Politics with Murray Mandryk
Page 14 - JANUARY 26 , 2017 - mARteNsville messeNgeR
Provincial
Politics with Murray Mandryk
Wages Not Behind Big Deficit
Far be it for me to suggest the Saskatchewan Party government shouldn ’ t do something about high civil service wages . Generous wages to certain public sector workers is something I have occasionally harped on since Premier Brad Wall came to power a decade ago . One of the first orders of business for new health minister , Don McMorris , was a 36-per-cent raise over four years for the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses ( SUN ) in the spring of 2008 . Tales of the behindthe-scene negotiations are legendary . One such story claims the nurses ’ bargaining team had walked away from the table happy with the deal they had , when government negotiators came back and sweetened the deal even more . What is a matter of record is this was the highest wage settlement in provincial government history . There have been a few other generous settlements in the Wall era .
Consider the Sask . Party ’ s rather generous treatment of SaskPower workers at a time when it was pumping $ 1.6 billion into carbon capture at Boundary Dam . They were paying for all-too-often nine-per-cent increases in our electrical bills , but can you really blame nurses or power workers for getting whatever they can at the bargaining table ? After all , nurses and power workers do work damn hard for their money , oftentimes under circumstances that a lot of us wouldn ’ t tolerate . Moreover , many of these people are likely your neighbours or friends , especially , in rural Saskatchewan .
There are a couple of other things we should keep in mind in relation to this across the board wage freeze . First , nurses and power workers aside , the vast majority of public sector workers like teachers , snowplough operators , etc . have not received massive hikes . In fact , wage settlements are one of the few areas of government costs where Wall and company has generally kept the lid on spending . Really , the problem is countless other expenditure decisions made in the past decade . After all , it ’ s always easy to justify spending . The billions upon billions spent on roads , schools and hospitals are all part of what the Sask . Party called an “ infrastructure deficit ”, left behind by the previous government , these are obviously good things that benefit everyone . However , is it the government ’ s job to simply give people absolutely everything they ask for ? - Obviously not . Even in times of boom , like in 2008 when the government was building infrastructure and handing out a generous settlement to the nurses , there was only so much money to go around . Well , there is no boom right now . We are still paying for the nurse salary increases , the cost of the roads , etc . In fact , Saskatchewan hasn ’ t been booming for some time , but that didn ’ t stop the government from borrowing $ 1.7 billion in the last two budgets . The borrowing of that money has contributed mightily to today ’ s one-billiondollar deficit . Let ’ s be clear that money went to building
Justin Trudeau ignores China ' s pollution while boasting of his own environmental protection
March on Washington - Saskatoon
Ciara O ’ Reilly , Martensville Messenger
There cannot be human rights without women ’ s rights , and on January 21st millions of people across the world marched in support of just that . A peaceful protest took place in Saskatoon on Saturday morning , where over 600 Saskatoonians marched along with 600 cities , 63 countries , and with people across all seven continents . This march was in support of the Women ’ s March on Washington DC , on the very first day of Donald Trump ’ s presidency . “ It was nice to see women from all ages supporting the cause . I saw little babies , to women in their 70 ’ s there marching for all women and gender rights ,” stated Martensville marcher , Emily Heinek . “ I was so happy to also see men there as well . That they weren ’ t afraid to call themselves feminists and stand up with us .” People of all ages , genders , races , religious communities , sexual orientations , and political affiliations stood hand in hand and raised their voices in support of women ’ s rights and other causes including immigration reform , health care reform , protection of the natural environment , LGBTQ rights , racial justice , freedom of religion , and workers ' rights .
