Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

“Don’t let good businesses fail because of bad policy”: NDP calls for expanded supports and better communication for Saskatchewan small businesses

Today, with another month of business lease payments coming due, NDP Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon called on the provincial government to act quickly to ease restrictions on the province’s Saskatchewan Small Business Emergency payment program that leave many struggling businesses unable to access needed support. Specifically, Wotherspoon questioned the government’s refusal to support businesses that are allowed to reopen but are still facing a massive drop in revenues, on top of their earlier refusal to support businesses that hadn’t been forced to close in March but had seen a major loss in revenue.

“Too many good businesses that need support are being let down by this government’s narrow criteria,” said Wotherspoon. “This crisis has hit businesses hard, and whether you’re an electrician who saw your work dry up or a retail owner who’s opening now but seeing almost no one come through the door, you deserve support right now. That’s our message to the government: base the support on need, and don’t let good businesses fail because of bad policy.”

Unearthed CEO Tour report reveals major problems in long-term care

Today the NDP responded to serious concerns raised by the CEO Tour report released late Friday afternoon and repeated their call for legislated minimum care standards supported by adequate government funding.

“This report confirms what we’ve heard from seniors and family members: staff give so much of themselves, and their work is appreciated, but they struggle to keep up in an environment of inadequate funding, understaffing, and crumbling infrastructure,” said NDP Seniors critic Danielle Chartier. “It’s no wonder the Sask. Party didn’t want to release this report, because it shows exactly why we need changes to our long-term care system. Changes that treat seniors with the dignity they deserve. That starts with funded and legislated minimum care standards.”

NDP Leader Ryan Meili statement on spill at Co-op Refinery

After news of an oil spill at the Co-op Refinery in Regina, NDP Leader Ryan Meili issued the following statement calling on the Premier to act in protection of public safety:

The alarming news of a recent oil spill into Regina’s wastewater system is one more reason the lock-out at the Co-op Refinery needs to end — now. This dispute has gone on far too long, and is putting lives and vital infrastructure at risk. The Premier has the power to end this lock-out through legislation, but has chosen not to.

For the sake of public safety if nothing else, it’s time for Scott Moe to show leadership and bring this damaging dispute to an end. When the Legislature reconvenes, we expect him to act quickly to do just that, and to ensure a full investigation of the circumstances leading to this spill.

NDP joins concerned family member of long-term care residents in calling for legislated minimum care standards

NDP Leader Ryan Meili and Seniors’ Critic Danielle Chartier today urged the Premier to listen to the experience of Dianne Morgan, who has stepped forward to share her parents’ experience with Saskatchewan’s Long-term Care system, instead of doubling down on defending his government’s non-legislated and unenforceable guidelines in long-term care homes. 

Dianne’s parents both suffered from inadequate care as residents in a care facility in Regina as recently as last year. She described her mother’s experience as horrible, with four residents to a room and nothing but a curtain on the washroom door, and residents waiting over an hour for call bells to be answered because there were never enough staff. Dianne raised concerns about her mother’s dramatic 50 lb. weight loss and bedsores. 

NDP calls for minimum care standards for long-term care homes, release of CEO Tour report

With conditions in long-term care homes under scrutiny across Canada, NDP Health Critic Vicki Mowat and Seniors’ Critic Danielle Chartier called today for the release of the CEO Tour report, and for the reestablishment of minimum care standards and staffing ratios, which the Sask. Party scrapped in 2011. 

“The situation in Ontario and Quebec shone a light on deplorable conditions in seniors’ care homes. We know that Saskatchewan has followed Ontario’s playbook of scrapping legislated care standards and expanding for-profit care, and has seen many of the same problems Ontario has,” said Chartier. “While we are thankful this pandemic has not yet entered our long-term care homes, that does not mean similar conditions don’t exist or that our system could manage if it does. Now is the time to dedicate the resources needed to ensure seniors get the care they need — this means re-establishing minimum care standards and ensuring funding is adequate to meet those standards.” 

“Pre-existing service disruptions” widespread for years, NDP calls for action on rural healthcare access

In response to yesterday’s Sask. Party government announcement that three of the 12 recently shuttered rural ERs will remain closed indefinitely due to “pre-existing service disruptions,” the Saskatchewan NDP is joining rural healthcare advocates in calling on the provincial government to act quickly to address funding shortfalls and staffing shortages so that Saskatchewan people can access the healthcare they need.

“According to data we obtained through Freedom of Information, 11 of these facilities have faced years of service disruptions — no wonder residents worry that the current closures could become permanent,” said NDP Health Critic Vicki Mowat. “Especially with experts warning us to prepare for a possible second wave of COVID-19, now is the time to fix these long-standing issues and address the gaps in rural healthcare in our province.”