Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

MLA Vermette reintroduces suicide prevention bill a 3rd time, as suicide remains a leading cause of death in Northern Saskatchewan.

REGINA – Today, Cumberland MLA Doyle Vermette, Official Opposition Critic for Mental Health and Addictions, introduced Bill 601, The Saskatchewan Strategy for Suicide Prevention Act, 2021. Despite government MLAs previously voting against the same bill in the last legislature, MLA Vermette hopes the government’s new stated focus on mental health will cause them to re-evaluate their vote and introduce a much-needed strategy to address the crisis of Northern suicide. 

Sask. Party broke election promise to seniors, failed to staff up to fight pandemic in long-term care

REGINA - Last night during the consideration of estimates, Seniors’ Critic Matt Love pressed the government for answers on the government’s broken promise to hire 300 Continuing Care Aides (CCAs) in the province’s hard-hit long-term care sector.

During the last election the Sask. Party promised that these 300 CCAs would be included at a cost of $18.4 million for all four years of their mandate. Instead, Budget 2021 cut this commitment by two thirds, allocating  only $6 million for 90 continuing care aides in LTC and 18 in home care.