REGINA – Today Carla Beck, Official Opposition Critic for Labour, called on the Premier and the Sask Party government to immediately deploy rapid COVID-19 testing kits to employees of Prairie Pride Natural Foods Inc. Confirmed cases at the plant have doubled since the outbreak was declared on February 19 but wide-scale testing of plant employees has still not been implemented.
Open the Books: Wotherspoon calls on government to release third quarter report
REGINA - Today Official Opposition Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon called on the Sask. Party government to release the third quarter financial report for the 2020-21 fiscal year.
“The Sask. Party’s decision to delay the budget and hide their plans from Saskatchewan people is bad enough,” said Wotherspoon. “But there’s absolutely no reason why they should be hiding last year’s finances two months after the end of the third quarter - especially since all the large Crown corporations have released their reports.”
Meili calls on Sask. Party government to ensure North Battleford Lighthouse stays open
On the news that the North Battleford Lighthouse emergency shelter is set to close due to lack of funding, Official Opposition Leader Ryan Meili issued the following statement:
“Saskatchewan is in the midst of two public health crises. The COVID-19 pandemic, and the overdose crisis that is taking a brutal toll in lives across our province.
This government has been completely absent when it comes to the most vulnerable and has ignored the needs of communities like the Battlefords.
It is unacceptable that the Sask. Party government would allow the crucial work the North Battleford Lighthouse does in service of the most vulnerable to be shut down due to lack of funding.
I am calling on Premier Scott Moe to act now and ensure proper funding is put in place to keep the North Battleford Lighthouse open.”
Extendicare pays out $43 Million in dividends after tragic year for residents
REGINA – In light of Extendicare’s Year-End shareholder meeting today, Matt Love, Official Opposition Critic for Seniors, renewed calls for the Sask Party government to end for-profit long-term care in Saskatchewan. Despite reports of chronic understaffing and overcrowding, leading to the province’s deadliest COVID-19 outbreak, Extendicare Inc. still managed to return a record $43 million in dividends to its shareholders.
Statement by Official Opposition Critic for SGI Aleana Young on the Sask. Party government’s u-turn on SGI rebates
The statement reads as follows:
“With so many families and businesses stretched and struggling to make ends meet, the news of an SGI rebate is welcome news.
But it is hard to give the Sask. Party government any credit for their cynical U-turn on this issue just months after referring to the Saskatchewan New Democrats campaign pledge as a “vote-buying scheme”.
Statement by Official Opposition Health Critic Vicki Mowat on Rapid COVID-19 testing in Saskatchewan
In response to the government’s announcement of a plan to expand rapid testing kit use in Saskatchewan, Official Health Critic Vicki Mowat released the following statement:
“It is promising to see a plan in the works to deploy rapid testing in Saskatchewan, but the government’s announcement was really light on details. There was no information on when this tool will actually be used in the fight against COVID-19. The news today is better than nothing, but how is it that we have had access to these tests for months and they haven’t even finished developing a tender for delivery?