Provincial Election Fears Realized

Letter to the Editor, The Estevan Mercury: Feb. 20, 2008

In the recent provincial election, Brad Wall ran his campaign on slogans. One being that he was going to make Saskatchewan better for business, and the other one being "fear and hope".

While he was saying these things, my fear was that the Saskatchewan Party was going to go down the same road as the Devine government did in the 1980s. My hope was the right wing had learned from Devine's mistakes, and wouldn't go there again.

Well, I now know my fears were correct. One of the first things Brad Wall and the Sask. Party have done is to introduce legislation stripping away workers rights in this province.

That is exactly what Devine did in his first few months of office. If Brad Wall is going to stay true to the "Devine" politics then I fear one of his next moves will be to reduce the number of occupational health and safety offices in this province, which I fear will create another Shand Power Plant accident. Three people lost their lives and many were injured, some impaired for the rest of their lives.

I find it ironic that the Sask. Party is attacking labour at a time in our history when business is crying that they can't find workers.

It seems to me Saskatchewan should be a leader in Canada, as we've done so many times in our history, and make our province one attractive place to earn a living, not just for business, but all people.

It's been proven in history that the rich are never satisfied while right wing parties, like the Saskatchewan Party, believe they can appease the wealthy by pushing the working person down.

I'm sure people wouldn't be flocking to places such as Fort McMurray, Alberta, if it weren't for the opportunity to make a good living. Business always cries every time there is one increase in the minimum wage, saying they won't be able to make a go of things. But, I have yet to hear of any employers going out of business because they were to nice to their employees, and you sure don't hear or see anything about how big business makes millions and pays no tax.

Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned, and the last fish caught, will the rich people in this world realize we cannot eat money.

Lorne Wagner
Bienfait, SK