Sask. NDP releases a people-first COVID-19 recovery plan

As Saskatchewan works its way out from under the COVID-19 pandemic the Opposition NDP has a plan to get life back to some semblance of normal.

On Thursday the party released A People-First Recovery plan, which highlights investments in people and local economies.

“We know that our future as a province depends on our ability to innovate—to find creative solutions,” NDP Leader Ryan Meili said. “It’s time to stop looking backwards and start building our focus on the future.”

The plan contains three main areas of focus—investing in people, growing local economies and laying the groundwork for a strong future.

“The game has changed with COVID-19. There’s new urgency and new emphasis on the kind of investments that need to be made in people,” Meili explained. “We can’t wait until an election to start that conversation.”

Other aspects of the plan include addressing overcrowding in classrooms, further investment in mental health, home health care for seniors and fixing ageing infrastructure.

“This has to be a dream big exercise,” Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon said of making changes to home health care.

“If we provide the kind of dignified support that allows people to live within their homes we really aid their quality of life, we strengthen communities and we create jobs.”

Also on the list of changes called for in the plan is increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour and ensuring high-speed internet for rural residents.