“This is a public health crisis, and Saskatchewan people deserve leadership,” said Vicki Mowat, Saskatchewan NDP Deputy Leader.
“For years, frontline organizations, healthcare workers, and advocates have warned that the province was moving in the wrong direction. The Sask. Party has failed to act, and today Saskatchewan has some of the highest HIV rates in the country.”
A bipartisan working committee could examine prevention strategies, ways to expand access to testing and treatment, improve public education, strengthen culturally appropriate care, and address the social and economic factors contributing to the spread of HIV.
The call comes as new data from Statistics Canada confirms that Saskatchewan has the second highest rate of HIV in Canada, at 3.4 times the national average. The number of cases in Saskatchewan in 2024 was 18.6 per 100,000 population. The national average was 5.5 cases. Last week, Manitoba, where HIV cases are the highest in the country, declared a state of emergency.
Nathaniel Teed, Shadow Minister for 2SLGBTQ Affairs, says the Moe government’s response has been fragmented and inconsistent, particularly in rural, northern, and Indigenous communities where access to testing and treatment remains limited.
“We need all parties, health experts, Indigenous leaders, and community organizations at the same table working toward evidence-based solutions,” said Teed.
“Not only will preventative measures and smart policy save lives. It will also take pressure off our health system in the long run.
“The longer this government delays meaningful action, the more lives will be impacted. It’s time to put aside politics and work together to address this issue. It’s time for change.”
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