News and Views

Here's a sample of what media are saying about the NDP in Saskatchewan. We will update this page with links to other websites that mention the Saskatchewan NDP, the Wall Government, and the news of the day. Check back here often for up-to-date news from around the 'net.

 

Be cautious of BHP Billiton bid
From - Letter to the StarPhoenix: 09/02/2010

The aggressive overtures made by BHP Billiton to buy the shares of Saskatchewan Potash Corp should be viewed with considerable caution. I don't trust the Australian giant's word about its future plans. Any big outfit in the courting mode places its best foot forward to garner favour from shareholders and the local population. What's important is the long-term health of our province's potash industry.
Ensure Potash Corp. future serves Sask. interest
From - Editorial to the StarPhoenix: 09/02/2010

Following is the viewpoint of the writer, a former resident of Moose Jaw and Regina who was president and CEO of steelmaker Ipsco Inc. until its takeover in 2007 by Evraz Inc. - - - Since the public announcement of a takeover bid for the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan by BHP Billiton, there has been a significant amount of commentary about its implications. As someone who has previously been involved with takeovers and acquisitions, and as someone deeply committed to Saskatchewan and its future, I offer my personal views on how this matter should best be considered by citizens and the government of Saskatchewan.
Land owners take action against wind farm project
From - The StarPhoenix: 09/02/2010

Landowners in southeastern Saskatchewan have turned to the courts to press for significant changes to a $60-million wind farm project. "We think we're going to be successful in preventing them from building this close to people's houses," said Brad Jamieson, the Saskatoon lawyer representing some area residents who recently filed a class-action lawsuit.
Wall takes consultations to Ottawa, excludes Saskatchewan people
From - The StarPhoenix: 09/02/2010

The Saskatchewan government has asked the Conference Board of Canada to undertake a “broad review” and analysis of the province’s potash industry in relation to the potential takeover of Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. Speaking in Saskatoon Thursday morning, Energy and Resources minister Bill Boyd said the government will rely heavily on the advice that will be contained in the report, such as potential options for the provincial government to use legislative, regulatory or permitting options to ensure Saskatchewan’s potash resource is “maximized” for the people.
NDP MLA Judy Junor stops in Swift Current
From - Southwest TV News: 09/02/2010

Judy Junor spent the day in Swift Current yesterday touring local health facilties. The NDP health critic also took the time to comment on a new initiative launched this week that will see dental and knee surgeries performed in private clinics outside of a hospital setting.
Saskatchewan tops in gambling rates
From - Meridian Booster: 09/02/2010

Saskatchewan tops the country in gambling, leaving some to question what impact that might be having on the province. A recent Statistics Canada report, in 2008, the average Saskatchewan household spent more on gambling than any other province at $720 and Alberta second at $645. Quebec spent the least at $390.
NDP pushing conflict of interest probe regarding Serge LeClerc
From - News Talk 980: 09/02/2010

The Saskatchewan NDP wants confirmation that an alleged conflict of interest is still being looked into, even though Serge LeClerc has resigned as MLA. Caucus Chair Judy Junor says she wants to know if LeClerc ran his speaking engagements through his publicly-funded office while he was an MLA.
Douglas vs. Wall? It's no contest
From - Letter to the Leader-Post: 09/01/2010

Murray Mandryk (Aug. 27) correctly identified some similarities between Brad Wall and T.C. Douglas. Both politicians and party leaders became Saskatchewan premiers. There the similarities end. I cannot agree that Wall is an innovator like Douglas, eager to "nurture new ideas and approaches." Nurturing something means helping it grow to maturity. Douglas did so often; Wall has not.
Gormley must use facts
From - Letter to the StarPhoenix: 09/01/2010

In his column, Potash execs should reside in province (SP, Aug. 20), John Gormley said, "it didn't take long for various NDP political appointees to run PotashCorp $800 million into debt." The fact is that under the NDP, PCS was quite successful. Between 1976 and 1982 it made profits of $414 million and paid the provincial treasury more than $370 million in taxes, royalties and dividends.
Sask. Party MLA accused of drug use leaves city riding vacant
From - The StarPhoenix: 09/01/2010

The brief Saskatchewan political career of Serge LeClerc is now over, but questions remain over whether his dramatic rise and fall will affect the Saskatchewan Party government's fortunes. LeClerc resigned Tuesday as the MLA for Saskatoon Northwest, four months after leaving the Sask. Party caucus over allegations of drug use.
Lingenfelter weighs in on Potash Corp.
From - Prince Albert Daily Herald: 09/01/2010

A lack of transparency concerns the provincial NDP leader when it comes to a possible sale of Potash Corporation. “The big problem with the deal is, we don’t know what the deal is,” said Dwain Lingenfelter about the hostile takeover bid of the Saskatoon-based business by BHP Billiton, an Australian mining company.
Melfort City Council meets with NDP MLAs
From - Melfort Journal: 08/31/2010

