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.”
Across the province, people grappling with mental health and addictions issues were struggling to access the care they needed pre-pandemic. In the aftermath of a disastrous fourth wave, Saskatchewan’s health care system has now been pushed to the brink and the scarcity of resources for those dealing with mental health and addictions issues is even more apparent.
“Since finally passing our suicide prevention bill in April on the third try, the Sask. Party government has made no progress addressing the ongoing suicide crisis,” stated Doyle Vermette, Official Opposition Mental Health and Addictions Critic. “This government’s woeful handling of the fourth wave has further strained the already insufficient mental health care resources that were in place pre-pandemic.”
Vermette’s suicide prevention private member’s bill called for the government to have begun consultations by October to craft a suicide prevention plan. Mental health and addictions issues were not being adequately countered before COVID-19, but the challenges brought on by the government’s failure to contain the pandemic has worsened an already critical situation.
-30-
For more information please contact:
Brock Bowman
306-519-9549
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.