REGINA - Today, Jobs and Economy Critic Aleana Young addressed the Sask. Party government’s failure to provide timely guidance to local businesses and employees, as the rollout of the proof of vaccination program continues to stumble and flail.
“Two weeks ago, the Premier announced that on October 1, the Sask. Party would launch a proof of vaccination mandate for customers entering businesses like restaurants, gyms, and pubs,” said Young. “Unsurprisingly, there are still so many unanswered questions about this half-baked plan: Why October 1? What are the requirements for employees in the included businesses - customers are expected to be vaccinated, but what about the staff? Why are personal services and retail stores excluded? What’s a business owner supposed to do if a customer refuses to comply? Why didn’t the government make sure the app would work with the GooglePlay store before launching?”
Young noted that liquor and cannabis stores received notice just days ago that the new requirements apply to them, leaving them little time to put staffing and equipment in place and ensure compliance. Young also wrote to Minister Harrison who is responsible for the Business Response Team on September 21, and still has not heard back.
“Out of touch, and out of contact, even with his own officials. We know the Sask. Party only pays lip service to small businesses, and this chronic unwillingness to communicate leaves businesses high and dry, forced to yet pivot again,” said Young “The Sask. Party knows the risk of an outbreak for businesses is massive but instead of doing their homework to create a real plan to mitigate that risk, the Minister has been missing in action. A fully vaccinated workplace with a close contact can carry on business as normal. If an unvaccinated workplace has a close contact, employees have to isolate, the business likely has to close, and another week or two of critical revenues are lost. It may be the final straw for hundreds of struggling businesses across the province and it could have been prevented if this government had come up with a real plan.”
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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.