NDP focus on economy, northern issues as caucus meets in Prince Albert

Changes made by the existing government have helped pave the way for an expansion of the Victoria Hospital, which is taking shape.

When concluded, the Prince Albert Hospital won’t be a diversionary platform for bigger centres in Saskatoon and Regina, according to comments by Premier Scott Moe in the past, it will become an end destination with virtually all services and specialties on site.

According to the NDP, however, the Sask Party has become complacent, is not engaging locals like they should be and not enough is being done to combat growing homelessness and addiction issues along with the resulting crime.

“There needs to continue to be a willingness to work with community leaders to address some of those issues, to unlock the potential that we see here in Prince Albert,” said Beck.

Growing mining opportunities in the north have been a part of Saskatchewan’s overall economic plan, with potash development not far from Humboldt, an almost complete nickel, copper and other critical minerals mine at McIlvenna Bay near Creighton and uranium mines further to the west.

As with the federal government, Beck said the provincial government needs to include Indigenous leaders in the development of the resources right from the get-go, not adding them later.

“We see threats from our neighbour to the south to our economic future and to our very sovereignty. We also see an incredible amount of resolve right across this province, right here in P.A., to build now, to be able to take charge of our own future in this province.”

The only way to do that is to work together, she said, adding that includes pipelines, rail lines and power lines across the province.

NDP MLAs were in meetings with American counterparts in Saskatoon recently, which led to Beck’s point that not only is Canada at a critical point, but Saskatchewan itself has a big role to play.

“Saskatchewan, whether it’s uranium or critical minerals, is going to play an important role in how we map out the future,” Beck said.

Indigenous leaders she has talked to are not opposed to development. In fact, they want to be part of the discussions and to have a seat at the table.

“I don’t think that the two are in opposition to each other unless we see leadership continue in this province to refuse to listen to those whose voices and be willing to share the economic benefit that we have here in this province,” Beck said.

“What I’m hearing from leadership – and this is not new – those Indigenous leaders and communities want to be seen as part of that economic benefit for their communities. Jobs, protection of traditional lands and way of life.”

In order to make that happen more quickly, the NDP would include more voices at the start, including the federal government and Indigenous governments.

Seeing opportunity doesn’t stop her party from also seeing the challenges that exist, not the least of which is an increasing challenge with crime and homelessness. The NDP said that crime in Prince Albert has increased seven per cent since Moe became premier.

“Scott Moe and the Sask. Party have failed to get tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime,” Beck said. “They’re out of ideas, out of touch with reality. When the Sask. Party took office 18 years ago, people felt safe leaving their vehicles and their homes unlocked — but no more.

“That has to change. We need boots on the ground, not more bureaucracy. We need to invest in support agencies that do critical work to save lives and help get people off the streets.”

The NDP has opposed the creation of the Saskatchewan Marshal’s Service and said that the money spent would be better used to fund more positions in the RCMP or municipal police services.

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susan.mcneil@pattisomedia.com

On BlueSky: @susanmcneil.bsky.social

by Susan McNeil

NDP focus on economy, northern issues as caucus meets in Prince Albert

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