Minister of Health Paul Merriman’s last public sighting was over a month ago, on August 25, when he claimed his government’s public health response to the 4th wave was going just fine and that the Government of Saskatchewan was “not looking at any change in direction.” Here’s what’s changed since the Minister last showed up to work:
NDP calls on Agriculture Minister to act urgently to protect producers unable to fulfill grain contracts
REGINA – Today, Official Opposition Critic for Agriculture Trent Wotherspoon wrote to Agriculture Minister Dave Marit calling on the provincial government to take immediate action to protect producers who are unable to deliver the volume of grain to fulfill the terms of their forward grain contracts as a result of this summer’s devastating drought and that are now facing unreasonable penalties that could bankrupt them.
NDP: Prince Albert health system buckling under pressure of 4th wave
PRINCE ALBERT - Today, Leader of the Official Opposition Ryan Meili visited Prince Albert to meet with health workers and community leaders about the COVID-19 pressure pushing the region’s health system to the brink. He also called for the Premier and Health Minister to urgently request military and other help from the federal government to support hospitals before it is too late.
“There has been a lot of attention paid to the extreme pressures on our hospitals in Regina and Saskatoon, but as the gateway to the North, Prince Albert’s hospital and health workers are also buckling under the mounting pressure,” said Meili. “In recent weeks we have heard tragic stories of infants being hospitalized with COVID-19 and resources for premature babies being diverted for COVID care. It didn’t have to come to this.”
Sask NDP calls for overhaul of OH&S
REGINA - Today, Saskatchewan’s Official Opposition called on the Sask. Party government to expand protections for all workers, including gig and contract workers. This comes following consultation with workers, advocates, and labour leaders as the provincial government undertakes a regular review of Saskatchewan’s occupational health and safety standards.
“We know that the very nature of work has been rewritten since the last review of OH&S. The ongoing pandemic has exposed the challenges working people are up against,” said Labour Critic Carla Beck. “Saskatchewan needs OH&S provisions that recognize both shifting employee-employer relationships and the burdens of work in the twenty-first century.”
Opposition calls on Scott Moe to tap military and all public options in COVID-19 fight
Scott Moe gambled with Saskatchewan’s health system and lost
Today, Official Opposition Health Critic Vicki Mowat called on the provincial government to ensure all available options – like the military, the civil service, and support from other provinces – are utilized to support Saskatchewan’s health system on the brink of crisis.
Transparency and accountability needed in the absence leadership from the Premier
SHA projections predict significant spike in cases and hospitalizations
SASKATOON- In light of new information forecasting significant spikes in case rates, hospital, and intensive care admissions, Leader of the Official Opposition Ryan Meili called on Premier Scott Moe to release all modelling that informed his choice to drop all public health restrictions and take no new action since July, to provide current modelling, and to resume weekly COVID-19 briefings.