David Forbes, an NDP MLA from Saskatoon Centre, has been keeping busy.
The former teacher from Livelong is currently serving as the NDP labour critic and is travelling across Saskatchewan holding consultation meetings about the Saskatchewan Party's planned "renewal" of Saskatchewan labour legislation.
Called "Your Work, Your Say," Forbes' trip will take him to nine communities, and his Sept. 19 visit to the Battlefords was his sixth. A small crowd gathered at Third Avenue United Church to discuss what was working in the province, what was not and what the government should do. Responses were diverse, though the government's relationship to unions received some consistent criticism.
Forbes' trip was initiated in response to the Saskatchewan party's 90-day consultation window around the government's new labour legislation. Though it allowed people to submit their comments through the Internet, the process did not involve public meetings. Forbes' public meetings, which employees and employers are welcome to attend, are intended to address this shortcoming. The NDP Caucus intends to submit a full report on its tour to the Sask. Party government in October.
Despite his party's relative lack of power in provincial politics, Forbes' mood is buoyant.
"People are coming out to the meetings because they have a lot at stake here," he explained.
"I hope that people find our work interesting, when we release the document about the groups that we've had come out to talk to us."
Forbes also explained that frustrations about the bill could also cause larger problems for the Saskatchewan party.
"At the end of the day the government, I think, has to listen to people's concerns. Clearly, when you do this kind of thing, there's always the risk of losing an election. You may win the battle, but lose the war. I think the premier has to be really thinking about that."