Members of Melfort city council met with four NDP MLA's at city hall on Monday, Aug. 23 including NDP leader Dwain Lingenfelter. "Basically, what we're hearing about is exciting times in Melfort, of course. Infrastructure issues. All communities that are growing at the rate that Melfort is there's a need for low income but high quality housing. It just isn't there and a need for (help from) the federal government particularly but I think with help from the provincial government to help get improved housing for people on fixed incomes," said Lingenfelter. MLA's Deb Higgins, Pat Atkinson and Warren McCall joined Lingenfelter for the meeting in Melfort.
NDP raising concerns of private health care
From - Saskatoon Homepage: 08/31/2010

The provincial opposition has some concerns over the SaskParty's decision to partner with a private surgery centre in Regina.
NDP: Private clinic surgeries unnecessary in public system
From - News Talk 650: 08/31/2010

The NDP health critic Judy Junor says the Saskatchewan government's decision to use a private surgical company in the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region signals a philosophical shift in health care from public provider to private provider.
Jail health care probed
From - The StarPhoenix: 08/31/2010

Corrections, Public Safety and Policing Minister Yogi Huyghebaert has ordered a review of the case of Brad Peequaquat, a former provincial inmate who says he was denied medical care and then refused timely access to documents related to the case. "It's an abuse of power," NDP house leader Kevin Yates said Monday. "The government is accountable to the people. A denial of information is a denial of justice. The minister is responsible."
Sask. Party will hurt many if online gamblings gets approved
From - The Leader-Post: 08/31/2010

The 2009-10 annual report of the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority reveals that gamblers plugged $15.2 million fewer dollars into the province's 3,984 video lottery terminals (VLTs) than the previous fiscal year. This also resulted in a reduction of $2.3 million in retained commissions by the province's 641 VLT site holders in 313 communities. To make up for this shortfall the Wall government is contemplating introducing legalized online gambling to Saskatchewan.
Wall Government Puts Public Health Care "Under the Knife"
From - Accidental Deliberations: 08/31/2010

The Wall government's health-care privatization plans are proceeding as expected.
Sask. Party attempts to evade responsibility; claims it can't be sued
From - The Leader-Post: 08/31/2010

The Saskatchewan Party is making an existential argument that it can't be sued in its recently filed statement of defence in the case around the estimated $2.9-million Progressive Conservative trust fund. The party and the trustees of the fund are being sued by the Progressive Conservative party, which alleges a conspiracy to deprive the PC party of funds from the trust to ensure it would not be competitive in the 2007 provincial election.
Wall Gov't oversees publicly funded surgeries performed in private clinics
From - The Leader-Post: 08/31/2010

REGINA - Some surgical patients in Regina will soon find themselves going under the knife outside of a hospital. Beginning this week, the Omni Surgery Centre is taking bookings for patients who are to undergo dental and arthroscopic knee surgery through the provincial government's Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative. The program, announced in March, will see some publicly funded surgeries performed in private clinics in Regina and Saskatoon in an effort to shorten wait times and eliminate the backlog on surgical wait lists. The bookings at Omni will be made like any other through the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region.
Regina Welfare Centre creates housing registry
From - The Leader-Post: 08/31/2010

REGINA — With affordable housing at a premium in Regina, several community-based organizations (CBOs) are teaming up to make the search a little easier on their clients. In July, the Welfare Rights Centre (WRC) launched an online housing registry that can be accessed by around a dozen CBOs and contains listings from several partners. "We scour every website, we have some input coming from other CBOs and we have some landlords who are listing properties exclusively with us," said Graham Purse, web/fund development officer for WRC. "All the CBOs interview potential renters and try to find suitable properties."



Note: This page provides links to external websites. The content of these sites is the property and responsibility of the owners of the site and not the NDP caucus office. The NDP caucus office does not necessarily agree with or endorse any of the content, including comments, on these web sites. Please note that these web sites may have different privacy polices from the NDP caucus website.

Darcy Furber
Prince Albert Northcote
...

When the Sask Party hiked the price for camping in Provincial Parks, it claimed that Saskatchewan families weren't appreciating their parks enough.

"People complained about the highways, and now theyre complaining about these beds. Which do they want, highways or health care?"

- Saskatchewan Party MLA for Cannington and Government House Leader, Dan D'Autremont

Posters informing patients their personal information will be shared routinely is hardly comforting...
April 8, 2010
With a government that has insisted it doesn't want to pick "winners and losers" in the marketplace... It's hardly comforting that posters and brochures at the hospital will inform people that their personal information will be shared routinely, unless they say no, especially when they are left wondering if opting out might translate into an earlier discharge. -The StarPhoenix