Internal report shows Sask. Party failed to act to keep seniors safe

REGINA – Today, the Official Opposition released an internal Saskatchewan Health Authority report compiled from a visit by SHA officials to Extendicare Parkside on December 2, 2020. The report flags inconsistencies and lack of PPE available to staff, in addition to concerns raised by frontline workers that they were being “harassed” by the employer if they reported feeling ill and self-isolated at home.

“This inspection took place on December 2nd, before the outbreak had fully spiralled out of control. Why did the Minister sit on this information?” asked Love. “They were told Extendicare was pressuring sick employees to come to work around our most vulnerable people? This is just one of many red flags that this government chose to ignore to fatal consequences.”

Serious concerns around Extendicare’s LTC facilities have repeatedly been brought to government, dating back to the very first CEO tour report in 2013 which identified issues with quadruple bunking of seniors.

The day before the inspection on December 2nd, MLA Love called on the Minister to implement additional protections for Extendicare staff and residents. Minister Hindley cited the existing safety measures then pointed to the fact that the government was hiring 300 CCAs, a promise they promptly broke in the most recent budget.

“What this clearly demonstrates is that this government had more than enough warning signs that there were issues with Extendicare and chose not to act,” said Love. “When you’ve got 1 death for every 14 beds at Extendicare facilities compared to 1 death for every 193 beds at SHA-run homes, I think the families of those residents deserve some accountability. This Minister needs to answer why his government chose to ignore those long-standing issues.”

-30-

Latest posts

TWO WEEKS ON, STILL NO RECEIPTS ON WEEDMARK'S LUXURY PRIVATE JET TRAVEL

Carla Beck's team ramps up calls for receipts, questions pricing of luxury jet
REGINA – Two weeks after questions emerged about the cost of Kevin Weedmark’s private jet travel, Saskatchewan NDP Health Critic Meara Conway says the government has still failed to provide basic answers or receipts.

FOR 160 DAYS, SCOTT MOE'S ENVIRONMENT MINISTER HAS STONEWALLED ON THE SHERWOOD-AREA DATA CENTRE

Carla Beck’s Team Demands Release of Environmental Assessments, Answers to Public Concerns

REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is calling out Scott Moe’s Environment Minister for refusing to answer basic questions core to her job concerning the massive Sherwood-area hyperscale AI data centre.

CARLA BECK’S TEAM CALLS ON SASK. PARTY TO MAKE PUBLIC LOCATIONS OF 30-PLUS DATA CENTRES UNDER REVIEW

Sherwood-area Data Centre Was Quadrupled In Scale Despite Zero Public Consultation
REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is calling on Scott Moe and the Sask. Party to publicly disclose the locations of more than 30 proposed data centre developments his government says are currently being considered by the provincial government.

CARLA BECK’S TEAM CALLING ON MOE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR FARMERS AND HARVEST

Five-Point Plan Action Plan Needed As Producers Face Delayed Harvest, Soaring Input Costs and Crop-Quality Losses

REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is calling on the Moe government to provide immediate financial relief to farmers dealing with a delayed harvest, deteriorating crop quality, soaring production costs and growing trade uncertainty.

NDP Caucus Office