Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

“Maximum capacity”: NDP slam Reiter for the return of hallway medicine during COVID-19 spike

The Saskatchewan NDP called for an explanation from Health Minister Jim Reiter regarding serious gaps in Saskatchewan’s healthcare capacity, with internal memos indicating rising pressures on testing and bed occupancy, and public complaints of immunocompromised patients being left in hallways. NDP Health Critic Vicki Mowat and NDP Leader Ryan Meili were joined by Angela McLean, a woman who spoke out last fall after being left in a crowded hallway in the Pasqua Hospital for nearly a week. 

“We’ve had months to prepare the health system for re-opening,” said Mowat. “Minister Reiter has failed to plan for the health system’s needs in a COVID-19 resurgence and now families and patients are paying the price.”

Saskatchewan NDP: Extend Rental Eviction Moratorium Due to Spike in COVID-19 Cases

In light of the unprecedented surge of COVID-19 cases and testing shortfalls in Saskatchewan, NDP Leader Ryan Meili today called on the Sask. Party Government to extend the rental eviction moratorium and come up with a plan to help landlords and renters. 

The government has announced that eviction hearings for non-urgent matters will begin again starting August 4.

NDP, parents of immunocompromised children call for adequate return to classroom plan

NDP Education Critic Carla Beck was joined by Krysta Shacklock, a Saskatoon mother with an immunocompromised daughter, to call for an adequate plan to get vulnerable kids with compromised immunity back to school safely. 

“Parents want to send their children back to school in the fall, but they haven’t seen a plan from the government that will lead them to believe that it’s possible to do so safely, especially in light of the province seeing a spike in cases of COVID-19 and the government falling behind on testing,” Beck said. “The uncertainty only worsens for the many parents in Saskatchewan when they have immunocompromised children – the Sask. Party has simply failed these parents.”

Statement from NDP Leader Ryan Meili on SHA Apology to the Uko Family

After such a heartbreaking loss, we want our leaders to take responsibility, and to take action. Today, I’m calling on Scott Moe and Jim Reiter to reach out to the Uko family, to make it clear that they will take action to prevent this happening to anyone else.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority’s overdue apology comes at the same time as Tristen Durocher is walking from La Ronge to Regina protesting the government’s lack of action on the suicide crisis, an ongoing overdose crisis is claiming more lives every week, and the average wait time for emergency mental health support is thirteen hours in Regina and Saskatoon.

“It’s inexcusable”: Meili calls for testing to be ramped up

Today NDP Leader Ryan Meili called for the government to release figures on testing wait times and fix the lack of testing capacity in the province that is causing severe access backlogs. He also called for an explanation of why the government had decreased staffing levels at a time when demand and need are rising.

“It’s inexcusable that we are months into the pandemic, but people in the province are having to wait hours on 811 to speak with someone, days more to be called back, only to be told that they will have to wait a week before they can schedule a test,” Meili said. “These delays put the re-opening of our economy and our schools at risk. The government must take immediate action to address this.”

Beck, parents call for clear guidelines and funding for return to classroom plan

NDP Education Critic Carla Beck was joined by Elya Lam, a mother with serious concerns about sending two of her four children to school in the fall, and Saskatoon small business owner Lindsay Sanderson who has a child who should be entering kindergarten, to call for adequate guidelines and necessary funding for students and teachers to return to schools safely.

“I have heard from many teachers and parents from throughout the province and there is hope and a willingness to have students back in the classroom this fall, but there are still many blanks that have not been filled out by the Sask. Party,” Beck said. “This government has completely failed the people of Saskatchewan when it comes to coming up with a plan and properly funding student’s and teachers’ return to the classroom in the fall.”