This article analyzes labor policy, especially that of occupational he
alth and safety, initiated by the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party (N
DP) from 1971 to 1982. The NDP was perceived by Canadian provincial la
bor federations and the Canadian Labour Congress as the government mos
t approximating a European labor party. The provincial labor legislati
on was seen as exemplary, and the occupational health and safety legis
lation as a ''beacon'' for the rest of Canada. This article suggests t
hat the advances in occupational health and safety statute and regulat
ions were a direct response to the government's policy to develop uran
ium mining. In order to pursue a vigorous renewable and nonrenewable r
esource policy, the government maintained that uranium could be mined
''safely.'' This resulted in ''progressive'' health and safety legisla
tion and the reinforcement of the colonial status of people of Indian
ancestry. This policy of growth and development also resulted in joint
venture relationships with multinational corporations and increasing
investments in the north for nonrenewable resource development. Prior
to the landslide defeat of the NDP in 1982 by the Conservative Party,
the richest 5 percent of Saskatchewan people earned as much, in total,
as the poorest 50 percent. Meanwhile, ordinary workers experienced de
clining real wages and increased employment insecurity.