REGINA – The opposition's private members bill aimed at keeping jobs in Saskatchewan has failed to make it to the floor for second reading.
On Tuesday, Energy and Resources critic Sally Housser moved for immediate second reading of her bill, The Public Works and Services (Prioritizing Local Jobs) Act, which features numerous provisions requiring the government to prioritize hiring of Saskatchewan residents, building trades, affiliated workers, apprentices, and Indigenous people for projects, and to publicly report on their progress throughout construction.
But the motion needed unanimous consent, and government MLAs voiced a "no" response. What it means is the bill is now likely to not get any further, with the session due to wrap up on Thursday.
In speaking to reporters both Housser and NDP Labour critic Nathaniel Teed expressed their disappointment over the turn of events.
"Honestly, I cannot see anything more common sense than when we're building projects with public dollars, that it's Saskatchewan workers who should be prioritized," said Housser.
"This is about building a labour force of the future, this is ensuring we have the apprentices, ensuring Indigenous people are seeing the benefit and above all ensuring that when public dollars are being spent that it the people of Saskatchewan who are seeing the benefit."
The provincial government has been touting its efforts this week to prioritize Saskatchewan workers. At a media event Monday, Minister of SaskBuilds and Procurement Sean Wilson pointed to latest numbers showing that 94 per cent of procurement went to Saskatchewan firms.
Housser was bewildered that the government would not agree to her legislation, given their stance already.
"The government says this is something they are doing anyways, I say we'll put it in writing," Housser said. "That could be easy to do, we're already doing it. Let's put it in writing. But that's something they refuse to do today. Quite frankly it's disappointing."
