Saskatchewan NDP Backs Campaign To End Parking Fees Charged At Cancer Centres in Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton, Moose Jaw & Prince Albert
SASKATOON – The Saskatchewan NDP is standing with a terminally ill cancer patient in his crusade to end what he describes as “cruel, mean-spirited" parking fees charged to patients receiving cancer treatment.
Dennis Ogrodnick, longtime community champion and former Prince Albert city councillor, has been told that the cancer in his kidneys will kill him. Still, he presses on with a push to end egregious fees charged to park at cancer centres in Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton, Moose Jaw and Prince Albert.
Ogrodnick made a promise to continue fighting these fees to a friend and fellow patient who died of pancreatic cancer this past year.
“I shouldn’t be fighting my government, I should be fighting my disease,” Ogrodnick said. “People with cancer have enough to deal with. This isn’t who we are, this isn’t the Saskatchewan I know and love.”
Ogrodnick said SHA officials have insisted the fees charged for parking are reinvested into healthcare; however, he pointed out the parking is operated by a private company.
“Private companies don’t do things like this for free,” Ogrodnick said. “The Sask. Party are just trying to do everything they can to get me to stop.”
Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck and Rural & Remote Health Shadow Minister Jared Clarke recently met with Ogrodnick in Prince Albert to discuss his advocacy.
“This is the birthplace of Medicare — and that means everyone receives quality and accessible healthcare,” Clarke said. “We don’t support private companies profiting off cancer patients trying to get the treatment needed to save their lives.
“It’s time we deliver healthcare for every person in Saskatchewan, regardless of where they live or the balance in their bank account. We will put an end to this parking fee scam and do what’s necessary to support patients.”
Ogrodnick began writing every Wednesday to Sask. Party Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill in June — to date, he’s only heard from staff and not the Minister directly.
Ogrodnick said health agency officials have tried to tell him the parking fees are intended to make things fair for all cancer patients in the province; however, more than two dozen communities with cancer services offered through the Community Oncology Program of Saskatchewan continue to offer free parking. It appears the policies for Prince Albert, Moose Jaw and Yorkton were changed in 2024 to begin charging for parking — parking charges have long been a reality for patients receiving treatment in Regina and Saskatoon.
“These parking fees are cruel and mean-spirited,” Ogrodnick said. “If Jeremy Cockrill can’t understand that, he shouldn’t be Health Minister. I’m going to advocate for all cancer patients until I die from this disease.”
-30-
Summer Tour Comes As Part Of Ongoing Your Care, Your Say Project
BALGONIE – Carla Beck's team will be hitting the road this summer to talk to people in dozens of rural Saskatchewan communities about the need to deliver big, bold change in healthcare to keep hospital emergency rooms open — and to, at least, provide lifesaving information when they’re closed.
SASKATOON – Perhaps, when he goes before the media this morning, Premier Scott Moe himself can explain to the people of Saskatchewan today why he believe his Ministers should be allowed to spend $10,000 per plane ticket to wine and dine at 30,000 feet while Saskatchewan people on the ground below stack on debt and scrape together pocket change to afford food.
Scott Moe, Sask. Party Getting Left Behind In Push For National, Game Changing Projects
REGINA – Carla Beck's team is calling on the federal government to help advance construction of a long-discussed all-season road connecting the Cigar Lake and McArthur River uranium mines, while criticizing the Sask. Party for failing to deliver critical infrastructure projects despite nearly two decades in government.
Scott Moe, Jeremy Cockrill Can Hold All The Photo Ops They Want, Patients Know The Reality On Hospital Frontlines
REGINA – Carla Beck's team is shining a light on the reality facing patients after 20 years of Sask. Party failures after a flurry of social media posts emerged over the weekend in the wake of a well-known Saskatoon social media personality going public with her own dire experience at the long-overrun Royal University Hospital.