Untitled Document

New Direction for our Province

A Saskatchewan where all of us believe that we can succeed; where effort and imagination are the only limitations to fulfilling our dreams.

The ideas and proposals outlined in this document are intended to generate the development and discussion of new ideas to strengthen Saskatchewan families and communities, our economy and our environment, as well as our democratic processes.

Cornerstones of Saskatchewan: Principles for the New Direction

Our families, our communities, our economy, our environment and our democracy are the cornerstones for sustaining and strengthening Saskatchewan’s future.

Our families are the most important aspect of our life. We recognize that families today come in many different forms and we value families that are healthy, supportive, and nurturing. We want jobs for our families that provide a stable and predictable income, that provide sufficient income for a good standard of living, that are healthy, and personally fulfilling. To provide the best environment for our families, we will commit to providing healthy communities, a healthy economy, and a healthy environment. Sustainability must therefore be the standard by which we measure every activity. Sustainability means behavior that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. A commitment to sustainability requires that all actions satisfy and balance the demands of: the economy, the environment and equity.

Saskatchewan Communities are central to our social harmony and economic prosperity. We value stable, safe and inclusive communities that provide economic opportunities, social supports and activities, healthy environments and equitable opportunities for engagement of all citizens. Projects focused on only one area at the expense of another, are inherently shortsighted and self-defeating. Policy will recognize the diversity and geographic isolation of many of our communities, and be founded upon inclusive and participatory processes.

Saskatchewan’s Economy provides opportunities for innovation, security and prosperity. We value an economy that is dynamic, stable and equitable which provides a multitude of opportunities so that every citizen can experience security and fulfillment. The economy must build on the strengths of communities and ensure the equitable distribution of resources province-wide. We want an economy that provides basic core services to all residents regardless of where they live in the province, at a an affordable cost. When appropriate, we will use government ownership, central planning and regulation to ensure that access to resources and economic benefits are shared by everyone. Economic stimulus will focus on sectors where urgent action is required. Government will invest in sectors that provide long-term stability and good jobs, and sectors which are not adequately valued by the market.

Saskatchewan’s Environment is where we live and the starting point for everything we create. We value healthy, nurturing and sustainable environments in which to live, work and flourish. We will view every decision through the lens of sustainability. We will make the best economic use of precious and scarce resources, without needlessly squandering them at the expense of future generations. We are committed to the development of clean and safe energy sources and will invest in research into sustainable energy sources and implementation projects.

Saskatchewan’s Democracy and Diversity make us strong. We are committed to a democracy that allows and encourages every citizen to participate in and shape a shared future for Saskatchewan. We will strengthen this democracy by actively encouraging all citizens, particularly the growing First Nation and Métis populations, to have a shared voice in planning and decision making. We will create new approaches to involvement and partnerships that stimulate the respectful and informed exchange of ideas, represent all citizens and perspectives, and identify creative and forward-thinking solutions.

HEALTH

We must learn from the past and plan for the future.

Our goal is a healthcare system, which efficiently delivers health and medical treatment to the people of Saskatchewan. Medical care is the largest single public good we buy - we need to ensure that we get good value for the price we pay. We need to ensure that accessible, appropriate and high quality care is available to all citizens. We need new approaches, including better health education and prevention strategies, to ensure better health, increased efficiency, and accountability.

PROPOSALS:

