By Thia James

NDP leader slams government on spending

Feb 6, 2015 | 11:26 AM

As the Saskatchewan government considers its belt-tightening options, opposition NDP leader Cam Broten is blaming the ruling party’s spending for the dark cloud cast over the province’s finances.

Earlier this week at the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association meeting, Premier Brad Wall warned that the government was facing a $600-$800 million shortfall on lower oil revenues. And not wanting to raise taxes or running a deficit, he raised the spectre of spending cuts.

The provincial government made its first belt-tightening announcement on Friday – starting by freezing the premier’s pay, that of his cabinet, as well as other senior-level officials.

 “This government is actually talking about the cuts it wants to do and that it will do and that it will be doing and that’s because of the spending choices that they have made,” Broten said on Thursday. “You know, people are asking me ‘where did all the money go?’ I know where it’s gone, it’s gone to American consultants in health care. It’s gone to Japanese senseis. It’s gone to a huge use of consultants all across government.”

While the province’s talk of needing to rein in costs is recent, the message from Broten regarding the government’s Lean health care program is not.  He said the spending is now leading the province to turn to Saskatchewan residents “because they’ve made those wrong decisions and are telling them that cuts are coming.”

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Broten was in Prince Albert on Thursday for a number of meetings with organizations, elected officials and with the party’s two candidates running in the next provincial election.

He said he wants the Saskatchewan government to be clear about what it will do when it comes to provincial transfers to municipalities.

The government cast a shadow over the transfer program earlier this year, warning that it is taking a look at all of its belt-tightening options as oil royalties fall along with crude oil prices. One of those options is freezing or capping the municipal revenue sharing transfers. Those transfers take a portion of the provincial sales tax (PST) revenues generated over the course of the previous year and splits it among the municipalities.

 “Right now, they’re focused on fancy pet projects like the John Black Lean program in health care. You know, they’ve been flying over senseis from Japan, paying them $3,500 a day to tell health care workers what to do. Well, health-care workers know what to do, they want to spend time with patients, they want to care for them. They want more people on the actual front lines to help with patient care, as opposed to sitting behind the glass and telling workers what to do and that they should be using Japanese words instead of good basic English.

“It’s such a prime example of how this government doesn’t get it. It’s not addressing the things that families really need, especially on health care, and I want them to focus on what matters.”

Broten said cities have already done their budgeting and families are already paying more for utilities and for housing.

“If government doesn’t live up to its commitment to share the revenues as they promised, that will mean local property taxes will be going up in a big way. That’ll mean that more and more cuts will be taking place in Prince Albert, and that’s not what families deserve. And that’s why the government needs to be very clear about what it’s going to and how it’s going to meet its commitments.”

Broten said his party is calling on the government to get its priorities right and to start putting money where it’s needed.

paNOW is awaiting response from the provincial government regarding Broten’s comments.

NDP questions Lean’s effectiveness

Broten had sharp criticism for the Lean management program, and said health outcomes – mortality and infection rates – are going in the wrong direction and worker morale is at an all-time low because of its “militaristic approach.”

He said his party looked into what the savings to each health region after implementing Lean, and filed Freedom of Information requests with the individual health regions. According to the response from the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region, it saved $131.26 since implementing Lean, up until Oct. 15, 2014.

Keeping an ear to the ground in Prince Albert

During his day of meetings, Broten met with the Prince Albert Grand Council, Mayor Greg Dionne and other community groups.

He said he’s heard from those he spoke to that the interests of Prince Albert need to be better represented in Regina.

He said the government’s views have been pushed on Prince Albert, as opposed to the concerns and priorities of Prince Albert being taken to Regina. Broten then touted the NDP’s slate of candidates in the Prince Albert constituencies. They have Shayne Lazarowich running in Prince Albert Carlton and Nicole Rancourt running in Prince Albert Northcote.

“They really want to see Prince Albert and Prince Albert families do well, and that’s why I’m pleased to have them on the team.”

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames