CUPE says, Saskatchewan’s lower-than-expected deficit for the 2020-21 fiscal year is a false economy and belies under-investment in the front-line workers and public services that got us through the worst of the pandemic.

The union says, the final fiscal year results also show that federal government transfers increased significantly for COVID-related support, including funding the lion’s share of the Saskatchewan Temporary Wage Supplement for front-line workers during the pandemic and significant funding for the Safe Restart Agreement and Safe Return to Class Fund.

CUPE president Judy Henley says, “While the finance minister claims we are in a much better financial situation than anticipated, the Sask. Party government is making the recovery situation worse by forcing cuts to public services, passing off increased costs to students and families, and failing to support the front-line workers that have been getting us through the pandemic.”

Henley asks, “Why is this government letting Saskatoon Public Schools cut staff at vulnerable schools and supports for students with English as an additional language when they are sitting on money they could invest? Why aren’t they allocating additional funding for safety precautions for the upcoming school year when children under 12 cannot get vaccinated?