Urgent action needed in schools and classrooms buckling under pressure of 4th wave
REGINA - Today, Leader of the Official Opposition Ryan Meili, joined by Opposition Education Critic Carla Beck, called on the Sask. Party government to introduce self-isolation requirements for all kids who are close contacts to positive COVID-19 cases. They also called for teachers and school staff to be included in mandatory vaccine requirements and for rapid testing and contact tracing resources to be provided to schools and daycares.
“It makes absolutely no sense for kids to be excluded from our current public health order. Right now, unvaccinated kids who have been in close contact with someone sick with COVID-19 can still go to crowded daycares and classrooms,” said Beck. “It doesn’t just fly in the face of what the medical community has been telling this government for months, it’s downright dangerous.”
Saskatchewan kids are currently exempt from isolation requirements under Saskatchewan’s current public health order, despite a full third of Saskatchewan schools having been hit by COVID-19. In the last seven days, unvaccinated children and youth made up nearly one third of all new cases. With hundreds of cases reported among kids in September, Saskatchewan pediatrician Dr. Ayisha Kurji told the media that the government’s plan is “putting our kids at unnecessary risk.” Despite the Premier claiming rapid tests were available across the province, schools continue to report barriers to accessing these important tools for limiting COVID-19 transmission.
“Scott Moe's choice to treat this school year like we aren’t in a pandemic was a mistake. He had the science, he had the roadmap for a safe September and he chose not to act,” said Meili. “ Scott Moe needs to get back to work and re-introduce science-based measures that will keep kids and school staff safe. It’s not too late to take steps to protect our kids and save the school year.
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Poor working conditions, favouritism, $300K travel nurse pay at issue
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition released a letter signed by 49 emergency room nurses in Saskatoon. The letter slams the Sask. Party government for failing to support Saskatchewan nurses and curb the province’s reliance on expensive out-of-province travel nurses.
REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Critic for First Nations and Métis Relations Betty Nippi-Albright hosted a Day of Action with Indigenous leaders from Nekaneet First Nation, Yellow Quill First Nation, Waterhen Lake First Nation, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Carry The Kettle First Nation, Key First Nation and the residential school support team from Yorkton Tribal Council. Together, they continue to draw attention to the Sask. Party government’s disregard for the Duty to Consult process.
MOOSE JAW - Today, the Official Opposition stood with Taylor Enns, president of the Moose Jaw Firefighters Association, and Brayden Dutchak, the son of a cancer survivor. Together, they called on the Sask. Party government to reopen Saskatchewan’s only hyperbaric chamber.
Records show former Sask. Party Finance Minister lobbied for Calgary surgery scheme on behalf of a major Sask. Party donor
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition grilled the Premier and his Minister of Health after the Minister misled the public, claiming that he had not been lobbied by a former Sask. Party MLA when Saskatchewan's official lobbyist logs show the exact opposite.