NDP calls for “Circuit Breaker” of non-essential services to protect businesses and healthcare system

REGINA — New Democratic Party Leader Ryan Meili announced today that as a result of Premier Scott Moe’s ineffective actions to address the second wave of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan, the NDP is calling for a three-week “circuit breaker” to keep our health care system from being overwhelmed and ensure that businesses and communities don’t face further hardship with longer shut downs.

“Scott Moe ran the election on the premise that the battle against COVID-19 had already been won. Since the election, his government has been too slow to react to the rapidly rising case numbers. The half-measures taken so far have been confusing and ineffective. ” said Meili. “If we want to protect our economy and our businesses, we need to get control of the pandemic. The choice is not between our health care or our economy - it is between a targeted action now or a much more severe lockdown later.”

Case numbers have increased rapidly in the past weeks while the Sask. Party government has moved from stating no new measures would be introduced, to introducing half-measures at the end of last week, to new measures announced yesterday along with a series of reviews that may lead to a lockdown. This is simply not enough. More action is needed.

As part of the circuit breaker that New Democrats are calling for, the following measures should be taken in addition to those which have already been announced:

Close non-essential businesses and allow retail stores to maintain delivery and curbside service
Limit essential businesses to 25% capacity
Allow bars and restaurants to operate with take-out and delivery only
Close sports, fitness and recreation facilities
Close bingo halls and casinos
Keep schools open at Level 3 throughout the province, with support to reduce class sizes
Bring back the Saskatchewan Small Business Emergency Payment Program and fix it to make it more accessible
Provide gap supports - similar to what is offered in Manitoba - for businesses that are not eligible for federal supports
Provide small business innovation grants for business owners that wish to upgrade to online retailing, delivery platforms and virtual service delivery
Bring back the moratorium on residential evictions and stop the clawbacks on housing and income assistance
Supports for businesses to keep their employees on the payroll and emergency supports for workers who still find themselves temporarily out of work

“Scott Moe’s lack of timely and decisive action has put the province at risk of an out-of-control second wave that will overwhelm the health system, cost lives and shutter businesses for good,” said Meili. “We need a consistent, coordinated and properly funded approach that will protect our health care system and our economy. It’s time for a real plan that puts people first.”

Latest posts

POTENTIAL HEALTHCARE WORKER STRIKE ENTIRELY THE FAULT OF SCOTT MOE, JEREMY COCKRILL

Carla Beck’s Team Demands A Fair Deal For Frontline Workers After Four Years Without A Contract
REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is laying the potential of a fall strike involving thousands of healthcare workers squarely at the feet of Scott Moe and his ignorant Health Minister — who seems to cause strikes everywhere he goes — and demanding immediate action to get to the bargaining table and deliver a fair deal.

CARLA BECK DEMANDS PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON SHERWOOD DATA CENTRE AS HEAD OF RM ADMITS THE ‘GENERAL PUBLIC WAS NOT AWARE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON’

Thousands Have Demanded Transparency About Controversial Project, Sask. Party Has Put Up Barriers At Every Turn

REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is demanding Scott Moe and the Sask. Party come out of hiding and commit to a proper public consultation on a contentious data centre in the Rural Municipality of Sherwood after a handpicked official admits nothing of the sort has occurred so far.

SASK. PARTY MOOSE JAW MLAS OFFER MIXED MESSAGES ON CONTENTIOUS DATA CENTRE, CONTINUE TO IGNORE THOUSANDS OF CONSTITUENTS

MLA Megan Patterson Literally Cut A Ribbon With Project’s Proponents One Year Ago
MOOSE JAW – One Sask. Party Moose Jaw MLA says a highly contentious data centre in the Valley View area is dead.

CARLA BECK’S TEAM CALLS ON PREMIERS AT SUMMER MEETING TO STAND FOR PUBLIC HEALTHCARE

Danielle Smith, Scott Moe Openly Vouching For Two-Tier, American-Style Model
REGINA – As Canada’s Premiers gather for a summer meeting in Prince Edward Island, Carla Beck’s team is calling out Scott Moe and Danielle Smith for vouching to privatize healthcare — and calling on other Premiers to take a stand for public healthcare.

NDP Caucus Office