Battlefords NDP MLA Len Taylor today responded to the Government’s release of the First Quarter Financial Report.
Taylor noted that the $3.1 billion increase in revenue over budget displays a shocking lack of fiscal management on the part of the Sask Party.
"It’s no surprise the economy is doing so well and of course we welcome the new revenue," Taylor said. "But the Sask Party continues to play a game of smoke and mirrors with their budget projections. They clearly lowballed the price of oil in the budget creating the massive surplus we see today."
However, Taylor was encouraged by the dedication of part of the surplus to the provincial debt – a continuation of the debt reduction strategy introduced by the previous NDP government.
While Taylor reiterated his pleasure with the strong Saskatchewan economy, he pointed out that many people in the province have yet to experience the full benefit of the boom.
"The government is now sitting on a mountain of money with no new ideas and no plans on how to invest it," said Taylor. "Meanwhile the people of our province are dealing with the pressures that come from a booming economy with no assistance from the government."
Taylor pointed to a number of areas in which affordability is affecting the quality of life of the people of Saskatchewan. "Food prices, fuel prices, utility rates, local taxes and housing costs are all increasing yet the Sask Party continues to provide little relief to vulnerable families," Taylor said.
"The Sask Party has given the people of this province very little reason to believe they can competently manage these finances," Taylor said. "We’ve seen very little property tax relief, no commitment to the lowest cost bundle of utilities, and a flip flop on a promise to lower the price of gas. Too many people in our province are feeling left out of the boom."
"The economy will continue to grow. The riches of the government will continue to grow. We need a new budget during this fall’s Legislative session to ensure the priorities of Saskatchewan people are dealt with – especially those who have been most negatively affected by Saskatchewan’s growing prosperity," Taylor said.
For further information, please contact Scott Calimente at the NDP Caucus Office -(306) 787-6788
A report released today by the David Suzuki Foundation shows that while most provinces are ramping up activity to fight climate change, Saskatchewan under the Sask Party is moving in the wrong direction.
The report states that while the Sask Party has adopted the NDP’s emission reduction targets, it has “no plan or strategy to get there.” The report also points to a number of misguided actions taken by the Sask Party, including:
"This report confirms what we have been saying all along," NDP Environment Critic Sandra Morin said. "While the Sask Party adopted our aggressive emission reduction targets it has gone out of its way to make sure the province does not achieve them by scrapping funding, programs and offices developed to meet those targets.
"Climate change is not an easy problem to tackle for a province like Saskatchewan but slashing funding, and axing programs and climate change offices is not the answer. We need leadership on climate change and this report shows we simply are not getting it from Brad Wall."
The report comes as the Premiers gather in Quebec City for a Council of the Federation meeting, where climate change is expected to top the agenda.
"I hope Brad Wall takes time to really listen to the other Premiers and to hear what they are doing to fight climate change,” Morin said. “If he does not come up with a plan soon Saskatchewan will never meets its emission reduction targets. Saskatchewan people, and most importantly our children, deserve better from this government."
For further information, please contact Jay Branch at the NDP Caucus Office - (306) 787-7388.
NDP Leader Lorne Calvert said today Brad Wall picked his friend Stephen Harper over the people of Saskatchewan by tearing up the Equalization Court Challenge, something the Prime Minister has asked him to do.
"Stephen Harper has been after Brad Wall to tear up the equalization challenge for some time now and it seems the Premier has finally decided to oblige his old friend," Calvert said. "Wall’s actions fly in the face of what he has been saying for years; that Saskatchewan’s resources belong to the people of Saskatchewan, not the federal government. But with partisan friendships on the line, Brad Wall has abandoned his principles and sold out to his friends in Ottawa."
In February of 2005 Wall joined Lorne Calvert and Liberal Leader David Karwacki to call on the federal government to give Saskatchewan a fair equalization deal, one that lets Saskatchewan people benefit from Saskatchewan’s resources. Also in 2005 Brad Wall wrote to Calvert saying a lawsuit should be considered if a deal could not be reached..
In October 2007, the NDP government launched a Reference to the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal over unfair treatment under the federal equalization formula. The government turned to the Court of Appeal on two important principles – equitable treatment with other provinces, and provincial ownership of natural resources.
