Saskatoon protest draws attention to Sask. library cuts

People upset about funding cuts to libraries made their voices heard in downtown Saskatoon Friday.

Protestors staged a rally outside the Saskatoon cabinet office on 22nd Street over the lunch hour.

They were there to draw attention to the $3.5 million cut from regional libraries in last month’s provincial budget.

The protests were part of a provincewide network of demonstrations, dubbed Drop Everything and Read.

Participants were encouraged to bring a book and read for 15 minutes in front of their MLA’s office.

The provincial cuts left Saskatoon Public Libraries with an $800,000 budget shortfall.

Morgan is nuts stop the cuts #saveSKlibraries @SaskMLA #skool #yxe pic.twitter.com/M60Qvf2X2G

— Rebecca Hoiseth (@rmrsethy) April 7, 2017

A petition has been circulated in libraries calling for the government to reverse the decision, which has led to layoffs and program cuts across the province.

-with files from JT Marshall and Brent Bosker