March 7, 2013 Sask NDP agree with Thomas Mulcairs Dutch disease diagnosis Opposition MLAs vote against

Saskatchewans resource sector Today in the Legislature, Saskatchewan NDP MLAs voted against a motion disagreeing with federal NDP leader Thomas Mulcair for calling western Canadas resource sector a disease. Opposition members stood united in their support of Mulcairs flawed position when they voted against the following resolution: That this Assembly expresses its disagreement with NDP Leader Thomas Mulcairs contention that the western Canadian energy and resource sector is responsible for the decline in central Canadas manufacturing sector which Mr. Mulcair has referred to as Dutch disease. The motion passed with the support of Saskatchewan Party MLAs. After months of refusing to take a position in support of Saskatchewans resource industry, we finally know where the NDP stand on this important issue, Saskatchewan Party MLA Darryl Hickie said. They have come down on the side of their federal NDP leader and against our growing resource sector in western Canada. The oil and gas sector alone pumps billions of dollars into the provincial economy every year and employs tens of thousands of people. By supporting Mr. Mulcairs Dutch disease diagnosis, the Saskatchewan NDP are once again showing they are out of touch with Saskatchewan. This weekend, the Saskatchewan NDP elect a new leader. The two leadership candidates who are sitting MLAs Trent Wotherspoon and Cam Broten did not attend todays vote. This was the first standing vote of the spring session and the two NDP leadership candidates werent even there to vote, Hickie said. That doesnt show much leadership. For more information, call Steve Rennick or Kim Gillies at 787-4300.