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NDP unveils housing plan, promises to protect renters

The Saskatchewan NDP is continuing to roll out policy ahead of this fall’s election.

The NDP will introduce a Landlord and Tenant Rent Protection Act, which will protect tenants from excessive and unreasonable rent increases and protect landlords by bringing back the option for direct payment for social service clients that miss a payment, in order to reduce late or missed rental payments. The Act will be built with tenants, landlords and housing organizations to ensure predictability in the rental market.

The Saskatchewan NDP will also make all vacant provincial housing units available for families within four years by reversing the Sask. Party’s $40 million cut to the renovation budget, with 500 units targeted to be ready for occupancy in the first year.

NDP leader Carla Beck said, “We’ve also heard loud and clear that the Sask. Party’s end to direct rent payments for social service clients has led to a series of missed payments, evictions, and increased homelessness. This is about making sure that we have predictability and stability in our rental market for property owners and renters alike.”

Cameron Choquette, CEO of the Saskatchewan Landlords’ Association (SKLA), said in a statement that his organization was encouraged by the NDP’s position to reinstate direct payment to housing providers and build more rental units. However, he said the SKLA was not supportive of the NDP’s plan to create additional legislation that will regulate rent increases.

“We’d encourage the NDP to meet with our members to understand the costs and challenges of operating rental housing and focus on how we can build more rental housing for a growing province,” Choquette said.

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Education Minister speaks out following school incident in Saskatoon

Minister of Education Jeremy Cockrill spoke out following the horrific incident at Evan Hardy School in Saskatoon last week.

A 15-year-old girl was doused in a flammable substance and lit on fire at Evan Hardy Collegiate on Thursday. She was airlifted to an Edmonton hospital and is suffering from serious injuries, according to police. Sean Hayes, a teacher at Evan Hardy Collegiate who tried to put out the flames and help the student, was also injured. The child’s classmate, a 14-year-old girl, has been charged with attempted murder.

Cockrill said at a press conference on Monday, "Really just a horrible incident. Nobody goes to school expecting that to happen. Certainly, relieved that nobody was hurt worse than they were. As unfortunate as the situation is, and I know we've got people recovering from injuries, I can't help but think it could have been worse and so I'm glad it wasn't."

Sask. NDP Leader Carla Beck said she’s reached out to the victim’s family and is "hoping for the best possible outcome for those who’ve been injured."

"I don't know the particulars of the case, but I do know that kids in schools right across this province are going up without the supports that they need and that has very real consequences for those students," Beck said.

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NDP mirroring successful Manitoba campaign: Oates

The Saskatchewan NDP has already rolled out multiple promises ahead of the writ drop. A tax rebate for home security upgrades, a school lunch program, and pausing the gas tax, among others. If these promises sound familiar, it’s because they are.

The Manitoba NDP ran a successful campaign that defeated a multi-term conservative government and elected Wab Kinew as Premier. According to the Saskatchewan NDP campaign director Cheryl Oates, the similarity in policies are not accidental.

Oates told CBC, “That's because they were great ideas, and in many cases, they worked and they made a lot of difference for people. People in Saskatchewan are facing issues that are not different from those of Manitobans. We're faced with the high cost of living and an affordability crisis, a health-care crisis." Oates was an advisor to the successful Manitoba NDP campaign.

Oates said prairie New Democrats are able to look ‘outside ideology’ to find ‘practical solutions.’ Oates also told the media that this NDP campaign is not just targeting urban seats, they are looking to campaign right across the province, saying, "That means that the leader can't stay in the major cities, and we can't have policies that only appeal to an urban audience."

The writ is expected to drop in the next few weeks and kick off what is shaping up to be the closest election in Saskatchewan since 2007.

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Sask. Party nominates candidate for Regina Douglas Park

The Saskatchewan Party has nominated Ken Gray as the candidate for Regina Douglas Park.

Grey grew up on a family farm near Colonsay, Saskatchewan. He previously worked for the Saskatoon Health Region for 17 years. In 2013, Grey moved to Regina and started a career as a bus operator for the Regina Paratransit System.

He previously served as the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan from 2018 until 2021.

The NDP has already nominated incumbent MLA Nicole Sarauer as their candidate.

Gray is the Sask. Party’s 60th candidate. The party will complete its slate this week following a nomination in Moosomin-Montmartre (more on that in tomorrow’s SKoop).

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More news and info

• Martensville Mayor Muench running for re-election (Clark’s Crossing Gazette)

• Mark Carney mum on carbon-tax advice, future in politics at Liberal retreat (Canadian Press)

• Poilievre threatens 'nuclear winter' over carbon tax, fears Northern communities will 'empty out' (Nunavut News)

2024 Election Candidate Tracker