Both sides of the house were debating a recent report from the Children’s Advocate in Question Period on Thursday. 

NDP Critic for Childcare and Early Education Joan Pratchler says the report stated that the number of guardians in the province that called the Children’s Advocate for help when they could not afford to feed their children doubled last year. 

“Here’s what she (the Advocate) said in her report. ‘There is no question that the failure to meet children and youth’s basic needs have compromised their wellbeing and fundamental human rights to live to their full potential.”

Finance Minister Jim Reiter says the government recognizes the pressures that inflation has put on families, which is why affordability was a key focus in the recent provincial budget. 

He cites the changes to income tax as one of the budgets best features, as “there’s no better way to make life more affordable for people than letting them keep more of their own money.

Western separation was another topic of discussion during Question Period on Thursday. 

Referring to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, NDP Leader Carla Beck asked Premier Scott Moe to condemn those who use their positions of power to support separatism. 

“Mr. Speaker, there’s this strawman argument that is being put forward that it’s either the status quo or separation. Well, the government of Saskatchewan is not interested in separation, and the government of Saskatchewan certainly isn’t interested in the status quo either,” Moe retorted.

He says the status quo seems to be a federal government that treats Saskatchewan unfairly, “supported every step of the way by the NDP. 

Beck argued that she doesn’t support the status quo either, but she also cannot support leaders without the courage to stand up for a united Canada. She was referring to Smith’s recent proposal to lower thresholds for citizen-initiated referendums, which could lead to a vote on separation.