These marches were sparked by the recent inauguration of Donald Trump ( President of the United States ) and more importantly by what many are perceiving as hate-inciting , divisive and a discriminatory attitude . His statements and positions have been regarded as anti-women , which , in the 21st century , is inexcusable , which has caused an outroar . Marchers recognized that even in Canada , we still have much work to do . Domestic violence , workplace harassment , gender bias in education & derogatory attitudes towards sexual assault survivors , are all real and pressing issues here at home . To date , there is no country in the world that has yet achieved full gender equality , but that does not mean anyone should give up on striving towards it . There will be no tolerance of any form of discrimination or victimization of women or any violation of women ' s rights , whether through words , actions or policies . The march drew at least half a million people in Washington , and some estimates put worldwide participation at 4.8 million according to WomensMarch . com . Many big-name celebrities took part in marches across the United States including Miley Cyrus , Rihanna , Emma Watson , Chris Colfer , James Franco , Arianna Grande , and countless others .
Saskatoon ’ s March on Washington DC congregated below the clock at City Hall , where speakers Marjorie Beaucage , MLA Danielle Chartier , City Councillor Hillary Gough and Dr . Manuela Valle-Castro spoke out about what they stand for and the importance of the united marches that took place all over the world . Protestors then began their route along 23rd Street East to 4th Avenue North and headed South . At 19th Street the marchers headedWest up to 3rd Avenue North which led them past City Hall and looped around the block right back to the start , where they were free to go about the rest of their day . Signs were paraded around the city reading “ Enough is Enough !”, “ Stop the War on Women ,” “ Leave Medicare , Medicaid and Planned Parenthood Alone !”, and “ Resist !”.
As Canadians , how do Trump ’ s policies affect us ? As women , we are affected . The
ABOVE : Martensville marcher Emily Heinek and not to public sector workers who are now being told to either accept a wage freeze or accept layoffs .
In the case of many such public employees , including Saskatchewan nurses , the government is asking them to forego wage increases they have already negotiated . That ’ s why public employees and others find it galling that the Wall government is trying to convince the public that the problem is public service employee wages .
Notwithstanding the wage settlements of nurses and power workers , wages aren ’ t the reason why we have a big deficit . Similarly , while these are tough times for oil patch workers , this has nothing to do with nurses or electrical workers or any public sector employees . If anything , it ’ s a distraction from other issues and solutions to the deficit jackpot the Sask . Party now finds itself in . For this , the Sask . Party only has itself to blame .
hearts of women everywhere simply will not let one nation stand alone and watch as their hard-fought rights diminish . That is the glory of unifying women everywhere ; our voices were heard on January 21st .
Marches such as this are defining events for people all over the world . It seems , in this day and age , that a rally for equal rights is one of the past . However , women ’ s rights were hard-fought for , and are worthiness of protection , respect , and a forever length of stay . You don ’ t have to be singly and directly affected to see , feel or hear about the discrimination against women across the globe . Taking part in the Women ’ s March on Washington allowed for voices to be heard and hands to be felt in support of the cause . We simply cannot have human rights without women ’ s rights .
Annual Meeting
Annual meeting
Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools will hold its Annual Meeting of Electors on Tuesday , February 7 , 2017 , at 5 pm at St . Frances School , 2141 McPherson Avenue , Saskatoon .
Board Chair Diane Boyko , Director of Education Greg Chatlain and Superintendent Joel Lloyd will each report to the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools ’ community .
Electors are welcome to make presentations at the meeting . Those wishing to do so must contact the Secretary to the Board of Education at 306-659-7040 before 4 pm , Tuesday , January 31 .
Parents , families and community members are invited to attend this meeting to learn more about the school division ’ s vision and goals .
306-659-7077 www . gscs . ca
Letter to the Editor
The Martensville Messenger welcomes letters to the editor for publication . Letters must be signed and a phone number and / or email address included so the writer ’ s identity can be verified . ALL letters are the opinion of the writer and NOT the Martensville Messenger . We reserve the right to edit letters for length , clarity or compliance with the current standards of public taste . Submit your letter to ssealey @ martensvillemessenger . ca or jottenbreit @ martensvillemessenger . ca or drop by the Martensville Messenger office at Bay # 7 - 301 Centennial Drive North .