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Taylor has provincial issues on his mind at council

Councillor Len Taylor had good news and bad news to announce at council about the ongoing fallout from the March 22 provincial budget.
Len Taylor
Councillor Len Taylor, next to Kent Lindgren, vented at length Monday night about the province’s budget cuts to Lakeland Library region and other libraries across the province. Photo by John Cairns

Councillor Len Taylor had good news and bad news to announce at council about the ongoing fallout from the March 22 provincial budget.

The good news revolved around the news the province had restored all the funding to libraries that had been cut in the provincial budget. 

Taylor said Lakeland Library Region had issued layoff notices to various individuals prior to that announcement. Now, those employees have been contacted and “it appears all the staff issued layoff notices will be able to remain with Lakeland,” said Taylor. 

Lakeland’s board was also scheduled to meet Tuesday and the annual general meeting is scheduled for May 6 at Western Development Museum. 

The bad news, however, was the continued fallout from the decision to wind up the Saskatchewan Transportation Company. 

Taylor said he met with the local agent for STC in North Battleford, who had pointed out that STC made up about half the business at the bus terminal. 

A number of staff members were given layoff notices. There were also implications for services STC provided to the health regions, such as blood services. 

The councillor also voiced concern about the impact on those using the service to get to and from Saskatoon, particularly those who were elderly who used it to get to medical appointments.

Taylor said what happened with the bus company was similar with what had happened with libraries and with municipalities: there had been “no consultation whatsoever,” said Taylor.

STC had “a 120-day withdrawal clause in their contract, and they simply proceeded to implement their withdrawal clause.”