As 2025 draws to a close, Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck has taken stock of her party's efforts over the past year and laid out a vision focused on building a brighter future for the province. In an exclusive year-end interview from the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina, Beck emphasized the Opposition's role in holding the government to account while proposing concrete solutions for Saskatchewan residents.
Cost of Living and Rent Control Top 2025 Agenda
Beck identified the rising cost of living as the paramount issue facing people in Saskatchewan throughout 2025. She stated that the feeling of working harder but falling behind was a common sentiment in every conversation her party had.
The NDP leader sharply criticized the provincial government's decision to apply the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) to essentials like children's clothing and groceries, a move her party explicitly wants reversed.
The most significant legislative action from the Saskatchewan NDP this past session, according to Beck, was the introduction of a bill to implement rent control in the province. She highlighted the urgent need for this measure, pointing to 41 consecutive months of rent increases affecting an estimated 300,000 renters in Saskatchewan.
Beyond Criticism: Proposing Solutions and Building Trust
Beck stressed that her team's work extends beyond merely criticizing the current government. "Our role in the legislature right now is that of the official Opposition, holding the government to account," she said, "and I think we have done that every day since the last election."
However, she clarified that the NDP is not content with just opposition. The party has focused on bringing forward positive solutions through private members' bills, directly addressing the concerns raised by citizens. Beck contrasted this approach with a government she described as having "run out of ideas and stopped listening," making decisions behind closed doors in Regina.
Strengthening Rural Connections a Key Focus for 2024
Looking ahead, Beck acknowledged an area for continued growth: building stronger connections and trust in rural Saskatchewan. While she noted significant gains and vote swings of over 30 percent in some communities outside major urban centres during the last election, she conceded that more work remains to be done.
"It's our job to demonstrate that not only is better possible," Beck concluded, "but that the Saskatchewan NDP will deliver that bright future that we all want to see for Saskatchewan." The interview, conducted on December 17, 2025, signals a party positioning itself as a government-in-waiting, ready with a platform focused on economic relief, healthcare, and infrastructure for the future.
