YORKTON - Official opposition Municipal Affairs critic Erika Ritchie was in Yorkton Thursday for a series of meetings she said were all about listening to local concerns.
In a brief meeting with local press on the steps of City Hall ahead of meeting with members of Yorkton Council, Ritchie said the visit was part of a broader NDP initiative that has leader Carla Beck and other members of the NDP Caucus travelling out to communities.
“What we know … (the current government) has stopped listening to the people of Saskatchewan,” said Ritchie.
Rather than just offer positions on possible issues, Ritchie said they want to hear what people say they need.
For example, in speaking with local business people, Ritchie said she heard that locally there was a feeling “of hope and optimism,” but also concerns.
One such concern was the impact of property assessments, with challenges arising from the assessment process.
Asked if that meant it was time for a change in how SAMA does the assessments, Ritchie said that will certainly be studied and discussed, but offered no commitment to change.
Other concerns arose around health care, especially in terms of the impact staffing shortages can have on services being maintained. Ritchie noted that in the last five years Saskatchewan has lost 36,000 people.
“That’s twice the population of Yorkton,” she added, pointing out 600 of those were health care workers which reflects back on the concerns over local services being maintained.
