SASKATOON - This week Everett Hindley, Minister for Seniors, told the media his government had implemented recommendations from the Ombudsman’s report into the deplorable care at Santa Maria in Regina. That’s flat out wrong. Not only has the government not operationalized the vague and unenforceable Program Guidelines for Special Care Homes, they still do not publicly report how they are being met on a facility-by-facility basis.
“Premier Moe and his government’s policy on seniors’ care in this province has been ‘out-of-sight, out-of-mind’,” said Matt Love, Official Opposition Critic for Seniors. “These are our parents, our siblings, our loved ones who have been outright forgotten and ignored by this government. Their treatment is nothing short of inhumane.”
Saskatchewan is one of the only provinces in Canada that does not conduct unannounced LTC inspections, and the province has no provincial care standards in place to protect residents. By comparison, Newfoundland and Labrador conducted 1,400 visits of their long-term care facilities over a six-month period. They had zero LTC deaths due to COVID-19.
“This problem didn’t start this year, the Sask. Party government has been ignoring reports about this issue for over a decade. Unfortunately, the consequences of those decisions were made fatal by this pandemic,” said Love. “Despite the best efforts of hard-working front-line health care staff, the system is broken. They’ve chosen to ignore the calls for better, humane care for our seniors. They own this.”
The Saskatchewan NDP has been calling for years for changes to our seniors’ care and for the implementation of recommendations provided by reports submitted by both the Provincial Auditor and Provincial Ombudsman. Some examples include:
“It is shockingly clear how little this government prioritizes seniors and their care, as showcased by their recent announcement of funding from the COVID contingency fund which had $0 earmarked for seniors or long-term care improvements,” said Love. “This despite just grappling with Saskatchewan’s deadliest outbreak just months before.”
Love and the Official Opposition are calling on Premier Moe and his government to immediately:
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.