Nomination shake-up

Watching the Martensville-Blairmore nomination, education "accountability framework", and NDP think the budget is still bad

March 25, 2024

March 25, 2024 | Advertise with us

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Here’s The SKoop for today:

A shake-up in the Sask. Party Martensville-Blairmore nomination,
More STF action as Jeremy Cockrill teases announcement, and
The NDP’s thoughts on last week’s budget haven’t changed.

Today’s Top Stories

Nomination shake-up in Martensville-Blairmore

Jamie Martens

The Saskatchewan Party is holding a hotly-contested nomination in Martensville-Blairmore and voting will take place on Wednesday, March 27. Heading into this past weekend ahead of the nomination there were three contenders: Martensville Deputy Mayor Jamie Martens, MS Gill, and Sunny Kals.

However, Martens appears to have received the endorsement of MS Gill, and Gill has subsequently dropped out of the race. Martens posted this on social media:

Thank you 🙏 #skpoli
— Jamie Martens (@JamieMartens1)
12:29 AM • Mar 24, 2024

This means a straight up Martens-Kals nomination on Wednesday. The SKoop will keep you updated with the results.

The NDP will nominate their candidate for Canora-Pelly tomorrow night. Saskatchewan Party members in Saskatoon University-Sutherland will vote for their candidate tomorrow as well, with Ghislaine McLeod and Dale Hryeniuk seeking the nomination.

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More STF sanctions coming as province says it’s willing to create accountability framework

The Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation has announced further job action in the province for this week, with the federation withdrawing all extracurricular activities Monday through Thursday.

Education minister Jeremy Cockrill hinted at an announcement of an “accountability framework” to come this week, saying, “As I indicated publicly yesterday, work has been underway to find a path forward with the teachers’ union,” he added. “I will have more to say next week on how we are working to ensure that students get the opportunities they so deserve, including graduation.”

The accountability framework “would be a mechanism to ensure outcomes of the new multiyear funding agreement are having a positive impact in the classroom.”

The STF has said the “longest-ever job action by Saskatchewan teachers” would cease if the province agrees to binding arbitration, or to bargain on classroom composition and complexity.

(Regina Leader-Post)

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NDP continue criticism of budget

NDP finance critic Trent Wotherspoon

#News: The Saskatchewan NDP still don’t like last week’s budget.

In a recent interview on The Evan Bray Show, NDP finance critic Trent Wotherspoon criticized the 2024-25 provincial budget, claiming it offers no relief for residents grappling with the cost of living. Despite searching the entire budget, Wotherspoon found no measures aimed at easing the financial strain on Saskatchewanians, a concern highlighted by a recent report from Angus Reid that suggests a significant portion of the population struggles to afford basic necessities.

Additionally, Wotherspoon highlighted the inefficient allocation of funds to the proposed Saskatchewan Marshals Service, which has yet to yield tangible results, as an example of misdirected fiscal priorities.

(CKOM News)

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