Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

Duncan memos show ongoing interference in local COVID-19 safety measures

REGINA - Today, the NDP Official Opposition released two internal memos written by Minister of Education Dustin Duncan showcasing the extent to which the Minister interfered with local municipal health decisions. These memos contradict the public statements made by the Minister and caused immense confusion for school boards trying to work with their local medical health officers to ensure the health and safety of their students and staff.

“These memos show just how far the Minister has been willing to go to interfere in local health decision-making. Common sense and health policy aren’t dictating these decisions, it’s the Minister’s own politics,” said Carla Beck, Opposition Critic for Education. “It is unfathomable that this Minister would direct school boards to ignore local medical health orders, even in cases where schools in active COVID outbreak are hosting an extracurricular event.”

NDP: Premier needs to apologize to health workers for fourth wave failures

REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Leader Ryan Meili was joined by Carolyn Brost Strom, a public health nurse from Prince Albert to discuss the intense stress and burnout to frontline health workers caused by short-staffing and the Premier’s failures to contain the fourth wave. Brost Strom joined the Sask. NDP in condemning the last-minute decision to no longer allow kids to be vaccinated in schools unless a parent is in attendance which risks reduced vaccine uptake and delays protection to kids now eligible for their vaccines. 

Surgery cancellations continue to rob families of mental and physical well-being

REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Leader Ryan Meili was joined by Stephanie Brad, a Saskatchewan mother of four waiting for the rescheduling of a bladder removal operation, to call on the Sask. Party government to take responsibility for their preventable and tragic mishandling of the pandemic’s fourth wave.

Statement from NDP Opposition Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon in response to the Sask. Party government’s Mid-Year Financial Report

The Mid-Year Financial Report released today shows that the Sask. Party’s failure to contain the fourth wave has not only hurt Saskatchewan's people and our health care system but has also hurt the province's public finances and our economy.

NDP: Expand vaccination leave to parents to get more children vaccinated

SASKATOON - Today, Official Opposition Leader Ryan Meili and Official Opposition Health Critic Vicki Mowat called on the province to expand vaccination leave to parents who need to leave work to take their children to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

NDP calls for Special Committee to study the proposed Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project

REGINA - Today, Opposition Critic for the Water Security Agency Erika Ritchie and Opposition Critic for Agriculture Trent Wotherspoon called upon the Sask. Party government to work collaboratively to strike a special committee of the legislature to study the proposed Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project.

“It’s clear that this project has potential but there are still many unanswered questions. We want to make sure that we’re connecting with all those affected by this project and ensure that all voices are heard as we debate the merits,” said Ritchie. “Doing so in a bipartisan fashion would be the most effective way to achieve the best results.”