  • Prevention & Early Intervention : We will direct resources to preventing medical problems before they arise through educational initiatives focused on healthy lifestyles, environments and wellness; we will work to address root causes of illness such as poverty; and seek to provide services at an early stage, before the need and costs are too great:
    • Poverty: Poverty costs the healthcare system $200 million each year. We will make a major investment into early childhood education and services with a view to breaking the cycle of poverty. Research has proven that the most cost-effective approach is to target “at-risk” or “vulnerable” populations.
    • School Dental Program: We will institute a school dental program to prevent costly health problems later in life.
    • School Nutrition Program: We will build upon the existing nutrition programs to ensure that every child living in poverty receives a hot meal each day.
    • Parenting Education: We will strengthen the availability of parenting education so that all families have the capacity to nurture the healthy development of their children – socially, emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually.
    • Guaranteed Annual Income for People with Disabilities: We will establish a new program, separate from social assistance and any accompanying stigma, ensuring that people with disabilities which prevent them from participating in the workforce, have a sufficient, guaranteed annual income.
    • Asbestos: We will move to ban asbestos importation in Saskatchewan completely and establish regulation requiring public buildings to have an approved plan for asbestos remediation or removal.
  • Governance and Infrastructure Efficiencies
    All administrations can be made more efficient by reducing bureaucracy and streamlining delivery.
    • Health Boards: We will eliminate the regional health boards leaving only experienced health administrators who will be accountable directly to the Ministry of Health. We will initiate a public discussion regarding local government (see below).
    • Computerized Health Information: Health providers will be able to access a patient’s medical history (with appropriate privacy measures) to eliminate costly medical errors and identify areas where quality requires improvement.
    • Diagnostic services: We will expand access to diagnostic services, like MRIs, CAT scans, x-rays in our hospitals by extending hours of operation from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, six days a week to shrink waiting lists.
    • Home Care: We will shift the emphasis for continuing care to a home care model away from residential care.
    • Rural & Northern Services: We will provide core health services in rural and northern areas through the establishment of more primary health care centres and by working with communities and service providers to identify new and creative approaches to service delivery, such as using video-conferencing.
  • Staffing, Training and Bargaining
    • More full-time positions: We will significant reduce the amount of overtime paid and use the savings to increase more permanent positions, giving patients more consistent health care and creating more jobs.
    • Hands-on Training: Working with education institutions and health professions, we will emphasize more hands-on training for healthcare providers. Ensuring more and earlier hands-on experience in the education process will help to alleviate personnel shortages. Health care trainees will be paid a wage for hours worked to help them complete their education and secure a future in a stronger, more efficient health care system.
    • Interdisciplinary Teams: We will require that health care professions develop and implement models for more effective service delivery. These teams will make more efficient use of human resources, shorten wait times and contribute to better job satisfaction.
    • Essential Services: We will fix the Saskatchewan Party’s heavy-handed approach to essential services that has created a problem where none existed and restore fairness to public sector bargaining.
  • Accountability
    • Quality Assurance: By requiring measurable results and tracking them, we will ensure greater accountability of health care providers and institutions.

SUSTAINED ECONOMIC PROSPERITY:
STRENGTHENING OUR NATURAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES

PROPOSALS:

  • Governance, Partnerships and Public Involvement
    • Local Government
      We will initiate a public discussion regarding the coordination of local government strategies, provision of local services, and how to encourage greater public participation and government accountability. Questions to be addressed include:
      • Should all local decisions respecting service delivery and availability be made locally?
      • Should municipalities be responsible for coordinating and providing the delivery of health care and education, which would mean ending school boards and health boards?
    • First Nations & Métis Engagement and Participation

      • In the next few years, people of First Nations and Metis heritage will comprise nearly 50% of Saskatchewan’s population. It is critical that they be full participants in our society as contributing citizens.

      • We will immediately begin discussions with First Nations and Metis leaders and government to explore and identify opportunities for partnerships so that these can be pursued immediately when we form government.
      • We will require the Public Service Commission to introduce changes that ensure more qualified First Nations and Métis applicants are successful in achieving employment in the public service.
      • We will invest in early childhood programs to provide better opportunities for First Nations and Métis children and more employment opportunities
      • We will insist that the federal government live up to its treaty and constitutional obligations.
      • With feed-in tariffs, we will encourage First Nations to invest in renewable energy production. We will partner with First Nations to develop small-scale hydro.
      • We will work with First Nations and Métis to develop a province-wide tourism strategy with their communities as destinations.
    • Energy Strategy

      Energy production and consumption are fundamental to Saskatchewan's economy. A strong economy depends on the availability of energy.

