Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

Meili calls for urgent COVID-19 planning for Northern Saskatchewan

As La Loche faces an outbreak and Northern leaders call for more support, NDP Leader Ryan Meili called on the Sask. Party government to work with leaders in the North on a COVID-19 plan for Northern Saskatchewan.

“We are hearing, loud and clear, the anxiety and frustration of people in the North,” said Meili. “We know that too many of these communities already have less access to health care services and are more likely to face challenges such as crowded housing. It is urgent that the province deliver concrete supports for all communities in the North.”

Meili calls for government to take action, invest in people

NDP Leader Ryan Meili is calling on the government to start investing in people, rather than clinging to spending projections put together prior to the massive economic and health shocks of COVID-19.

“When people are hurting, they need a government that is willing to step up, to invest in what they need,” said Meili. “But our government has done exactly the opposite. They have failed to provide meaningful support for the most vulnerable, including refusing to provide even modest support to food banks to ensure no one in our province goes hungry during this crisis. 

Meili calls for legislative oversight to ensure accountability

As the province releases more information on the state of Saskatchewan’s finances, NDP Leader Ryan Meili wrote to Premier Scott Moe, asking for a plan to ensure appropriate legislative oversight and accountability.

NDP calls on province to match federal support for food banks to meet unparalleled need

With Saskatchewan food banks experiencing a steep drop-off in food donations and a spike in usage of up to 40 to 50 percent in some communities in the wake of COVID-19, NDP Leader Ryan Meili is calling on the province to match federal support with $1.5 million in emergency funding, and to encourage Saskatchewan people to support their local food banks with food or cash donations if possible.

“Families are under incredible stress right now,” said Meili. “Half of Saskatchewan households were living paycheque to paycheque before this crisis hit, and now many of them are having to turn to food banks to feed their families. We need to make sure no family goes hungry as the province faces COVID-19.

Meili calls on Moe to send clear message on pandemic response

Saskatchewan has been fortunate to see decreased numbers of new cases of COVID-19 in recent days. A number of factors, including public willingness to cooperate with the necessary measures, have contributed to our province’s success. For that success to continue, NDP Leader Ryan Meili is emphasizing that we need clear and consistent messaging from provincial leaders on the continued need for physical distancing measures.

“What we have done so far is working,” Meili said. “But it’s too early to say that it has worked. We’ve bought ourselves time that has saved lives and will save more lives if we’re careful. It is too soon to consider relaxing these measures.”

Saskatchewan NDP calls for cohorting of long-term care staff for protection of seniors and healthcare workers

To protect seniors and workers, the Saskatchewan NDP is calling on the province to ensure staff work in only one facility in long-term care and group homes.

“People are understandably very concerned about what an outbreak of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan long-term care homes could mean and are asking the province to do more to protect Saskatchewan seniors,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “Federal guidelines recommend ‘cohorting,’ or grouping staff by ward or facility. Other provinces have already taken this step, and it’s time for Saskatchewan to step up and do the same.'