Saskatchewan Rivers MLA Nadine Wilson (Nadine Wilson MLA/Facebook)

By Derek Craddock

REACTION TO THE THRONE SPEECH

‘We need immediate solutions’: Local MLA not happy with government’s Throne Speech

Oct 27, 2022 | 1:00 PM

One local MLA believes there should have been more addressed in the government’s Speech from the Throne on Wednesday.

The Sask. Party government laid out its priorities for the next session of the legislature, which included an emphasis on policing and public safety. That will include the creation of a Saskatchewan Marshals Service as well as adding eight more officers to the Warrants Enforcement and Suppression Team in Prince Albert and creating a new Crime Reduction Team in North Battleford.

The Throne Speech also touched on matters of jurisdiction as the province will soon lay out plans to “clearly define that Saskatchewan — and Saskatchewan alone — has the exclusive jurisdiction over its natural resources and economic future.”

Nadine Wilson, the Independent MLA for Saskatchewan Rivers, felt the priorities for public safety laid out in the speech didn’t go far enough, and residents of rural areas are being left in the dust.

“I was watching to see what projects or initiatives were going to happen to tackle crime in Saskatchewan Rivers,” she said. “I know people are in fear and in pain. Rural crime is escalating in the area.”

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Wilson said she was listening to the Throne Speech hoping to hear concrete plans on dealing with issues of rural crime, as well as health care and cost of living.

When it comes to matters of healthcare, she was disappointed not to hear anything new about it.

“We need immediate solutions. The Throne Speech said they were going to get more health care staff,” she said. “However, there are many positions that remain open. I’d like to see some actions and initiatives on these staff shortages in all the communities across Saskatchewan because the need is very urgent.”

READ MORE: Policing and jurisdiction among big reveals in Throne Speech

The province did mention health care in the Throne Speech but focused on what the provincial government has already done, like introducing the Health Human Resources Action Plan (HHRAP), accelerating the training, assessment, and licensing pathways for internationally trained nurses, and the conversion of part-time positions in many Saskatchewan communities to full-time to assist in recruitment.

Sticking with health care, Wilson believed the pandemic and the aftermath of various health restrictions were ignored and that residents are still impacting people in her riding. She wanted to hear more about that in the Speech and is hoping the government takes action to help those negatively affected by restrictions and other pandemic-related policies.

On the financial side, she said she didn’t hear any mention of how to tackle inflation and deal with the issue of rising debts and homelessness in Prince Albert and other communities.

The Opposition NDP was also critical of the lack of mention of health care initiatives and cost-of-living support with leader Carla Beck saying, “It’s more evidence of a government that is increasingly out of touch, increasingly insular and talking to themselves or talking behind closed doors and not actually focused on the needs, the concerns and the hopes of the people of this province.”

One other small detail included in the Throne Speech was the opening of a new trade office in Germany, which will join trade offices in eight other countries that do business with Saskatchewan.

While the Sask. Party celebrated that move, but Wilson was not happy with it.

“That’s not going to address the crime here at home or help the business or the people trying to access family physicians. I’d like to see more things addressed at home than opening new trade offices across the world.”

In the end, Wilson said residents should continue to voice their concerns to the government around issues like crime and health care, stating “The Assembly belongs to the Saskatchewan citizens.

“People should let their government know their needs,” she said.

-With files from 980 CJME

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock