Saskatchewan New Democrat Leader Ryan Meili was in La Ronge today to announce his party’s commitment to immediately invest in healthy and safe northern communities.
“Life was getting harder for Northern families before the pandemic and COVID-19 has made things even harder,” said Meili. “We’re committed to making the investments needed to make life better for all northern families. All Scott Moe has to offer Northern communities is more of the same - which has been nothing at all.”
Meili noted that the Saskatchewan NDP platform includes a $5 million commitment to a Suicide Prevention Strategy that supports young people struggling with mental health and addictions, an issue that has reached crisis proportions in the North, where suicide is the leading cause of death for people age 10 to 49. Indigenous girls in this province are 29 times more likely to die by suicide than non-Indigenous girls.
“Earlier this year when Doyle Vermette tried to pass a suicie prevention law, Scott Moe and the Sask. Party voted it down. This was a shameful betrayal of the North,“ said Meili. “We need to work with northern communities and invest in the supports they need because continuing with the Sask. Party’s approach is tragically dangerous”.
Meili pointed to other aspects of the New Democrats’ election platform, People First, that support northern families:
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.
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.
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.