The Saskatchewan NDP’s full election platform has been released which includes a $100-million investment for primary, long-term and acute care to deal with the issue of short staffing. Leader Ryan Meili also points to a $50-million investment in the first year if elected as the next provincial government, to keep seniors living in their homes longer, and raising minimum wage to $15 per hour. He stresses that small businesses would have support when the minimum wage rises. Meili says small businesses are important to our economy and they have stepped up during COVID-19. He notes that in other jurisdictions where the minimum wage has increased, they have found the economy does well because people are spending their increased wages locally.

Meili understands that it looks like the NDP is spending a lot of money, but he believes investment is the way to go rather than cutting funding.

He also committed to fixing what he calls, “The wild west of Saskatchewan’s electoral financing laws.” He says he wants to ensure that decisions are not being made by out-of-province donors. Meili says the platform documents are fully costed and have been reviewed by an economist who has signed off on the financial measures.

All Platform Documents can be found here.