Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

NDP raises alarm over death in ER and growing wait times

After reports that a patient died in a Saskatoon emergency room because of overcapacity pressures and armed with new numbers showing Emergency Room wait times continuing to climb in Saskatoon and Regina, NDP Health Critic Vicki Mowat called today for the Minister of Health to present a plan to address the emergency.

"Frontline workers are raising the alarm that our Emergency Rooms are so overtaxed that people are dying as a result,” said Mowat. “This government’s failures are letting people down."  

Meili proposes grain drying relief for SK producers

Because the Sask. Party government has failed to act, Saskatchewan NDP Leader Ryan Meili is calling for relief for Saskatchewan producers facing steep grain drying bills. Today he wrote to the Prime Minister proposing an expedited rebate for farmers.

“This has been a wet year for Saskatchewan producers, and now they are facing high natural gas bills for grain drying because the Sask. Party failed to implement a plan to protect them from the federal backstop,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “The Premier has the power to do something about it, but he has not. That failure to take action has let down Saskatchewan producers.”

NDP, families look to implement a suicide prevention strategy

With families from Northern Saskatchewan who have lost loved ones to suicide in attendance at the Legislature, NDP Critic for Northern Affairs Doyle Vermette introduced Bill No. 618 — The Saskatchewan Strategy for Suicide Prevention Act, 2018.

“Suicide is an issue that affects far too many families throughout Saskatchewan,” Vermette said. “I’ve been to far too many funerals for young people, and I’ve seen firsthand the devastation caused by the lack of mental health supports. It’s time for a suicide prevention strategy.”

NDP raises alarm over “extreme overcapacity” in Saskatoon hospitals

Today New Democrat Leader Ryan Meili released documents detailing capacity issues at the Royal University Hospital and St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon, which limit “the system’s ability to ensure patients are receiving the care they need” over the weekend.

“The Sask. Party government keeps saying everything is fine in our hospitals, despite mounting evidence that hallway medicine is the norm,” said Meili. “These documents clearly show that people are being let down when they go to the hospital. They’re not getting the care they need.”

NDP, solar energy workers push for changes to Sask. Party’s “devastating” net billing program

Today at the Legislature, the NDP was joined by Brenden Owens and Nolan Dezotell of Prairie Sun Solar to push the Sask. Party to change course on its decision to kill the solar energy industry in Saskatchewan.

“The solar industry was booming in this province – people wanted to take part, jobs were being created, and it was helping reduce emissions,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “It was short-sighted and destructive for this government to pull the plug on this successful industry.”

NDP pushes Sask. Party to stop roadblocking federal transport funding

On the first anniversary of the shutdown of Greyhound Canada services in Western Canada, and eight months after the Sask. Party walked away from $10 million in federal intercity transport funding, the Saskatchewan NDP is pushing the Sask. Party government to stop leaving federal money on the table and work with the feds on an intercity transit strategy. 

ATU Canada, the Amalgamated Transit Union, is calling today on all levels of government to develop a strategy to build a new intercity transit service for future generations in the wake of the loss of Greyhound and STC.