Sask. NDP commits to grow-your-own healthcare strategy
REGINA - Today, the Saskatchewan NDP grilled Scott Moe’s Sask. Party government for its failed health plan and increasing reliance on costly out-of-province travel nurses after a private nursing company released a promotional video of a man firing a taxpayer money gun in a Saskatchewan canola field.
“Travel nurses used to be a one-off, fill-in-the-gap tool. But under this tired and out-of-touch government, travel nurses have become a costly baked-in part of our healthcare system,” said Health Critic Vicki Mowat. “We should be training more Saskatchewan people to become healthcare workers, and skilling-up the folks who are already here. It’s common sense.”
The caption of the taxpayer money gun video reads “POINT OF VIEW: YOU JUST FINISHED YOUR SASKATCHEWAN CONTRACT MAKING $92/HOUR”. “Gimme the Loot”, a song by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., plays in the background.
According to SHA annual reports, the out-of-province travel nurse company in question received $6.2 million from the Sask. Party government over the last four years.
Last month, 49 emergency room nurses penned a letter to the Health Minister. The letter says that differences in pay and benefits, along with the government favouring out-of-province travel nurses for open shifts, are making staff morale worse in Saskatchewan hospitals. The Saskatchewan Union of Nurses predicts that the province is on track to spend a record $70 million on travel nurses in 2024, and its most recent member’s survey suggests that 58% of Saskatchewan nurses are thinking of leaving the province’s health system.
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REGINA — The Saskatchewan NDP and the ALS Society of Saskatchewan are calling on the Sask. Party Minister of Health to immediately launch a full investigation into the Dr. Goodenowe Restorative Health Centre in Moose Jaw.
REGINA – The Saskatchewan NDP is calling on the Provincial Auditor to launch a special investigation into the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety and the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), following the government’s failure to properly maintain and deploy key firefighting aircraft during this year’s wildfire crisis.
SASKATOON – The Sask. Party government is facing serious questions after it was revealed that at least four of the province’s 10 existing air tankers have been grounded during the worst wildfire season in a decade. This is in addition to the brand-new tanker that was grounded.