming more evident. Saskatoon Public School Division has gone public with concerns about what programs and services are on the chopping block as they work to eliminate the division’s projected deficit of $8 million. By law, school divisions must present a balanced budget to the provincial government.
“Premier Scott Moe told people across the province during the last election campaign that there would be no cuts, but now we see the truth: this is a government that has chosen to cut supports to the classroom during a pandemic,” said Carla Beck, Education Critic for the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party.
Beck notes that Saskatoon Public Schools is just one of many divisions having to make difficult decisions as part of budget deliberations. Despite the Sask. Party government’s budget stating school divisions would receive an increase of $19.2 million, that funding increase was consumed entirely by the need to fund the $23 million teacher’s contract. The Ministry of Education’s 2021-22 and 2020-21 Funding Comparative illustrates the real picture, with 9 school divisions having their operating funding cut, and a meagre 1.1% funding increase to divisions overall.
The Saskatchewan NDP is calling on the Sask. Party government to:
“Teachers, parents and school communities have done so much to make education rewarding and of the highest quality during the last year,” said Beck. “As students return full-time to the classroom in the Fall of 2021, hopefully with the pandemic behind us, we know that there is so much work needed to get kids back on track and to support them after the challenges they’ve endured.”
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.