Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

New internal documents show Sask. Party actively blocked Crown corporation from enacting masking protections

REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition shared internal SGI documents showing that in August, in line with recommendations being made by medical professionals publicly, the Crown corporation attempted to put in masking requirements to better protect staff in light of a lack of public health order. Government officials with the Crown Investment Corporation quickly stepped in to stop the action from being implemented for August 30th.

“This is now documented proof that this Sask. Party government actively fought internally against the science, putting their own political interests above the health and safety of the people of this province,” said Ryan Meili, Leader of the Official Opposition. “Instead of medical health professionals dictating health policy, it was the Premier’s comments to media which were halting appropriate health precautions in our public sector.”

Sask. Party government uses majority to block debate on releasing Dr. Shahab’s recommendations

REGINA - Today, the Sask. Party government used its majority to shut down the Legislature and block a debate that would require the government to release all the recommendations made by Dr. Shahab since June 1, 2021.

“The government keeps claiming that they have nothing to hide when it comes to Dr. Shahab’s recommendations but they refuse to share his recommendations with the public or the media,” said Vicki Mowat, Opposition House Leader. “It was very clear throughout September and October that the actions of this Sask. Party government and Dr. Shahab’s recommendations were growing further and further apart. The people of Saskatchewan have a right to know what was driving the decision-making process of this government that led to the highest COVID death rate in Canada.”

NDP: Sask. Party delays and mixed messaging risks vaccine roll-out for kids under 12

REGINA - In light of the Sask. Party government’s announcement on the availability of vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 years old, the Official Opposition once again stressed the need for proactive planning to ensure high vaccination uptake and to shelve the rhetoric around vaccination for children and instead focus on clear targeted messaging to address vaccine hesitancy among eligible children and their families.

NDP: Fourth wave failures denied care to those needing it the most

REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Leader Ryan Meili was joined by Sarah Turnbull and her daughter Blake, who lost access to her pediatric therapies as part of the 4th wave health system slowdown and is currently waiting for surgery.

Patients still waiting for answers on organ donation program resumption

REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Leader Ryan Meili was joined by Eden Janzen, a Saskatchewan patient currently on dialysis and waiting for both surgery and a kidney transplant to call on the Sask. Party government to urgently resume the organ donation system and use whatever resources necessary to expediently reduce the waitlist.

“Actions speak louder than words. This needs to be one of this government’s top priorities to urgently resume services and invest more resources to tackle this backlog of their own making,” said Meili. “It’s not fair to patients like Eden, or Jessica Bailey, to have been denied access to this lifesaving program. They deserve so much better from their government.”

NDP introduces Paid Sick Leave in private member’s bill

REGINA - Today, NDP Associate Labour Critic Jennifer Bowes introduced Bill 606, the Saskatchewan Employment (Paid Sick Days) Amendment Act to provide paid sick leave for workers in Saskatchewan.

“We’ve called on the government to listen to workers, doctors and public health officials who have all called for paid sick leave to keep Saskatchewan people,” said Bowes. “The Sask. Party government’s failed pandemic response has made Saskatchewan last in the nation – the highest COVID death rate, and dead-last when it comes to job growth. We need to be doing everything possible to reduce the spread of COVID in workplaces.”