Sask. NDP to present emergency motion to address child poverty to begin spring sitting of legislature

Ahead of the spring sitting at the Sask. legislature, the NDP says tackling the province’s high child poverty rate will be a top priority.

The NDP opposition have outlined their number one priority to begin the spring sitting of the Saskatchewan legislature.

In an announcement Friday morning, the NDP say they will attempt to launch an emergency debate to fight child poverty.

“If the Sask Party won’t take action to make life more affordable, Carla Beck’s team is going to fight for families every step of the way to lower costs, support kids and delivery change,” NDP MLA Kim Breckner told reporters.

It comes following a report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives which found Saskatchewan has the highest rates of child poverty in the nation, particularly in the north.

The report recommends implementing a series of initiatives to address the growing issue including rent control, affordable childcare and school nutrition programs.

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The NDP support the initiatives.

“We’re looking at different measures we can do to make life more affordable,” said Breckner. “Like stopping the SaskPower hikes on power rates and vehicle insurance and removing the PST on kids clothes and groceries.”

In response to CTV News, the province says it continues to implement measures which make life more affordable in Saskatchewan residents.

“That includes low-income families,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “We continue to strengthen income assistance programs by increasing benefits to Saskatchewan Income Support and Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability clients by two per cent.”

“Saskatchewan continues to have some of the most affordable rental rates in the country,” the statement added.

Saskatchewan MLAs from both parties will reconvene for the spring sitting of the legislature beginning Monday.