NDP Health Critic Vicki Mowat and Mental Health and Addictions Critic Danielle Chartier will be spending time in Prince Albert and North Battleford this week to gather insight and feedback on the challenges facing the health sector and what an NDP government could do to address them.
“We know how badly Prince Albert needs a second hospital, and we also know from North Battleford’s experience how important it is to build that hospital right, keeping it public and hiring Saskatchewan people and Saskatchewan companies to build it,” Mowat said. “We’re looking forward to hearing from people about the challenges they see in healthcare and what we can be doing to build a brighter and healthier future for everyone.”
Mowat and Social Services Critic Nicole Rancourt will be in Prince Albert today to meet with stakeholders and experts from the Prince Albert Council of Women, Prince Albert Mobile Crisis, S.H.A.R.E., and Catholic Family Services. Mowat and Rancourt along with Chartier will also be hosting a town hall meeting in the community this evening.
On Tuesday, Mowat and Chartier will be in North Battleford for meetings with Catholic Family Services, Battle River Treaty 6 Health Centre, and the Battlefords branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. They will also be hearing from community members at a town hall meeting.
“People are really struggling — 119 people died due to opioids in Saskatchewan last year, suicide is a serious issue in communities across the province, and people aren’t getting the access to mental health and addictions treatment they need,” Chartier said. “We need to do better as a province, and we’re here to learn how as an Official Opposition we can be driving that conversation.”