NDP Leader Ryan Meili slammed the Sask. Party for expanding the use of private MRIs by contracting with an out-of-province corporate donor that will send the work out of province, letting the wealthy pay to jump the queue instead of developing strategies that retain local talent and actually reduce wait times.
“The Sask. Party is doubling down on a failed experiment that adds pressure to our healthcare system and our Emergency Rooms,” said Meili. “For most people, who can’t afford to pay to jump the queue, this means longer wait times and more strain on the whole healthcare system.”
According to the Sask Tenders website (RQRHA20180611), the $14 million contract for a long-promised MRI clinic in Saskatoon has been awarded to Mayfair Diagnostics, a Calgary-based company that has donated thousands of dollars to the Sask. Party under a previous name, and that has lobbied the province extensively.
As with the private MRI clinic in Regina, Meili says the majority of the scans will be sent to Calgary to be read by Calgary radiologists, contrary to medical best practice. And as with the bid process that led to a private clinic in Regina, Meili says the Sask. Party passed over a bid from a group of local radiologists to go with an out-of-province company that donated and lobbied but that won’t do the work in Saskatchewan.
“The government is putting our public health care system at risk, shutting out local talent, and outsourcing the crucial work of interpreting these scans to out-of-province radiologists who don’t pay taxes here,” said Meili. “That’s not just bad for the Saskatchewan economy, it’s bad medicine. Just like when it comes to building our schools, roads and hospitals, the work of keeping Saskatchewan people healthy should be done right here in Saskatchewan.
Poor working conditions, favouritism, $300K travel nurse pay at issue
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition released a letter signed by 49 emergency room nurses in Saskatoon. The letter slams the Sask. Party government for failing to support Saskatchewan nurses and curb the province’s reliance on expensive out-of-province travel nurses.
REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Critic for First Nations and Métis Relations Betty Nippi-Albright hosted a Day of Action with Indigenous leaders from Nekaneet First Nation, Yellow Quill First Nation, Waterhen Lake First Nation, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Carry The Kettle First Nation, Key First Nation and the residential school support team from Yorkton Tribal Council. Together, they continue to draw attention to the Sask. Party government’s disregard for the Duty to Consult process.
MOOSE JAW - Today, the Official Opposition stood with Taylor Enns, president of the Moose Jaw Firefighters Association, and Brayden Dutchak, the son of a cancer survivor. Together, they called on the Sask. Party government to reopen Saskatchewan’s only hyperbaric chamber.
Records show former Sask. Party Finance Minister lobbied for Calgary surgery scheme on behalf of a major Sask. Party donor
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition grilled the Premier and his Minister of Health after the Minister misled the public, claiming that he had not been lobbied by a former Sask. Party MLA when Saskatchewan's official lobbyist logs show the exact opposite.