23,000 jobs lost since 2020 means real action must be taken says official opposition
Saskatoon - The latest jobs figures for Saskatchewan should be a wake up call for Scott Moe and the Sask Party. The numbers released by Statistics Canada this morning show that there are 23,000 fewer people working in the province than this time last year.
“This has been a hard year for everyone but there are 23,000 people who are facing the additional hardship and stress of being out of a job,” said Official Opposition Leader Ryan Meili. “The Sask Party keeps trying to paint a rosy picture about our economy but these numbers tell the true story. Too many people are out of work and the numbers are getting worse. We need to see a real jobs plan from this government. There has to be real action.”
Meili pointed to the recent decision by the provincial government to reject a grant sought by True North Renewable Fuels (TRNF) as an example of a missed opportunity to create good jobs in the province. TRNF’s proposed Regina biodiesel plant could create 2,500 construction jobs and 150 permanent jobs in Regina.
In addition to the province’s resource sector, small businesses and the service industry have been hit especially hard and there are many women who have had to choose between childcare and work during the pandemic.
“There are so many people struggling to get by now. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccine but people still don’t know if their job will be coming back,” said Young. “We need a plan that helps small businesses rehire those they’ve had to lay off and we need support to help women get back in the workplace.They waited a full year into the pandemic to spend money from the fed government on child care. It shows their priorities just aren’t in the right place.”