Opposition leader Cam Broten reflected on 2015 and is looking forward to the election year 2016.
In a conference call with news reporters Tuesday the NDP leader reflected on the legislative session that wrapped up in November.
“For us it was a positive time in terms of the issues raised on behalf of the people of the province, and focusing on the things that matter most to families.”
Broten reflected on some of the opposition’s priorities during the session, accusing the government of increasingly “not paying attention to what the needs are in communities, and rural communities throughout the province, and really sort of plowing ahead with their own agenda and being dismissive and we certainly see it in the area of health care.”
He referred to emergency room wait times and a shortage of health professionals in rural communities, especially in long-term care.
“We’ve seen staffing levels and a lack of minimum care standards that aren’t acceptable and need to be addressed.”
Broten also spoke about education, saying “in rural communities this is especially important to make sure enough resources are being given so that schools aren’t crumbling and that there are enough teachers and educational assistants in classrooms that are well equipped.”
Broten also took the opportunity to slam the government again on their handling of carbon-capture project. During the session the NDP roasted the Brad Wall government when it came to light the plant was capturing 400,000 tonnes of CO2, far short of capacity.
“For well over a year, this government let us believe and let the public believe that everything was fine and going well,” said Broten.
“It’s only through leaked documents, that we have come to know and Saskatchewan people have come to know, that what we’re being told wasn’t the truth, and we can’t trust simply what was said,” said Broten.
He said it “ties into the larger notion of trust and whether we can put confidence in the things that this government is telling us.”
Among the topics Broten addressed during the call was the liquor store privatization announced by the government this fall. Twelve new private liquor stores are being added and 40 existing ones converted to private ownership, including the location in Battleford.
Broten made clear he felt the government should have focused on other issues.
It “isn’t like the burning issue I’m hearing from people out on the doorsteps and out in the community as I travel.” Broten said he wished the government would spend as much time on health care and education and the cost of living as they did on liquor sales.
Beyond that, Broten acknowledged the need to improve the current hybrid system in place but said that should be done “modernizing SLGA stores, not simply privatizing everything.” He suggested it could be accomplished through better hours and more availability.
Broten added that time and time again, this was the government’s approach. “They don’t fix problems, they just privatize.”
Broten says he is looking forward to the election campaign and the vote April 4.
The NDP now has candidates in place in most of the ridings in Saskatchewan, but still has a few more to go, including in the Battlefords. Broten said, “Very soon in the new year we will be holding our nomination in the Battlefords.”
Overall, Broten said he is thrilled with his team of candidates so far and noted almost half of them were women. The average age is 42. Many of the candidates are in their 30s, but there are some more experienced candidates as well.
“We’ve done the generational renewal, which is so important,” said Broten. “I know they’re out working hard in their communities, attending events and knocking on doors and passing along a lot of good advice and ideas they are getting out there on the doorstep.”
