Question Period (13 April 2026)

From Hansard (13 April 2026)

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Provision of Social Services

Erika Ritchie: — Mr. Speaker, today we are joined by Rae Seidel, a former child-and-caregiver support worker within the Ministry of Social Services. Rae joins us today to share her serious concerns of underfunding, understaffing, and under-resourcing thanks to this Sask Party government. Rae reports caseworkers in her division manage an estimated 80 cases when they were supposed to manage an average of 20.

Why is the Minister of Social Services failing to properly staff these departments and provide them with the necessary tools to do their jobs sustainably?

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Well thank you, Mr. Speaker. And to Rae, welcome to your Legislative Assembly this afternoon. This is a government that truly does value the work that each and every member of our public service, regardless of which ministry it is, but in particular with the Ministry of Social Services and the social workers that we have working, whether that’s in income assistance, whether that’s in child and family programs, or in disabilities, Mr. Speaker. There is a lot of work that is being done in this province, and we value that.

And if Rae would like to, I would be more than happy to meet with Rae following proceedings this afternoon and learn a little bit more about what she’s saying. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

 

Erika Ritchie: — Mr. Speaker, contrary to what the minister just said, he is setting up his staff and those in need of support to fail and leaving them to suffer tremendous moral distress and injury. A direct quote from Rae: “Between the understaffing and the lack of available resources, access to children’s addiction, mental health, education, and behavioural interventions is severely delayed, never achieved, or never even pursued.” And this has tragic consequences for the most vulnerable young people in the ministry’s care, Mr. Speaker, and they deserve so much better.

When will this minister deliver the proper resources to the Ministry of Social Services to look after vulnerable children and their caregivers?

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And again I just want to say thank you to the front-line workers that we have within our ministry and the incredible work that they do, Mr. Speaker.

The ’26-27 budget, the one that was on the floor of this Assembly just a couple of weeks ago: a $1.8 million additional investment that will help keep families together, Mr. Speaker. And that supports youth at risk. When it comes to our kids, this is a government that takes the safety and the support of children in this province extremely seriously.

And when it comes to staffing, like I said previously, I would be more than happy to meet with Rae following the proceedings today to learn a little bit more about what she has seen on the front line. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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