Today, on the day many schools were originally set re-open in Saskatchewan, NDP Leader Ryan Meili called on Scott Moe to provide Saskatchewan families, educators and school divisions with a clear plan for the $75 million in federal funding for schools re-opening.

“Last week, the federal government bailed out the Sask. Party’s failed back-to-school plan,” said Meili. “Premier Scott Moe and Education Minister Gord Wyant have let families down again and again with the worst plan in Canada. Now, with a week until the delayed return to school, we still have no idea how the government plans to spend the emergency money from Ottawa. Saskatchewan people deserve to know how the federal funding will be used to improve safety in our schools.”

Meili noted that Ontario has laid out a detailed breakdown of how its share of the federal funding will be spent.

“The Sask. Party is taking our province down the wrong road,” said Meili. “While families are dealing with the chaos of the Sask. Party’s poor planning for return-to-school, the Finance Minister told us last week Saskatchewan could expect four more years of ‘austerity’ under a Sask. Party government – meaning deep cuts for our kids and their classrooms.

“Their poor planning forced them to delay opening schools, and left parents, educators and divisions scrambling to adjust. Now with only a week left to go, Saskatchewan people deserve clear answers and a detailed plan for lowering class size, improving ventilation, and keeping our kids safe.”