Today, Aleana Young, Official Opposition Critic for SGI, and Trent Wotherspoon, Official Opposition Critic for Finance, called on the Sask. Party government to provide rebates of $250 to each SGI policyholder to help offset the rising cost of living.
NDP: Get back to the drawing board on surgical backlog plan
Experts, health sector partners need a seat at the table to create a plan that works
REGINA - In light of many in the Saskatchewan medical community voicing concerns over the Sask. Party’s recently announced surgical backlog plan, Official Opposition Leader Ryan Meili is calling on the provincial government to start over and bring together experts, health sector leadership and impacted stakeholders to create a plan that expands capacity in our public health system.
“No one except Scott Moe and Paul Merriman thinks this plan will work. There are tens of thousands of people across Saskatchewan suffering as they wait for care. They can’t afford to have this government fail to get the surgery plan right,” said Meili. “We need to listen to the growing concerns from the experts and medical community and bring those voices to the table to craft a plan that will actually work.”
NDP: Accelerated booster shot program needed to proactively fight fifth wave
SASKATOON - Today, Official Opposition Leader Ryan Meili called for an acceleration of the booster shot program in light of a new UK Health Security Agency study that shows low vaccine protection against the Omicron variant with two doses alone, but increased effectiveness with a third dose.
NDP demands independent inquiry into the Sask. Party’s handling of the pandemic
Fall session revealed more questions than answers on deadly 4th wave
REGINA - With mounting evidence the Sask. Party government put political considerations ahead of a public health response that would have protected Saskatchewan’s health system and saved lives, the Official Opposition is calling for the Premier to commit to a full independent public inquiry into the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We started this session knowing the Premier had ignored Dr. Shahab’s recommendations, buried the modelling, and had ignored doctors and other medical experts,” said Meili. “What’s become clear since, is that Saskatchewan’s health system has been driven to the brink of collapse, SHA leaders are jumping ship, but this government refuses to answer why. The Sask. Party government spent the fall session spinning instead of providing answers to why they continued to put politics ahead of people’s lives during the greatest health crisis of our generation.”
Ombudsman’s investigation highlights need for more staff and legislated standards in long-term care
REGINA - Official Opposition Critic for Seniors Matt Love was joined by Rose Botting today to call for systemic changes to the province’s long-term care system following a critical incident in Long-term Care that led to her mother’s death. An Ombudsman's investigation released in August into the death of Botting’s mother, Frances Sander, underscored lapses in quality of care as well as inadequate processes in critical incident investigations.
“The SHA and Ministry of Health need to pay better attention to what is taking place in our long-term care facilities,” asserted Botting. “This is a systemic issue that impacts many, many seniors, and families. It is not going to get better without proper oversight, and changes to staffing and supervision.”
COVID mismanagement strains already insufficient mental health and addictions supports
REGINA - Today, Lac La Ronge Indian Band Councillor Devin Bernatchez joined the Official Opposition at the Legislature to call attention to how the COVID-19 pandemic is making Saskatchewan’s ongoing suicide, mental health, and addictions crises worse.
“I would like to invite the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions to come to the North and visit Sucker River to see with his own eyes the challenges and struggles that people in my community are facing,” Bernatchez offered. “Losing my cousin 5 weeks ago to suicide was yet another painful reminder for our communities of the tragic losses that are compounded by the shortage of mental health and addictions resources, particularly in Northern Saskatchewan.”