Extendicare Hires Sask Party Donor To Help Spin Dismal Pandemic Response

SASKATOON - Official Opposition Critic for Seniors Matt Love raised concerns that the Sask. Party government didn’t act swiftly in response to Extendicare’s abysmal COVID-19 response in Saskatchewan due to a cozy relationship with Extendicare’s PR firm.

“Families in Saskatchewan are outraged at the tragic scale of death at Extendicare Parkside and calling for real change, including the end to for-profit care that is failing our seniors,” said Love. “But the Sask. Party has refused to act. We may now know why.”

The latest CBC story on Extendicare in Saskatchewan contains a PDF that lists “Sarah Del Giallo” as the author. Del Giallo is a Senior Consultant, Corporate Affairs & Communications at the lobbying and public relations firm Enterprise Canada. Enterprise Canada donated $1,200 to the Sask. Party in 2019. Enterprise Canada also employs former United Conservative Party of Alberta president Erika Barootes as their Vice President for Western Canada. Barootes campaigned for the Sask Party in Saskatoon Eastview during the last election campaign.

“Extendicare and the Sask. Party government repeatedly passed the buck throughout the course of the outbreak at Extendicare Parkside,” said Love. “While families were grieving and worrying for their loved ones, the Sask. Party was working to protect their friends and insiders and Extendicare was bringing in extra PR staff instead of extra healthcare staff. That’s not right, and Saskatchewan people deserve better.”

Melissa Lantsman, a former spokesperson for Ontario Premier Doug Ford and now Enterprise Canada’s Vice President for National Public Affairs has also lobbied for Extendicare during the pandemic and is now the Conservative Party of Canada candidate for the next federal election in the electoral district of Thornhill.

-30-

Latest posts

JEREMY COCKRILL IS FORCING HEALTHCARE WORKERS TO A STRIKE VOTE — AND HIS OWN COMMUNITY WILL PAY THE PRICE

Pattern Of Failed Bargaining Attempts Mean Workers Leaving For Good And Putting System In Increasing Danger: Roy
NORTH BATTLEFORD – Carla Beck’s team is in Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill’s own riding today, calling him out for forcing 14,000 desperately needed healthcare workers to vote on a strike as they have gone four years without a contract.

CARLA BECK’S TEAM CALLS FOR ACTION TO SUPPORT SASKATCHEWAN PRODUCERS IN WAKE OF DAMNING REPORT ON PRODUCERS BEING SHORTED AND SQUEEZED

Agriculture Producers Association Of Saskatchewan Says Costs Rising, Farm Share Falling For Saskatchewan Producers
REGINA – Carla Beck’s team, while taking in Ag in Motion in Langham, is calling on Scott Moe and the Sask. Party to take action to improve the bottom line for producers.

THE SASK. PARTY CLAIMS ABOUT IMPROVING SAID PROGRAM DON’T MATCH THE REALITY OF CLIENTS WHO ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO GET BY

Scott Moe, Sask. Party Focused On Photo Ops & Political Spin While Those In Need Suffer
REGINA – Today, Carla Beck’s team is calling out the Sask. Party for their continual failures to provide sufficient support for SAID clients here in Saskatchewan.

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.

NDP Caucus Office