After nearly a decade of Sask. Party mismanagement, scandal, and waste, the government is now threatening to force the people of Saskatchewan to pay the price for the government’s $1.2 billion deficit.
“The Sask. Party came into government during a time of record revenues and a fully stocked Rainy-Day Fund,” said NDP Leader Trent Wotherspoon. “During the election less than a year ago, the Sask. Party lied about the finances and now, they're saying the only solution they have for their own mismanagement is to make the people of the province pay the price with cuts to jobs and programs that families rely on like education and health care. The people of Saskatchewan did not cause the Sask. Party’s mess, so making them pay the price is simply not acceptable.”
During the bear pit session at the SUMA convention, many councilors and municipal leaders expressed their frustration with the Sask. Party’s threats and fears because of what it will mean for their communities. Many were concerned that proper funding would not be provided for things like classrooms, mental health, and infrastructure. Concerns were also raised about health and school board amalgamation as well as the potential sale of SaskTel and the rest of the Crowns.
Wotherspoon added that in conversations throughout the convention, he heard many people talk about the ballooning cost of the contract signed with a foreign company for the Regina bypass – from $400 million to $2 billion. Many also had concerns with the Global Transportation Hub (GTH) scandal, particularly revelations reported today that the land that was purchased by the GTH should have been bought years earlier for a tenth of the cost. As a result of the Sask. Party’s GTH scandal, two Sask. Party supporters made $11 million of profit out of the pockets of Saskatchewan taxpayers.
“Mayors and councilors, just like the rest of us, are consistently being told by the Sask. Party to do more with less,” Wotherspoon said. “The Sask. Party’s excuses are growing tired and weak. The go-to line for the Premier and the Sask. Party has been to blame the previous government but, after nearly a decade in government, it’s long past time for the Sask. Party to take responsibility for their own mismanagement, scandal, and waste.”
REGINA—Saskatchewan New Democrats unanimously approved a solidarity motion with the people of Ukraine, as well as all Saskatchewan people with friends and family in the region at Provincial Council on February 26, 2022.
REGINA—The Saskatchewan New Democrats set the rules and timing for a leadership contest at Provincial Council on February 26th. The new leader will be elected at a leadership convention in Regina in late June, 2022.
All Saskatchewan New Democratic Party members in good standing will be eligible to vote online or by mail-in ballot.
Standing with New Democratic Party candidate Melissa Patterson in Moose Jaw Wakamow today, NDP Leader Ryan Meili called on voters in his hometown to reject Scott Moe’s plan for dangerous cuts during a pandemic.