Today, Saskatchewan NDP Health critic Vicki Mowat introduced a one-clause bill to include employees of the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) in the Public Interest Disclosure Act, the province’s whistleblower legislation.

“The Sask. Party government doesn’t need to wait to protect these hard-working employees—they could do it today,” Mowat said. “After their recent attempts to silence doctors and other health employees, this government needs to make it crystal clear that those who come forward with concerns will be protected.”

Mowat proposed that her bill be passed during this session and called on the government to urgently consult with all public-sector employees on changes to the act to ensure they feel safe coming forward, given that few employees have made use of the existing protections.

The Sask. Party’s Health Minister Jim Reiter said that coverage for SHA employees will be temporarily provided under regulation, which Mowat said does not go far enough.

“We know that the Sask. Party’s cuts to health care are letting people down, and it’s critical that workers are able to speak out about the impact of these cuts,” said Mowat. “If the Minister wants to make it clear that people are free to speak out, he can pass this bill immediately.”