Saskatchewan is a wealthy province with a poverty problem. More than one-in-ten people live in poverty and our child poverty rate is above the national average. Dig into the data and you find that some populations disproportionately bear the brunt of poverty in Saskatchewan. Single parent families, new Canadians, persons with disabilities and Indigenous …
An Act to Eliminate Poverty in Saskatchewan
Preamble Whereas poverty is not a natural phenomenon, but a consequence of political and structural forces over which governments have considerable influence; Whereas poverty is an impediment to realizing the full economic, social, and personal health of Saskatchewan’s peoples; Whereas living in poverty is particularly harmful to the health and development of children, and entails …
Budgets Are About Choices
The Saskatchewan government promised “transformational change”… Instead we got a mean-spirited austerity budget that requires sacrifices from the many and delivers benefits to the few. It doesn’t have to be this way. For a government that prides itself on making “tough choices” this doesn’t seem that tough.
Anti-Austerity Activist John Clarke: Fighting Back
John Clarke speaks on Saskatchewan’s austerity budget and how to fight back. As an organizer with the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), John Clarke has been involved in poor people’s movements for over 25 years. He first became active in anti-poverty struggles in 1983, when he helped form the Union of Unemployed Workers in London, …
Saskatchewan Speaks: Policy Recommendations for Transformational Change
In December, SaskForward began an online public consultation process that asked people across the province to answer the question, “What ‘transformational change’ would you introduce to make Saskatchewan a happier, healthier, and more prosperous place for all?” After receiving over one hundred submissions from individuals and organizations and hosting a policy summit and discussion with over …
Real Renewal on Transforming Schools and Education
Re-imagining the future together RealRenewal’s some 200 members include parents, teachers, school staff, students, education experts and community members province-wide who share common cause in defending and supporting public education in Saskatchewan. We conduct research on education issues and gather ideas the public through forums, workshops, online surveys, and requests for written input. In …
Don Kossick on Corporate Tax Evasion
Make Cameco Pay Up Saskatchewan citizens are conducting an ongoing campaign to have Cameco – one of the largest uranium companies in the world – pay the $2.2 billion bill that it has accumulated in unpaid taxes. Cameco has dodged every attempt to have them pay the people of Canada and Saskatchewan what they have …
Summit Panel: Dr. Sally Mahood
Family Physician Dr. Sally Mahood suggests how evidence-based policy-making can improve the fairness and equity of our public health system in Saskatchewan. Social Determinants of Health Canada is one of the top four per capita healthcare spenders among 17 peer nations but among the bottom four for key measures of health status The top …
Summit Panel: Leah Arcand
My name is Leah Arcand and I’m from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation. I would like to acknowledge Treaty 4 territory that we’re on today. And I would like to thank the organizers for inviting me to speak and you all for being here and showing an interest in transformational change. Before I begin, I would …
Summit Panel: Peter Gilmer
Peter Gilmer of the Regina Anti-Poverty Ministry identifies how the Government of Saskatchewan’s cut-backs are impacting the province’s most vulnerable residents.