Saskatchewan’s Opposition New Democrats wasted little time in slamming the Sask Party Government for recalling the Legislature in emergency session and “ramming through their controversial pronoun policing policy that violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code. “
“The fact that Scott Moe declared the first emergency sitting in 24 years to essentially police what kids call each other on the playground says a whole lot about his priorities,” said Opposition Leader Carla Beck in a news release. “I think it’s mind-boggling that the Premier would prioritize this over fixing our hospitals or addressing the rising cost of gas and groceries. Governments of all stripes should focus on getting the basics right.”
Beck and her party criticized the Government for failing to provide evidence of support for its policy. The opposition continued to press the idea that the Government was continuing to ignore key concerns of Saskatchewan residents, as illustrated by a poll by independent market research firm Excitrix.
Among those key concerns as pointed out in the release were lack of mental health supports in schools, staffing shortages and over capacity issues in hospitals, and criticisms over failure to meet promised goals in health care.
Meanwhile, the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation expressed concern on behalf of education professionals.
“Today’s passage of Bill 137 places every teacher in Saskatchewan in a difficult position: do they obey the law, thereby potentially placing a child in an extremely dangerous position or ignore it and leave themselves open to legal jeopardy,” said STF President Samantha Becotte in a statement. ““This bill was passed without consultations with parents, school board members, school administrators, mental health experts or the STF. It is yet another sign that this government isn’t serious about forging cooperative and mutually beneficial relationships in the education sector.”
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