More than a dozen people from the communities of Grenfell and Broadview joined the NDP at the Legislature today to call on the government to restore publicly funded, publicly delivered long-term care in Grenfell. This call has been consistently made in the nearly seven months since the long-term care centre in Grenfell was shut down because it was riddled with mold and asbestos.
“The people of this community have been working tirelessly to raise money to get their facility back, but they’ve been left in the dark by the Sask. Party,” said NDP Seniors Critic Danielle Chartier. “They don’t want those jobs that serve the community to go to a private corporation, they want them to remain public.”
“It’s been heartbreaking to see seniors from Grenfell relocated far from their home communities, their support networks and sometimes their spouses,” said Mary Pillar from Grenfell, a care worker from Grenfell who worked at Pioneer Village until it closed and now commutes to work elsewhere. “My message to the Premier is simple: Grenfell needs a new, publicly funded care home.”
“We are very concerned that the government will push ahead with a private nursing home company or personal care home to fill the gap, instead of ensuring that families in Grenfell and surrounding area have access to affordable, publicly delivered nursing home care,” said Sandra Seitz, President of CUPE 5430, who represents healthcare workers in the area. “It is time for the government to step up to the plate and ensure that Grenfell has a public long-term care home in its community.”
“Communities throughout the province are struggling with their long-term care centres because the Sask. Party simply let infrastructure deteriorate and crumble,” said Chartier. “Now, instead of hearing what residents are saying, they’re opening the door to the private sector coming in and taking over. It’s shameful that these families should have to beg the government to get what they need: a safe, quality, publicly funded long-term care home for Grenfell.”
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.