September 4, 2024 | Advertise with us

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Beck promises $2 Billion investment into education

The Saskatchewan NDP focused on education policy on the first day of the school year.

Speaking at a school in the riding of Saskatoon-Chief Mistawasis, NDP leader Carla Beck promised if elected, she would invest $2 billion into education. Beck said, “The greatest investment we can make into the future success of our province is investing in the next generation, but under Scott Moe, our kids’ classrooms are overcrowded, underfunded, and under-resourced,” said Beck. “This election, the future of our province is on the ballot. With this generational investment – we’ll fix our schools, reverse Scott Moe’s cuts, and get Saskatchewan out of last place. It’s time for change.”

“These are real dollars that will increase per-student funding every year,” said Beck. “For the first time in nearly a decade, schools will get to choose what to add to help students, not what to cut. This investment will give schools the predictability they need to solve the problems in our schools.”

Beck also said she would fast-track the construction of the new southeast Regina joint-use elementary school to begin in 2025 and the Saskatoon-Eastside high school to begin in 2026. Beck specifically mentioned funding that would address “class size and complexity,” language that the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation asked to address in the contract negotiations earlier this year.

In response to the NDP announcement, Premier Scott Moe posted on social media, criticizing the NDP’s past record on education.

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Province announces funding for childcare spaces

The federal and provincial governments have announced a combined investment of $71.3 million which will allocate over 5,000 child care spaces across the province over 2024-25. This is part of the ongoing funding that has paid for childcare spaces across the province, beginning in 2023.

The province says that so far 1,537 of these child care spaces have been allocated to new child care facilities or added to existing facilities in 27 Saskatchewan communities and 36 organizations. The province will seek to add the remaining 3,463 spaces throughout the rest of the fiscal year.

"This investment will create more opportunities for families to find accessible and high-quality child care in their local communities," said Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill. "Expanding child care facilities throughout the province will be an addition to supporting the wellbeing for Saskatchewan families."

Premier Scott Moe shared the news on Twitter saying, “Our government is committed to making investments into providing opportunities for children to succeed and learn in environments that are best suited for their needs.”

Regina & District Labour Council endorses city council candidates

The Regina & District Labour Council has endorsed a number of Regina council candidates.

For the City Council, they will endorse: André Magnan, Ward 2; Deb Nyczai, Ward 4; Sarah Turnbull, Ward 5; Victoria Flores, Ward 6; Shobna Radons, Ward 7; incumbent Shanon Zachidniak, Ward 8; Reid Hill, Ward 9; and Chris Simmie, Ward 10.

Nyczai and Hill both ran unsuccessfully for the Saskatchewan NDP nomination in Regina University last winter, losing to Sally Housser. 

For the school board, RDLC endorsed Kale MacLellan, Public Subdivision 2; Jeralyne Manweiler, Public Subdivision 4; and Brandon Shea-Mutala, Public Subdivision 6. Shea-Mutala has also sought provincial NDP nominations in the past year.

The group has not endorsed a Mayoral candidate or a council candidate in Wards 1 and 3.

In the 2020 Regina municipal election, the RDLC made donations of $500+ each to several successful candidates, including Andrew Stevens, Dan LeBlanc, Cheryl Stadnichuk, Landon Mohl, and Shannon Zachidniak.

The news was found on Reddit and Twitter.

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Saskatoon to take part in national homelessness count

The City of Saskatoon has agreed to participate in a national homelessness count.

The count will take place from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30 in a coordinated effort to help identify what homelessness looks like in 58 communities across Canada.

Trained volunteers will be surveying people staying in shelters, transitional housing, public systems like detox centres, people sleeping rough (in unsheltered spaces) and the hidden homeless (people living temporarily with others or accessing temporary accommodation).

Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark said, “The dynamics of homelessness have been rapidly changing in our community, with more and more people surviving in desperate conditions on our streets each month. The PiT count is a very important exercise in understanding the human stories behind the headlines, and to understand the factors that are driving this crisis.”

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NDP to have ‘tough conversations’ about support of Liberal Party in Parliament

The federal NDP caucus will meet this week and will have ‘tough conversations’ about continuing their support of the Liberal Party in the Confidence and Supply Agreement.

Two years ago the NDP and Liberals forged a confidence-and-supply agreement, with the New Democrats agreeing to keep the minority government in power until June of next year in exchange for movement on key priorities. The NDP have claimed credit for things like Pharmacare, Dental Care, $10-a-day childcare, and the passing of the ‘anti-scab’ legislation.

The NDP will be holding a federal caucus retreat in Montreal next week, ahead of a by-election where they have a competitive chance of winning. NDP MP Mathew Green is being open with the media that everything is on the table, including ending the C&S Agreement.

Green said the party needs to ‘revisit the agreement’ and that ‘tough conversations’ are ahead.

The Liberal caucus is meeting in British Columbia this week and House Leader Karina Gould said she expects the NDP to ‘follow through’ on the deal which is in place until June of 2025.

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At a time when Saskatchewan is poised to seize global opportunities—ranging from food security to energy transition—the platform emphasizes the need for a competitive business environment that attracts investment and drives innovation. Its five strategic pillars, including tax competitiveness and energy transformation, are designed to ensure Saskatchewan's leadership on the global stage.

“Fueling Momentum 2024” is positioned as a vital tool in advocating for policies that will sustain and enhance Saskatchewan’s growth and prosperity.

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More news and info

• China retaliates with anti-dumping probe into Canadian canola imports (CKOM News)

• Will a massive ballot cause another vote count delay? Elections Canada is looking to avoid it (CBC News)

• Justin Trudeau tops list of Canada's worst prime ministers, says new poll (BIV)

• STF launches election-focused ad (Twitter)

2024 Election Candidate Tracker