NDP MLA Trent Wotherspoon. (980 CJME file photo)

By Lisa Schick/CJME News

‘A human rights atrocity’: Sask. NDP looking to help Ukraine

Mar 1, 2022 | 6:13 PM

The Saskatchewan NDP is hoping politicians in the province can band together to help end the war between Ukraine and Russia.

On Tuesday, NDP Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon came out with strong words against the war and a list of ideas on how to help.

“It’s in moments like these and dark days like these for our world that the people of our province, the people of our country, the people of our world deserve for all of us in leadership roles to have all hands on deck and to stand united and to work together to set aside any politics to end a war (and) to end this invasion,” said Wotherspoon.

First, Wotherspoon said the NDP is letting the provincial government know it’s ready to work with the Saskatchewan Party on this to use all levers available to end the war. The NDP is sharing the same message with the federal government.

“This is about good versus evil. This is about right versus wrong. There’s no politics involved in a war like this for a province like Saskatchewan or a country like Canada,” said Wotherspoon.

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The NDP wants to be included in the mandate and membership of the Saskatchewan­-Ukraine Relations Advisory Committee (SURAC).

The finance critic said Saskatchewan should use its trade assets, offices and partnerships to target and push into markets that Russia currently supplies with things like grain, potash and energy.

“It’s a tool that we have at our disposal and we should be expanding out those markets and building those relationships and exerting that power now,” said Wotherspoon.

“We would like to fill that space. We’d like to provide those goods. We’d like to provide those products and, in essence, choke the funding for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s war.”

The NDP is once again calling on the provincial and federal governments to expedite and make the settlement happen of those who are fleeing Ukraine. He said Saskatchewan can play a large role in that and the people of the province deserve nothing less.

As well, the NDP wants the provincial government to match the donations of Saskatchewan people to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation to help it meet its $5-million goal to provide aid and support.