Greens are a party for Labour. Deeply embedded in our Core Green Values are the right for people to have safe workplaces, to be treated with dignity and to earn fair wages that keep up with the cost of living. Greens stand behind the same issues that unions stand behind, fighting to support workers’ rights for all. 

Right now, in Saskatchewan, we are entering a true affordability crisis. In particular, the cost of groceries is so high that ensuring that people can afford to feed themselves at minimum nutritional standards is top priority.  This Labour Day, we must ensure that families can afford to feed their children – and that kids aren’t going to school hungry.

Saskatchewan urgently needs to move past our turbulent economy, heavily reliant on the fossil fuel industry, to create sustainable and secure job opportunities for Saskatchewan people. Upon Saskatchewan Greens entering government, we will create guaranteed jobs programs to wipe out unemployment, tackle climate change and address environmental degradation. If you are willing and able to work, there should be a job for you. The government has the means to create jobs where they are needed when the private sector cannot; the government can even guarantee employment for those who lose a job and cannot find another one.

Climate Action will inevitably include employment creation. Saskatchewan people are even needed right now to work in disaster aid, conservation and reclamation management. The over 600 orphaned wells and 36,000 inactive oil wells in the province need to be reclaimed, many for geothermal production; this would create over 10,000 jobs per year.

Our province also desperately needs more workers on the ground helping with community well-being. The Metis Association just declared a state of emergency, responding to an overdose and violence epidemic. Carfentanil, much more lethal than fentanyl, in fact, one of the most dangerous and lethal opioids known, is on our streets right now. There were 80 overdoses in Saskatoon this past week, and every one of those impacts the entire community. These people are loved. Hiring more community workers now will save lives.

The Saskatchewan Greens have long advocated in our election platforms for anti-SCAB legislation. Striking workers should have their right to strike protected and know that companies cannot bring SCAB workers across their picket line. 

This Labour Day and every day we reaffirm our commitment to workers.

Yours in struggle,
Naomi Hunter
Leader of the Saskatchewan Green Party