      A global energy transformation is coming as a result of dwindling supplies of conventional fuels and recognition that pollution has the potential to change the global climate. It is critical that we have a plan that utilizes and sustains Saskatchewan’s traditional energy resources, and supports new sources, to ensure that our citizens are not held hostage to drastic price fluctuations and changing world opinions.

      • Energy Strategy Components:
        • We will invest in an energy conservation program.
        • We will invest in decentralized, small-scale and renewable electricity production.
        • We will increase wind energy production to 20% of our system load with feed-in tariffs (creating jobs in rural areas). Feed-in tariffs will encourage farmers, local energy cooperatives, First Nations, and small business to invest in sustainable energy (wind, solar, co-generation, bio-mass) creating employment opportunities.
        • We will partner with First Nations peoples to develop hydro-electric generation in Northern Saskatchewan. These partnerships will ensure much needed employment, training and long-term benefits for the North.
        • We will invest in sustainable energy research, creating high-quality knowledge jobs in Saskatchewan.
        • We will set target dates for the phase-out of coal generated electricity.
        • We will establish incentives and regulation to improve energy conservation in the heating of buildings (i.e. an energy efficiency code, retrofitting of existing buildings).
        • We will amalgamate SaskPower and SaskEnergy. One efficient energy corporation will realize savings by eliminating duplication of administration and management (attained by attrition when possible and with dignity and respect). We will work closely with the unions throughout the amalgamation to identify areas for efficiency and eliminate duplications in service (without disruption as in the old SaskPower.) The new corporation will acquire Crown-owned gas and oil wells to provide the businesses and citizens of Saskatchewan with a secure energy source with a made-in Saskatchewan pricing structure. This will include the establishment of partnerships with private-sector energy companies.
      • Rural and Northern Economies
        Rural and northern economies require a commitment from government to core service delivery (health, education, transportation and communication) if they are to attract and retain investment and residents. Flourishing rural and northern economies feed the urban economies in their regions.
        • We will ensure the provision of core services in rural and northern areas through new and creative approaches to service delivery.
        • We will support home-grown, small business enterprises.
        • Feed-in tariffs for renewable energy will encourage small businesses, communities, First Nations and local energy cooperatives to invest in renewable energy production providing local jobs and opportunities.
        • We will invest in preserving our heritage resources and retrofitting older buildings for energy efficiency which will provide employment opportunities in rural and urban areas.
      • Early Learning and Childcare
        Learning success in school is a key predictor of later success in employment and life.
        • We will work with the Federal Government to invest in building a comprehensive and blended system of early learning and childcare, with the eventual goal of a universal early learning and childcare system built upon the strong provincial education system.

          This measure would be the single largest advancement in social justice in 50 years and will result in job creation, poverty reduction and increased learning success and labour market participation.

