The Maple Leaf Foods closure and the demise of the North West Enterprise Region ended up being hot topics of debate in Question Period in the legislature Thursday.
The exchange wrapped up a tumultuous week in the legislature where opposition New Democrats repeatedly hammered Sask. Party government ministers on issues impacting the Battlefords, ranging from health to education to economic concerns.
The barrage started Monday when Health Minister Dustin Duncan was questioned by health critic John Nilson over Sask. Hospital delays. The barrage continued Wednesday when NDP education critic, David Forbes, asked Education Minister Russ Marchuk why Living Sky School Division was being forced to dip into its reserves for its projects.
Thursday, it was the turn of Minister of the Economy Bill Boyd to be on the hot seat, as NDP deputy leader Trent Wotherspoon roasted the government's response to the closure of the Maple Leaf Foods bacon processing plant in North Battleford in late March.
"The Battlefords community is reeling from the closure of the Maple Leaf Foods processing plant and with it 300 jobs," noted Wotherspoon.
He asked what the Sask. Party plan was for jobs in the area. Boyd responded "any time there is a loss of jobs in our province in any community across Saskatchewan we are obviously very concerned about it.
"We have an immediate response team that immediately goes in and has discussions with employees and employers. We try to relocate people to jobs as quickly as possible here in Saskatchewan."
Boyd went on to note the "extremely buoyant economy" in the province.
But his use of the word "relocate" got Wotherspoon animated.
"It's interesting that the minister's response seems to be that those families can simply move to other areas of the province. It seems it's clear the government doesn't have a plan for economic development in the region."
Wotherspoon then went on to turn his attention to the demise of the North West Enterprise Region. He pointed out the enterprise region had been formed in 2009 and that "they appointed Wally Lorenz, a former Sask. Party MLA, as the chair."
"But that community saw the enterprise region fold after the Sask. Party pulled funding. Now the region is without local economic development support, not helpful for a community dealing with the loss of jobs. Mr. Speaker, the province was supposed to participate in a committee to help find jobs for those out of work former employees of Maple Leaf. What steps did that committee take and what did the province bring to the table to bring real opportunities to the people of the Battlefords?"
Boyd reiterated the government had brought in a rapid-response team to talk to people and see if they could be moved into other opportunities. He continued to tout the province's economy.
"The Conference Board of Canada has indicated Saskatchewan will post the fastest economic growth in all of Canada over the next two years. Clearly, Mr. Speaker, there is opportunity here in Saskatchewan."
Wotherspoon then turned his attention to the budget. "The latest employment woes in the Battlefords aren't helped by a budget that simply has not delivered for the community. The Prairie North Health Region told the local paper the provincial budget is very troubling for the community. CEO David Fan said 'this is a very difficult budget for us.' Mr. Speaker, our education critic raised just yesterday that various members of the local school board have said that the Sask. Party government simply isn't listening, and that there's cuts that are being forced on classrooms in those communities."
Wotherspoon also raised the "broken promise" on Saskatchewan Hospital and said "the Sask. Party government's record on the Battlefords is one of neglect, in health, education, economic development, the basics -- simply aren't being supported. Why has the government turned its backs on Battlefords and area?"
A calm-looking Boyd responded by citing job posting numbers from the website SaskJobs.ca.
"If you look at that website today in North Battleford, you'll see there's 337 jobs currently available in North Battleford, where there's employers that are looking for people to take up the jobs they have available in North Battleford right now."
He pointed to a similar trend in the rest of Saskatchewan. "The members' assertions are incorrect with respect to the market he's referring to," said Boyd.
The fiery week of exchanges on Battlefords issues came to a head when opposition leader Cam Broten rose to question Premier Brad Wall.
"We see the minister of the Economy - as opposed to addressing the issues in the Battlefords, actually recognizing the concern and taking action - we see a simple spin statement saying everything is fine. Mr. Speaker, my question to the premier: will he recognize the need to actually admit some mistakes? Recognize that they need to do better when it comes to inclusion of students, need to do better when it comes to provisions for our students, need to do better when it comes to the people of North Battleford?"
Premier Wall responded "it's an interesting question" and pointed out that in four weeks as NDP leader, Broten has "had trouble on the Keystone issue. He now says he's for Keystone but last May he voted against Keystone. He campaigned for leadership of the NDP by saying 'we need more efficiencies in the health system,' and then when those efficiencies are identified by the minister of health, he says he opposes those very efficiencies."
Wall went on to slam Broten over "anonymous Tumblr sites" and "anonymous Twitter sites" that had been run by a staffer, which Broten apologized for in the legislature Wednesday.
"And on the day that he apologizes for that, the deputy leader (Wotherspoon) has to stand up and apologize for language in this place," said Wall.
The premier concluded the heated exchange by saying "I would point out if the honourable member is asking about lessons in leadership, he should probably start with his side of the house."
