REGINA – Official Opposition Leader Ryan Meili sounded the alarm today as the Sask. Party government continues to ignore the action needed to fight COVID-19 variants in Saskatchewan, and called for a rethink of the government’s vaccine roll-out.
“This Premier’s weak and ineffectual half-measures have failed to prevent the severe second and now third waves of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan,” said Meili. “While the Premier repeatedly states that he would change nothing in his government’s response, Saskatchewan has led the country in cases for most of 2021. Now Regina, Moose Jaw, Weyburn and other parts of the province face alarming outbreaks of more contagious and more deadly variants. This hurts Saskatchewan people and further prevents any meaningful economic recovery.”
Meili noted that yesterday’s COVID-19 update showed 202 hospitalizations with 44 ICU patients, pointing to a strain on the health care system that cannot be sustained in the long term. The Health Minister’s only plan is to transport Regina ICU patients to Saskatoon.
“The fact is, variants are a game-changer, but Scott Moe is stuck in the same ‘do-nothing’ mentality that put us in this spot in the first place,” said Meili. “Because the variants are hitting younger people harder, and changing the pattern of hospitalizations, it is vital that the government listen to public health experts and rethink their vaccine strategy to prioritize front-line workers.”
-30-
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.