REGINA - This week in provincial politics, the opposition New Democrats continued efforts to attack the Sask Party government on a number of fronts.
Throughout the week the NDP continued their sustained criticism of the Sask Party government’s wildfire response. The messaging focused on the theme that the province had botched the wildfire response by failing to provide resources needed to fights the fires.
On Wednesday, Cumberland MLA Jordan McPhail stood alongside two residents of East Trout Lake, Doug Swiderski and his son Nick, whose home was destroyed in the wildfires. They claimed their concerns about wildfires threatening their area were dismissed.
On Thursday, McPhail held a press conference with local leaders and community members in Denare Beach, which had been devastated by the wildfire that ripped through the area.
In a news release, the NDP pointed to residents and local leaders saying that the Sask. Party ignored clear warnings, and had failed to follow through on promised firefighting support. They also accused the government of working at a “snail’s pace” to rebuild the community.
“Our firefighters, pilots and engineers, and local leaders did everything they could with the limited tools they had. But the warnings from the ground were ignored, and repeated requests for help and resources were denied,” said McPhail in a statement.
“Scott Moe and his government must answer why they didn’t show up for this community then and still haven’t now.”
Also this week, the NDP held another news conference in Saskatoon calling on the Sask. Party to eliminate SGI’s mandatory inspections for used vehicles purchased outside the province and brought into Saskatchewan.
In a release they called this “outdated, expensive, and an unnecessary obstacle to interprovincial trade.” The NDP also said used vehicles purchased within Saskatchewan did not face the same requirement.
"If a vehicle is insured and deemed roadworthy in another province, that should be enough to get it on the road here," said Hugh Gordon, Opposition critic for SGI, in a statement.
"It makes no sense that a driver who finds a great deal on a vehicle in Medicine Hat or Brandon should face extra costs and red tape just to bring it home."
“This is low-hanging fruit,” said Kim Breckner, Opposition critic for Trade and Export Development, in a statement. "Eliminating this requirement would save frustration and money for drivers and supports a stronger, more connected Canadian economy."
Also this week, NDP Leader Carla Beck was in Weyburn where she met with frontline healthcare workers on challenges in the system.
In a news release Beck pointed to staffing shortages, long ER wait times and other pressures facing workers.
“This government has asked healthcare workers to shoulder the weight of its mismanagement,” Beck said. “They haven’t seen a raise in three years. Staffing shortages are off the charts because of it. And instead of listening, the Sask. Party keeps making things worse.”
Beck blasts Trump
The NDP also continue to focus on issues of trade and procurement. On Friday afternoon Beck issued a statement on word that President Donald Trump had broken off trade talks with Canada over the Digital Services Tax.
"Nobody wins in a trade war, except Donald Trump. He’s not just targeting Canadian jobs, he’s trying to crush our economy so he can make us the fifty-first state.
"He’s said it himself. And his decision today to walk away from trade talks is further proof.
"Speaking with leaders in short-line rail in Estevan today, there is real support and enthusiasm right now to unite our country and get our goods to new markets with nation building projects – pipelines, rail lines, power lines and highways.
"We also need to stand together and support our workers, our industries, and our communities.
"The Sask. Party and their current leader must immediately reinstate their pro-Canada procurement policy — and this time, they actually need to follow it and put local businesses first for all government contracts."
