Yesterday’s speech from the throne, which sets out the priorities for the government ahead of the fall sitting of the legislature, is more proof that Scott Moe and the Sask. Party are out of sync with the priorities of working people in the province.

“Once again, we see Scott Moe and the Sask. Party are doing very little to address the key issues faced by Saskatchewan people: affordability and the cost of living, the crisis in health care and long-term care, and the lack of funding for public education,” said Judy Henley, president of CUPE Saskatchewan. “We can’t build and protect Saskatchewan with the lowest minimum wage in Canada, public services at their breaking point from chronic underfunding, and frontline workers experiencing burnout and below inflation wages. Instead of coming up with real solutions, the government is more focused on picking fights with the federal government than they are on making life better for working people in Saskatchewan.”

Henley said that other than vague promises, it is disappointing that the government is still not taking recruitment and retention of workers seriously.

“This government likes to talk about jobs, but when it comes to actually addressing how to recruit and retain needed workers in areas like childcare and health care, it’s clear that they have no plan to boost funding and boost the wages of frontline workers that are key to retention,” added Henley.

Henley added that CUPE Saskatchewan, alongside other Saskatchewan unions, will continue their efforts to ensure that Scott Moe and the Sask. Party pay the price for their unprecedented use of the notwithstanding clause to strip away the protected charter rights of a minority group of children.

“Scott Moe’s use of the notwithstanding clause has made it clear that not only is his government totally off-base with the needs and priorities of Saskatchewan workers and their families, but that they will stop at nothing to strip away protected charter rights of anyone they have to if they think it will help them stay in power. I have no doubt that Scott Moe and the Sask. Party feel that they could use the notwithstanding clause to strip away the rights of workers next,” said Henley.

CUPE Saskatchewan is working to ensure that Scott Moe and the Sask. Party government don’t have the chance to do so.

“CUPE Saskatchewan is more united than ever in making sure that Scott Moe and the Sask. Party are defeated in next year’s election. Working people cannot afford the risks of having another four years of a Sask. Party government after 16 long years of their mismanagement, cuts, and attacks on Charter rights. Scott Moe may have thought that he could get away with using the notwithstanding clause, but he has no idea what he’s started,” concluded Henley.

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