Provincial NDP leader John Nilson is pleased with some of the headway his party has made in the fall session.
"The NDP caucus and I was pleased with the ability to ask people on behalf of Saskatchewan people," said Nilson in speaking to the Regional Optimist.
"We were pleased that the government accepted parts of our Jimmy's Law proposal" allowing more protection for late-night workers, and also "taking a serious look at the asbestos registry that we proposed."
The government also responded to the refugee health issue, said Nilson. "Those were things where the government did respond to things we had raised."
He is also pleased with the "numbers of people who contacted us with their concerns," said Nilson
"Often a phone call would start with 'I voted for the Sask. Party but I don't agree with their position on the film employment tax credit' or 'I voted for the Sask. Party and I'm very concerned with how their managing the finances of the province.' And then they would say 'please ask them this or 'here's an issue we think is a concern.'"
Some of the contentious issues in the fall session included employment legislation and changes to privatize the Information Services Corporation. As he has done before, Nilson used the word "surprise" in describing some of the Sask. Party government's activities this fall.
"Employment proposals and the lack of consultation around that bill was a surprise last May, and they didn't even introduce it into the legislature until the last couple of days."
He also called the Information Services Corporation privatization a "surprise." He said the corporation had made money for the government and the sale "doesn't make any sense to us."
"That was not something they had mentioned in their election platform and it was not in the throne speech. It all of a sudden appeared."
As for the changes in the liquor laws, Nilson said the NDP was supportive of many of the changes but notes "they didn't really respond on the side of dealing with people who had alcohol problems. That would have been a more reasonable way to approach some of this." He notes the damage from drunk driving is a major problem in Saskatchewan.
On local issues, Nilson has his concerns about the way the government is proceeding in its plans to build a new Saskatchewan Hospital.
"What it sounds like they're planning to do with Saskatchewan Hospital is to use some kind of 'SaskBuilds' shared program," said Nilson.
But he also noted those public-private partnerships have been delayed in this year's budget. "Now they've delayed all of that kind of thing and so really nothing has been happening."
Nilson notes the NDP would have been ready to proceed with Sask. Hospital. "We had the plans moving forward, we had the first batch of money to go in 2007, and it's basically been on hold since."
Nilson also continues to be critical of the deal with Northland Power, with their plant expected to be commissioned in 2013 near North Battleford.
"We still don't have the information about how much it's actually going to cost us. We see that we're paying more and probably getting less out of this."
Also of concern to Nilson is the road situation. "Providing good roads is an important factor around the Battlefords as you move into Kindersley because of the heavy use of the roads by the oil industry."
The interim NDP leader thanked the people of the Battlefords and Northwest area for the "issues that they've raised and some of the ideas they've sent to the caucus. We've been able to do our job because of the contributions of people from your area of the province."
Nilson will be making way for a permanent new leader of the NDP who will be elected on March 9, 2013. Candidates in that race are Cam Broten, Ryan Meili, Erin Weir and Trent Wotherspoon.
When the session reconvenes March 5, Nilson will continue to lead the party in the legislature for a few days before the new leader takes over.
There remains a possibility Nilson could stay on as Opposition leader in the legislature for a further period of time if the leadership race is won by either Meili or Weir. Those two candidates currently do not hold seats in the legislature and would need a byelection win to enter the legislature.