        • Intensive Early Reading Intervention: We will invest in strengthening early learning supports across Saskatchewan’s Community Schools Program (located in inner cities, the North and rural areas with high poverty rates) to ensure that disadvantaged and vulnerable children are “reading to learn” by grade 3.
      • Strengthening Education
        • Education Funding: Education funding from early childhood to post-secondary will be increased and funded directly by revenues from non-renewable resources, rather than property taxes (except for land and facilities costs). This will enable the province's education systems and institutions to have a stable and predictable source of revenue. It represents a “just” use of our one-time, depleting resources because they are devoted to long-lasting social improvement.
        • Literacy for All Saskatchewan Students: Literacy is fundamental in today’s knowledge economy, yet many Saskatchewan students face unique challenges to learning success. We will ensure accessible (research-based) literacy supports for youth and adult learners across the education systems.
        • Supports to Technical Institutions: We will prioritize supports to the technical institutions to remove waiting periods, ensure appropriate numbers of training spaces, relative to labour market requirements, and retain young people in the province.
      • Agriculture
        Agriculture continues to be a key component of Saskatchewan’s economy and social way-of-life.
        • We will support the Canadian Wheat Board.
        • We will invest in agriculture extension services in rural areas.
        • We will require all grain brokers and buyers to be licensed and bonded.
        • We will move to restrict packer ownership of livestock.
        • We will act to ensure that no more rail lines, branch lines or sidings are abandoned in Saskatchewan.
        • We will expand the availability of broad-band internet coverage in rural Saskatchewan.
      • Labour
        The productivity of Saskatchewan’s labour market is the backbone of our economic success.
        • Essential Services: We will remove the heavy-handed approach of the current in place, bringing back fairness to public sector bargaining.
        • The Trade Union Act: Secret ballots will remain an option for certification of bargaining units, at the option of the employees. Where there is demonstrated support of more than 50% of the proposed bargaining unit, there will be automatic certification. We will return balance to labour relations by disallowing employers from communicating with and trying to influence employees.
        • Labour Relations Board: We will bring back public confidence to labour relations by making Labour Relations Board appointments merit-based and non-political.
      • Environment
        • We will commit to aggressive CO2 reduction goals with sustainable energy, conservation, efficiency, public transportation, and target dates for coal phase-out.
        • We will ensure that province has a 50 year water strategy that is part of all economic planning, and we will avoid activities which jeopardize water quantity or quality.
        • We will make Saskatchewan a research leader in sustainable energy production and conservation.
        • We will embark on a public education strategy to highlight the full costs of energy consumption and promote conservation.
        • We will devote a portion of gas tax revenues to investing in public transportation.

PLATFORM HIGHLIGHTS

  1. Renewable Energy Strategy for Saskatchewan
    • Amalgamation of SaskPower/SaskEnergy
    • Control of our natural gas supply
    • Expanded wind power
    • Expanded hydropower
    • Conservation & efficiency program
    • Energy buy back
  2. Universal childcare
    • Paid for by non-renewable resource revenue
  3. Education Tax
    • All education (except land and buildings) to be funded by non-renewable resource revenue
  4. Comprehensive Health Strategy
    • 7AM to 10PM diagnostic services six days a week
    • More efficient streamlined system with eliminating health boards and reducing overtime
    • Recognition of socioeconomic determinants of health
    • New approach to primary care (video diagnostics to rural health care centers)
    • School dental and nutrition program
    • Asbestos ban
  5. Rural & Northern
    • Commitment to providing core services (health, education, transportation, communication)
    • Economic development based on sustainable energy, childcare, small business, and tourism
  6. Local Government
    • Should local service delivery be determined locally?
  7. Disabilities
    • Guaranteed annual income for people with disabilities New Voice. New Vision. New Democrat. 9

Renewal - Making Membership Meaningful

Rebuilding our party is no small task and we will not accomplish it overnight; it will take leadership, commitment and hard work. I started this challenge as party president almost 1 year ago and I'm running for leader because I want a party in which:

  • Members have a direct and continuing role in forming policy and the party's caucus takes direction from party policy;
  • Our party leadership is representative of the general population;
  • Our elected party leaders are accountable and accessible to members;
  • Our constituency associations offer the opportunity to build networks and community; and
  • There is a concise vision and plan for the future that our members and the whole province understands.

Grassroots empowerment will generate new members, new candidates, new executives and most importantly - new ideas. We want our members and supporters to know and understand our vision for the future - not only because someone told them what it was, but because they helped shape it. We want people of all ages to understand who we are and what we stand for.

Rebuilding requires a commitment to empowering members. Rebuilding requires a committment that the party's leadership will be representative of those whom we hope to serve. Rebuilding requires an infusion of new people at every level. Rebuilding requires an examination of our ideas and our vision for the future. Rebuilding this party requires a commitment from the top.