Protesters gathered outside of Saskatoon city hall on Friday, drawing attention to what they call the government’s attempt to balance the books on the backs of the most vulnerable.
While 200 people braved the elements, the protesters say the province failed to have a rainy day plan of it’s own and Saskatchewan’s disabled are now left paying the price for their deficit.
“If you guys can afford to give yourselves increases and bail out big companies why can’t you bail out me?” said Roberta Fehr as she teared up saying she is no longer proud to call this province home.
READ MORE: Saskatchewan government reducing income benefits for disabled people
The 52-year-old said at this point her mind is working but her body is slowly shutting down.
She adds her uphill battle could get a whole lot worse along with potentially 2,700 others. Changes to social assistance supplement programs announced as part of the budget will mean Fehr may receive fewer benefits and face some hard decisions to keep a roof over her head.
“The only thing I can take it out of is my budget for my food, which will impact my diabetes and which is already at risk right now.”
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A petition condemning these cuts is now circulating and will be presented to the legislature.
“That’s a brutal thing to do to people that have really very little and have a little chance of fighting back,” said protester Marjaleena Repo.
“Dealing with budget issues at the expenses of the poorest and the weakest and the people who have these kind of problems is so unfair.”
The interim leader of the opposition Trent Wotherspoon was also present at the rally and is asking for a full reversal of the cuts.
“These are callous, they’re mean spirited, they leave people without the security and peace of mind that they deserve. We need a firm and strong commitment from this Premier that he’s going to reserve these callous cuts and not make people pay for his mismanagement.”
READ MORE: ‘My fridge is empty, all the time’: Sask. woman responds to government changes to income benefits
The government has also maintained the changes were to ensure the programs are fair and equitable and address duplicate benefits being paid out for the same need twice.
“The government made these regulations and policies, if they were double stacking, they did to us,” Fehr said.
“Why penalize us? You screwed up.”
On Friday, the provincial government issued this statement to Global News in response to the rally:
“Our government’s commitment to those most vulnerable in our province is unwavering. That will never change. Any planned adjustments to programs have been put on pause to give the new Social Services Minister time to review the situation. Our government has invested well over $3.4 billion to support those with disabilities in Saskatchewan, and they remain our priority.”