The Saskatchewan NDP are accusing Premier Scott Moe of having the worst job creation record in the country following the release of a new Statistics Canada report.
Opposition Leader Carla Beck says the report shows that 6000 full-time jobs were lost in Saskatchewan last month alone. The NDP say the Swift Current and Moose Jaw economic area saw 200 jobs lost month-over-month and 3,000 jobs lost in the last year.
Moe scoffed at the claim.
“That is one of the most egregious cherry pickings of stats I’ve seen on the floor of this legislation. Year over year, February to February, jobs in Saskatchewan were up 10,500,” Moe stated.
He says there are more jobs and people in Saskatchewan right now than there has ever been before, as it is one of the most affordable places in Canada to raise a family.
Beck contradicted that Saskatchewan residents aren’t finding life very affordable, as 57% of people in the province are struggling to pay for groceries.
She called on him to provide residents with affordability measures, as Beck claims the 2024-25 provincial budget didn’t include any.
Moe disagreed, stating there are $2 billion in affordability measures written into every budget, including the reduction of people who pay provincial income tax by 112,000. He cites examples from previous years as well…
“I think to the rebates that came to some of the licensing divisions of our Crown Corporations. I think of the 10% reduction of utility costs that we had. I think to the $500 tax affordability cheques that were provided in a year of surplus,” Moe listed.
Beck says cutting the fuel tax would be one way for him to provide some additional relief to families.
Question Period also tackled the topic of education funding, as the NDP asked the Sask. Party education minister why he won’t commit to sealing a deal with the province’s teachers.
Jeremy Cockrill stated that the province is making every effort to get a deal done, and it’s the teachers who refuse to come back to the bargaining table, even when they are receiving everything they’ve asked for.
“We’ve added significant increases to the school operating funding. We have a multiyear funding agreement with school divisions to ensure classroom support funding is predictable over the next several years. We’ve offered a healthy salary increase. We’ve offered language around classroom safety,” Cockrill noted.
NDP Education Critic Matt Love says there is a difference between Sask Party promises in an election year versus what is in the budget after the ballots are counted. He added that the offer from the province holds as much accountability as a pinky swear and called on the minister to commit to accountability.
