NDP commits $150 million to education, addressing overstaffing and mental health supports

The Saskatchewan NDP has launched its first education promise of the 2020 campaign season.

In front of Lawson Heights School in the Saskatoon Northwest riding Thursday, NDP candidate Gillian Strange took aim at the incumbent in the riding, the Saskatchewan Party’s Gordon Wyant — who was the province’s education minister.

“I’m one of the 14 candidates who are teachers in this election. We are here because the Sask. Party has failed us,” she said. “This ‘worst in the country’ school reopening plan (by the Sask. Party) has increased stressload for school staffs, for families and most destructively for our students.”

Strange said NDP Leader Ryan Meili inspired her to run, coining him “that future premier.”

Meili then unveiled the election promise of an investment of $150 million in Saskatchewan schools, including $125 million dedicated to dealing with understaffing at the school division level to create smaller class sizes, safer schools and student supports.

“Scott Moe will tell you we can’t afford to do this. We can’t afford not to … It’s absolutely crucial,” Meili said.

An additional $10 million will go to mental health supports. Meili said the funding will also include building new schools and working with other schools to expand.

“We’ll build the schools, but we’ll also make sure the staff is in there to take care of the kids,” he said.

Meili claimed the Sask. Party “stopped counting class sizes back in 2013.” The only reports Meili has heard were directly from educators.

“We’re still hearing those numbers, 30-plus kids … We’re also seeing the studies that show that any more than 15 kids in a class makes it really difficult to do physical distancing,” he said.

Meili commended the school divisions for their work in reopening schools but mentioned that they did it despite Moe, not because of Moe.

“They’ve done an incredible job, but they’ve done it without any support and without any guidance,” Meili claimed.

The remaining $15 million for education in the commitment will be rolled out within the NDP campaign, according to Meili.

He also recommitted his stance on minimum wages. After an increase of 13 cents was announced Thursday morning, if elected, Meili said his party would raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour.