Days before the Legislature is set to resume, the Saskatchewan NDP released their “People-First Recovery Plan”, a plan they say focuses on building a healthy society, powered by a strong and diversified economy.
NDP Leader Ryan Meili says that the plan addresses areas where the Saskatchewan Party government fell short.
“We need a plan to put people first, to grow local, and to focus on the future,” said Meili. “The document we’re releasing today, our plan for a people-first recovery, does just that, outlining key areas for action that do what we need to do to invest in people.”
The three areas the plan focuses on are investing in people that will strengthen the economy, ensuring that Saskatchewan companies and workers lead the recovery, and harnessing innovation that will power the economy for future generations.
Meili says the recovery will be tough because, even before the pandemic, people were hurting.
“Before COVID-19 hit, our services were already stretched too thin,” said Meili. “We had not enough staff in our emergency rooms, in long term care, in overcrowded classrooms. Far too many people in Saskatchewan were already stretched and stressed, and struggling to make ends meet. Families are struggling now even more.”
The NDP say their recovery plan would see the government address the overcrowding in classrooms, invest in mental health treatment, end hallway medicine, support seniors with the best home care in Canada, and fix crumbling infrastructure.
Meili says that the province can’t afford to keep going with the status quo.
“We have so much to look forward to in Saskatchewan, but we can’t keep doing more of the same, it is time to change,” said Meili. “The same got us into a recession, even before COVID-19, it won’t dig us out of that recession.”
Meili also said it’s important to ensure all residents of rural Saskatchewan have access to high-speed internet and to encourage new industries.