When You Cannot Trust a Government
I believe Saskatchewan people to be very reasonable. They want
competent government, they want government with a vision, and they
want honest government.
To tell you the truth, I am personally very
frustrated with Mr. Calvert and the NDP on what I believe to be a
failing on all three of these measures of leadership. But it is
the Premier’s cavalier treatment of the truth and his willingness
to break promises like they were penny balloons that is
disappointing to me and more importantly to my constituents and
the people of Saskatchewan.
It is one of the explanations why the NDP
government is trailing in the polls amidst Centennial year
enthusiasm and high commodity prices in the oil & gas and mineral
commodity sectors.
And so it should be. Broken promises and
outright deliberate misrepresentations are simply not acceptable
to our families, in our workplaces or from our government.
Here are just some of the broken promises
from the Calvert NDP since the 2003 election:
0-1-1 Wage Mandate
- earlier this month, the Calvert government
quietly agreed to a 3% wage increase for SGEU members, while the
government was still stating that the 0-1-1 public sector wage
mandate was still on. The government has finally admit that there
was no 0-1-1 wage mandate.
Police
-in 1999, the NDP promised to create 200 new
police officer positions. Only 81 positions have been created so
far, and furthermore, the Calvert government recently approved the
closure of single-person RCMP detachments affecting the
communities of Climax, Eastend, Val Marie, Consul and Mankota.
Surgical Wait List Times
-the Calvert government promised to reduce
surgical wait list times, however studies indicate Saskatchewan
has the longest waiting lists in the country.
Reduced taxes
-numerous taxes and fees, including the PST,
have increased under the two successive provincial budgets since
the NDP was re-elected in 2003.
Broe Ethanol Plant
-the imaginary ethanol plant that was
supposed to be built at Belle Plaine cost taxpayers approximately
$750,000.
Perhaps we get a glimpse into the how the NDP
government rationalizes this behaviour from the words of Finance
Minister Harry Van Mulligan, who indicated that the NDP avoided
talking about tax hikes during the 2003 election because it would
be “unpopular.”
One of the Province’s leading political
columnists, Murray Mandaryk of the Leader Post and Star Phoenix
put it this way: “Untrustworthy and duplicitous? Harsh words,
perhaps, but I’m at a loss to find more fitting ones.” (Regina
Leader Post, June 15th/2005)
Will Saskatchewan people put up with this
kind of leadership? From what I am hearing as I travel the
province, the answer is a loud “NO”. And yes, that appears to be
their final answer.
CAIS Feedback Line
Results
Thank you to
everyone who participated in the May MLA Feedback Line question
which was: CAIS feedback line question: In light of
over $1 billion in windfall oil and gas revenues and new federal
transfers, the Official Opposition Saskatchewan Party has been
lobbying the provincial government to offer a greater commitment
to agriculture and rural Saskatchewan. The NDP says the 60/40
funding formula with the federal government is unfair. Should the
provincial government honour its 40% share of federal/provincial
agriculture programs?
Results: 90 calls: 82% yes, 18% no
Student Loan Packages
and Centennial
For students who are planning for
post-secondary education this year, the new 2005-2006 student loan
application packages are now available in our constituency
office. Please feel free to visit our office at 233 Central
Avenue North to pick up your copy.
Numerous communities and organizations are
hosting events this summer in conjunction with Saskatchewan’s
Centennial. You can register your event (homecomings, parades,
etc.) with the Centennial office by phoning 1-888-390-2005 or
visiting their website at
www.sask2005.ca. Unfortunately due to the overwhelming
demand, our constituency office it out of its supply of Centennial
pins. However there is some product available for events by
contacting the Centennial office.
Questions/Comments?
