Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

NDP calls for closure of childcare centres, support for the sector

With news of two Regina childcare centres temporarily closing their doors due to a family member of a child at one of the centres being tested for COVID-19, NDP Leader Ryan Meili and Education and Childcare Critic Carla Beck called today for the closure of all childcare centres in the province, and for clarity and support for parents and operators. The closure of only those childcare centres attached to schools has caused confusion across the sector.

“Parents and childcare operators are worried about how best to protect kids and families who are accessing child care,” said Meili. “To slow the spread of COVID-19, we need to close all childcare centres, not just those attached to schools, and we need childcare solutions for essential workers that don’t involve grouping those workers’ kids together in significant numbers.”

Statement from NDP Leader Ryan Meili on social services announcement

NDP Leader Ryan Meili issued the following statement in response to the province’s release of a social services pandemic response:

An emergency demands an emergency response. Other provinces acted much more quickly and much more substantially, including Alberta, which committed $30 million over a week ago to support shelters and frontline organizations. 

Meili calls for enhanced supports for Saskatchewan seniors

NDP Leader Ryan Meili called on the government to clarify rules for social distancing at seniors’ residences, for government support to allow seniors to stay in touch with their families and for the government to put a stop to a plan for families to provide care in place of home care staff in at least one facility in Prince Albert. 

“Seniors are among the most vulnerable to COVID-19 and we need to do everything we can to protect them from the spread, while ensuring they are able to stay in touch with family outside seniors residences,” said Meili. “We are hearing from too many people saying that rules are unclear and that staffing levels don’t allow facilities to comply with the rules. This is a time to be investing in both staff and tec

Statement from Ryan Meili on first deaths in Saskatchewan from COVID-19

NDP Leader Ryan Meili issued the following statement in response to the first deaths in the province from COVID-19:

“I first want to say to the friends and family of those who have died that our thoughts are with you in this moment of loss. To the rest of the province, I know that we are all anxious about the impact of COVID-19 on our lives and our families. We will get through this challenging time together, even as we stay apart to slow the spread.

NDP calls for expanded testing and tracing to slow the spread of COVID-19

With the provincial case count up over fifty percent over the weekend showing community transmission is becoming more widespread, NDP Leader Ryan Meili is calling on the province to act aggressively to get ahead of the spread of COVID-19 by expanding testing and tracing in the province.

“We can and must act quickly and aggressively to get ahead of the spread of COVID-19,” said Meili. “Now is not the time to let up -- we should be testing everyone who has the symptoms and rapidly scaling up contact tracing to contain the spread of the virus.”

NDP calls for stepped-up measures to protect the most vulnerable during the COVID-19 outbreak

The Saskatchewan NDP is calling on the provincial government to release a plan to assist low-income and vulnerable people, including providing safe housing for people accessing shelters.

“We see so many people in our communities stepping up to care for people in need: delivering groceries to seniors and making meals for kids living in poverty,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “We need the government to join that effort and recognize that the most vulnerable are at the highest risk. We need to protect and support them not just for their health, but for the health of everyone in this public health crisis.”