"Brad Wall would have citizens believe his decision to tear up the court challenge is based on how well Saskatchewan is doing and that we don’t need equalization but he knows and the people of Saskatchewan know that this challenge isn’t about handouts," Calvert said. "It’s about Saskatchewan people keeping and benefiting from our natural resources, instead of shipping the benefits off to Ottawa. That is a principle he claimed to believe in just a few short years ago, before his friend Stephen Harper asked him to tear up the case.
"His decision to sell out will cost our province billions of dollars; dollars that could go to affordable housing, to improving health care, to paying off debt or to tax relief. Brad Wall owes an apology to the people of our great province not only for his massive betrayal but for the great price we’ll all pay as a result. "
For further information, please contact Jay Branch at the NDP Caucus Office - (306) 787-7388.
NDP Enterprise and Innovation critic Frank Quennell today called on Brad Wall to ensure there is a thoughtful and informed public discussion on Saskatchewan’s nuclear future by appointing an expert panel to produce a report on the economic, environmental and social impacts of a nuclear reactor.
"“The Sask Party says it wants to be open and transparent but within a matter of several weeks it has one from claiming it was in initial discussions with Bruce Power to making a public announcement with Bruce Power,” Quennell said. “As a result, Saskatchewan people are feeling like the government is forging ahead without them. "
"If nuclear is the right energy option for Saskatchewan, the Sask Party should have nothing to hide. The government should convene an expert panel, let them report their findings and then engage the public in an informed debate."
In April, the Government of Alberta appointed an expert panel to prepare a comprehensive and objective report on nuclear energy. The report will look at environmental, health and safety issues; waste management; a comparison of nuclear generation to other electricity sources; current and future nuclear generation in Canada and world-wide; as well as Alberta’s future electricity needs.
The report is expected to be complete by fall and the Government of Alberta has also committed to developing a consultation process so that Albertan’s can provide input once the report is complete.
" The Sask Party claims it likes to learn from Alberta," Quennell said. "Let’s hope it takes a page from the Government of Alberta on this one. "
"This is a government that claims it believes in transparency and openness, but so far the Sask Party has not been upfront with the media or the public about the plan for nuclear. Its’ time for the Sask Party to do the right thing and commit today to engaging experts to look at nuclear in Saskatchewan, make that report public and then find a way to listen to the people of Saskatchewan."
NDP Leader Lorne Calvert said today the Opposition wrapped up a successful first session in opposition and promised to remain vigilant on behalf of Saskatchewan people.
"We went into the session with a plan to hold the government to account for its past promises and its current responsibilities,” Calvert said. "We have been successful not only in exposing the government’s mean streak, their misguided priorities and their inability to govern for all Saskatchewan people, as well as pressuring the government to do the right thing on a number of issues. "
"We were also able to expose a number of actions which showed the Sask Party’s mean streak and misguided priorities,” Calvert said. “Many of their actions showed a government more concerned with looking after its friends than the people of Saskatchewan."
The NDP exposed a number of mean, incompetent and misguided Sask Party actions and decisions, including:
Calvert says the opposition also exposed the Sask Party as a say-anything opposition, do-nothing government. Examples include:
Calvert said the NDP will continue to take the role of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition very seriously.
"Moving forward the NDP will make sure Brad Wall keeps our economy strong, but also that he shares the prosperity of our province with everyone, not just a chosen few," Calvert said. "We take our responsibility to keep the government honest very seriously and will work hard to ensure they do what’s right for Saskatchewan families. "
" If we’ve learned anything from this government’s first session, it’s that even while they sit on a $1.5 billion surplus they can’t be trusted to do the right thing. "
For further information, please contact Leah Sharpe at the NDP Caucus Office - (306) 787-0365.
NDP Leader Lorne Calvert called for provincial action to help people being hurt by high gas prices at the pumps.
"There is a growing sense that the economic boom is passing people by," Calvert said. "The Sask Party told people before the election that they had a plan to deal with high gas prices at the pumps. But now that gas has hit $1.30 a litre, they seem to have forgotten."
In September of 2005, the Saskatchewan Party promised to take action to reduce the cost of gas at the pumps. Their plan was to cut the gas tax by one cent for every dollar the price of oil goes above $60.00 US a barrel. Gas is now considerably higher, yet the government has yet to implement this promise or any other program aimed at alleviating or mitigating high gas prices.
"If the Sask Party thought people deserved a break on gas prices three years ago, then surely Saskatchewan people still deserve a break today," Calvert said.
The call for action comes on the heels of a week of examples where the government has failed to help people faced with a rising cost of living.
