New findings from the Canadian Social Survey show that while people in Saskatchewan are more hopeful about the future than the average Canadian, they currently report lower levels of life satisfaction and a weaker sense of purpose.
The results have drawn very opposite reactions from the two sides of the legislature. The opposition NDP is criticizing the government’s handling of affordability and healthcare, while the Saskatchewan Party government is defending its record by pointing to the province's economic strength and record investments.
The survey, released last week by Statistics Canada, found that just 44.3 per cent of Saskatchewan residents reported high life satisfaction, falling below the national average of 48.6 per cent.
Keith Jorgenson, NDP Shadow Minister of Health, says these numbers reflect a government failing to meet the needs of its citizens.
“You know, we see the strain that people are under in Saskatchewan every day,” Jorgenson told Prairie News Network. “People are concerned about the inaction of the government... on issues like schooling, hospital services, affordability, community safety, homelessness. These are all putting a lot of strain on people’s lives and their sense of satisfaction with their communities.”
In a written statement, the provincial government said it would be “inappropriate to speculate on how residents determined their own life satisfaction.” Instead, the response pointed to a strong economy.
“We remain the most affordable place in Canada to live, work, raise a family and start a business, with the lowest unemployment rate in the nation,” the statement read.
The survey data shows the disconnect is particularly acute for men in Saskatchewan. Just 39.9 per cent reported high life satisfaction, well below the national average for men of 47.2 per cent. The gap is even wider on sense of purpose, with only 46.4 per cent of men in the province reporting a high level, compared to 55 per cent nationally.
Jorgenson connects these statistics directly to a crisis in mental health and addictions, an issue he knows all too well.
“I was just at the funeral of one of my friend's sons on the weekend, absolutely horrific to go to the funeral of a 20-year-old young man,” Jorgenson shared. “We're burying young people and especially young men at an absolutely alarming rate.”
“The access to mental health services in Saskatchewan is absolutely horrible,” he added. “We only have a couple hundred drug and alcohol treatment beds in the province, when you have thousands and thousands of people who have really significant addiction problems.”
The provincial government countered, stating it has invested a “record $624 million into mental health and addiction services” for the current fiscal year. The statement highlighted that the Saskatchewan Health Authority provides outpatient treatment in 57 communities and acute inpatient services in eight major centres.
The survey’s most striking finding, however, was the high level of hopefulness in the province. At 60.3 per cent, more Saskatchewanians are "always or often hopeful" than the national average of 57.8 per cent.
Jorgenson attributes this optimism to the province’s culture, calling it 'next year country.'
“I think people are optimistic that the province has great potential. They just don't see the Sask Party as being the vehicle for bringing hope back,” he said.
While the government statement did not address the hopefulness metric directly, it implied that optimism is a result of its economic stewardship.
Looking ahead, Jorgenson said an NDP government would prioritize making life more affordable, making streets safer, and providing better supports to health and education. The government's statement notes that while there is “more work to be done,” its Action Plan for Mental Health and Addictions is the roadmap to better support and care for more people.