Saskatchewan NDP Caucus

Worst-in-nation job numbers leaves Saskatchewan with the worst of both worlds

REGINA - With Statistics Canada reporting that 6,500 jobs were lost in October, Official Opposition Critic for Jobs and the Economy Aleana Young is calling on the Sask. Party to get the 4th wave of COVID-19 under control to address the worst-in-the-nation jobs numbers.

“We have the worst of both worlds under this government - Saskatchewan had the worst death rate in the country, and the worst rate of job losses,” said Aleana Young. “Protecting Saskatchewan jobs starts with listening to the experts, getting the pandemic under control, and then finally coming up with a real jobs plan to get Saskatchewan people back to work.”

NDP: Most Saskatchewan patients waiting for surgery since Sask. Party took office

REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Leader Ryan Meili was joined in the Saskatchewan legislature by Dallas Oberik, a Regina resident waiting on a hip replacement surgery. Nearly 11,000 people have been added to the surgical waitlist under Premier Moe, with tens of thousands uncertain of when they may be able to access a procedure. 

NDP: Family’s struggle to access care for infant illustrates a system in crisis

REGINA - Today, Leader of the Official Opposition Ryan Meili raised the case of baby Helen, an 11-month old who has lost access to vital therapies, an opportunity to receive surgery, and diagnostic testing to confirm the nature of her illness as a result of Scott Moe’s health system lockdown.

NDP: Clear and transparent plan needed to address Sask. Party surgical backlog

REGINA - In light of the thousands of surgeries cancelled due to lack of capacity caused by the Premier’s failed handling of COVID’s fourth wave, Leader of the Official Opposition Ryan Meili demanded transparency from the Sask. Party government on the number of surgeries that have been cancelled and a plan to clear Saskatchewan’s massive surgical backlog.

“The are so many Saskatchewan families suffering from this government’s mismanagement of the fourth wave. These people are victims of Scott Moe’s choice to play politics rather than listen to the medical experts,” said Meili. “This Premier needs to be doing everything he can to reduce capacity pressures on our health care system. The federal government has offered non-ICU support. This Premier needs to show some leadership and ask for the help, so that we can free up Sask-based health care workers to help resume these procedures.”

Sask. Party needs to stop blocking municipalities’ COVID leadership

REGINA - In light of the provincial government effectively blocking the City of Saskatoon’s efforts to introduce bylaws to keep Saskatoon residents safe, Leader of the Official Opposition Ryan Meili and Opposition Municipal Affairs Critic Matt Love called on the Sask. Party government to allow municipalities wishing to implement recommendations from medical health officers the ability to do so.

“Municipalities should never have been put in the position where they need to implement their own public health measures. But given this government’s refusal to step up and implement recommendations from Dr. Shahab and other medical health officers, they have been given no choice,” said Love. “It’s telling that the only proactive measure this Sask. Party government has taken on COVID-19 is to block municipalities from passing medically-advised bylaws. These are jurisdictions who are listening to the science, listening to their regional health officers, and making proactive decisions for the health and safety of their residents.”

Sask. Party shuts down emergency debate on COVID-19

REGINA - Today, on the first full day of the fall session and after a summer off, the first steps Scott Moe took in the Legislative Assembly were to vote against proof of vaccination requirements for all MLAs and to shut down emergency debate on the 4th wave crisis crippling Saskatchewan’s health system.

“This is a government that continues to put politics above the health and safety of Saskatchewan people. They refuse to acknowledge the crisis of their making and the challenges thousands of people in our province are facing with cancelled surgeries, cancelled transplants, and cancelled therapies,” said Vicki Mowat, Opposition House Leader. “This Premier and his government have failed to provide leadership during this pandemic and we need an immediate plan of action to address the current crisis faced in our healthcare system.”