"Whether it be through higher food prices, more expensive housing and rental costs, or extravagant gas prices, the cost of living is increasing in Saskatchewan and the government is doing nothing about it," Calvert said. "You’d think that a government with a billion and a half dollars in the bank would want to share that wealth. "
"Instead, it seems that while the government’s finances are doing very well, people’s pocketbooks are getting thinner and thinner."
The NDP is demanding to know what has happened to the Saskatchewan Council on Disability Issues. Several reliable sources have confirmed that the Sask Party has disbanded the council.
The council, established in 1999 by the NDP government, has improved the lives of hundred's of people with disabilities.
"In a news release last month, Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer said one of the responsibilities of her ministry is to co-ordinate, develop, promote and implement social, economic and other policies and programs for the benefit of persons with disabilities in Saskatchewan." NDP Disability Issues Critic David Forbes said. "One month later, we find the Sask Party is scrapping the council, without so much as a news release explaining why."
Until recently, the 12-member council provided advice and input to the government on issues affecting people with disabilities. It also had a significant impact in the development of a government-wide Disability Action Plan and the recently announced Disability Inclusion Policy Framework, now in jeopardy. All members of the council had direct experience with disabilities.
"I must say that this action without any public notice, when coupled with the absolute lack of any reference to disability issues in the recent Throne Speech sends a very clear and troubling signal that persons with disabilities are not a priority at all for the new government. This is simply unacceptable," Forbes said.
Forbes has outlined his concerns in a letter to Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer.
The Government of Saskatchewan announced increases to the minimum wage today as a step forward to providing a living wage that will assist working families and young people participate in our prosperous economy.
The increase will take place in three stages that will see the minimum wage move to $8.25 per hour on January 1, 2008, to $8.60 on May 1, 2008 and to $9.25 per hour on May 1, 2009. The minimum call out pay, which is three times the level of the minimum wage, will also increase accordingly.
An adjustment will also be made to minimum wage in 2010 to bring the minimum wage to the Low Income Cut-off (LICO). Along with this increase, legislation will be introduced that permits the minimum wage to be indexed in future years annually on May 1, to the consumer price index. Indexing the minimum wage beginning in 2010 will ensure that minimum wage workers are able to maintain a standard of living equivalent to the LICO.
"Raising the minimum wage is one way low-income individuals and families will have a better standard of living and an opportunity to build a better future," Labour Minister David Forbes said. "As our economy grows and prospers it is important that all Saskatchewan residents benefit."
There are approximately 12,400 minimum wage earners in Saskatchewan.
The increase in the minimum wage follows a review by the Minimum Wage Board. The Board is required by legislation to review the minimum wage at least every two years.
For more information on the minimum wage, call toll-free at 1-800-667-1783 or visit www.labour.gov.sk.ca.
More people in Saskatchewan will be eligible for affordable rental housing thanks to the introduction of a new initiative, the HomeFirst Rental Development Program, and an increase to maximum income limits (MILs) established by the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation.
"Today's announcement is about creating more safe, affordable rental housing opportunities for low- to moderate-income families and youth at risk," Community Resources Minister and Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation Kevin Yates said. "This is one of the key priorities of HomeFirst, our affordable housing strategy, and a cornerstone of our government's commitment to making life better for Saskatchewan residents."
The HomeFirst Rental Development Program was developed as a response to the objectives outlined in the Premier's $100 million community revitalization initiative announced in February 2007. The HomeFirst Rental Development Program will provide one-time financial assistance to increase the supply of affordable housing for low to moderate-income households. Priority will be given to families with children, youth at risk, persons with disabilities, and First Nations and Métis families and seniors.
For new construction, assistance will be in the form of a forgivable loan of up to $96,000 per unit. For acquisition and renovation, assistance will be in the form of a forgivable loan of up to $77,000 per unit. Priority geographic areas include inner city and mature neighbourhoods and northern communities. All projects that receive funding must be targeted to households with an annual gross household income at or below the MILs established by Saskatchewan Housing Corporation.
Saskatchewan Housing Corporation's MILs determine eligibility for its affordable housing programs. The increase in the MILs is in direct response to changing market circumstances, most notably rising housing costs. For a family, the MIL will increase from $44,500 to $52,000. For a single/couple household, the MIL will increase from $41,000 to $44,500. The revised MILs are effective July 1, 2007.
Applicants need to contact Saskatchewan Housing Corporation at 1-800-667-7567.