NDP Leader Ryan Meili joined with Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Vice-Chief David Pratt, to challenge the Saskatchewan Government regarding the high and rising number of kids in care, and that a growing majority of those kids are Indigenous.

According to Ministry of Social Services figures, the number of kids in care has climbed each of the past five years, and now stands higher than it’s been in 11 years. The latest figures show, 86 per cent of those kids are Indigenous.

Meili called on the Premier to introduce a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy and increased funding for mental health and addictions he says will address the root causes of the surge. Meili says it is time to change this, this cannot continue to go on with this terrible trend and this terrible situation for Saskatchewan kids. He adds we need to act now on poverty and address the root causes on who winds up in care. Meili states the work needs to be done directly in collaboration with First Nation’s Leaders, like Vice-Chief David Pratt and the rest of the FSIN.