THE SASK. PARTY CLAIMS ABOUT IMPROVING SAID PROGRAM DON’T MATCH THE REALITY OF CLIENTS WHO ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO GET BY

Scott Moe, Sask. Party Focused On Photo Ops & Political Spin While Those In Need Suffer
REGINA – Today, Carla Beck’s team is calling out the Sask. Party for their continual failures to provide sufficient support for SAID clients here in Saskatchewan.

For months, many SAID recipients have expressed the difficulties they have faced in accessing the program, including benefits that are unnecessarily cut or delayed, tedious and repetitive paperwork, difficulty accessing ministry support, and a continual rotation of caseworkers.

“The program has been in shambles for far too long and the people who rely on it are the ones who pay the price,” said Erika Ritchie, Shadow Minister for Social Services. “We hear from so many folks about how their monthly benefits are barely enough for them to get by to begin with, and the continual barriers in the program only exacerbate that.”

On Thursday, Ritchie stood alongside Charmaine Hartt, who is a SAID recipient living in Regina. Hartt shared her experience as an individual living on income assistance and the struggles she faces to get by month-to-month.
“How many times a day do you eat Mr. Moe? One, two, three or more?”, said Hartt.

“I eat once a day because I don’t get enough money to buy food for a full month, so I have to ration my food.”

In early July, the provincial government announced several more changes to the SAID program, scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2026. The government stated that the changes are intended to “modernize” and “simplify” the program. As part of the restructuring, several benefits deemed underutilized by the Ministry will be eliminated.

However, community-based organizations such as Inclusion Saskatchewan have raised concern that the adjustments to the program represent a redistribution of existing funding rather than a meaningful increase in overall support for recipients, and furthermore that new clients may be disproportionately affected by the changes.

“This is really concerning,” added Ritchie. “The cost of living is vastly outpacing SAID rates, and an increase of $46 per month isn’t a whole lot in the grand scheme of things.

“People who are living with a disability deserve respect and stability from a government who is supposed to be providing them with support. These folks should not be worrying about whether they are going to be able to pay rent next month or put food on the table.

“Rather than listening, the Sask. Party is more focused on photo ops and political spin.

“It’s time for change.”

-30-

Latest posts

SASK. PARTY FAILS TO PRODUCE ANY TIMELINES OR COSTS FOR YORKTON HOSPITAL PROMISED 14 YEARS AGO

Minister of Rural and Remote Health Cites Placeholder Funding In Out-Year Budgets, But Records Show No Such Amounts Exist
YORKTON – Scott Moe and the Sask. Party either don’t have a clue on the costs or completion timeline for the desperately needed new Yorkton Hospital — a project the government promised to deliver 14 years ago — or they’re willfully hiding those details from the public.

SCOTT MOE HOSTS WORST HOMICIDE WAVE IN ALL OF CANADA – THREE TIMES THE CANADIAN AVERAGE

Saskatchewan Homicide Rate Nearly 74% Higher Since Sask. Party Formed Government

REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is calling out Scott Moe for prioritizing press conferences and ribbon cuttings while Saskatchewan people keep their doors locked after the homicide rate in the province has surged to nearly three times the national average and the highest in the country.

SCOTT MOE HOSTS WORST HOMOCIDE WAVE IN ALL OF CANADA – THREE TIMES THE CANADIAN AVERAGE

Saskatchewan Homicide Rate Nearly 74% Higher Since Sask. Party Formed Government

REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is calling out Scott Moe for prioritizing press conferences and ribbon cuttings, while Saskatchewan people keep their doors locked after homicides in the province have surged to three times the national average, and the highest in the country.

SASKATCHEWAN LOST 2,900 FULL TIME JOBS IN JULY, YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT CLIMBS TO 12.4%

Yorkton, Swift Current, Moose Jaw And Prince Albert All Saw Job Losses
REGINA – Saskatchewan saw significant job losses in the month of July according to data released by Stats Canada today, impacting communities across the province, while youth unemployment climbed to over 12 per cent.

NDP Caucus Office