Ombudsman’s Report confirms: Scott Moe’s Status Quo failed families at Extendicare Parkside

REGINA - Official Opposition Leader Ryan Meili and Critic for Seniors Matt Love - standing outside Extendicare Parkside in Regina - called on Premier Scott Moe to accept all findings of the Ombudsman's investigation report: Caring in Crisis: An investigation into the response to the COVID-19 outbreak at Extendicare Parkside. Further, Meili and Love called on the Premier, former Health Minister Jim Reiter and current Health Minister Paul Merriman to apologize to those who lost loved ones at Extendicare Parkside.

“Both the government and ECI share the blame for the outbreak that took so many lives. This for-profit relationship has failed our seniors, their families and the hard-working staff at Extendicare Parkside,” said Love. “But the Ombudsman also makes it clear that the problems in long-term care go far beyond this one horrific outbreak when she calls on the government to ‘make meaningful and lasting systemic and structural improvements to Saskatchewan’s long-term care system.’ The Saskatchewan NDP believes that should include the end to for-profit care in Saskatchewan.”

Through the course of the outbreak at Extendicare Parkside, 194 of 198 residents contracted COVID-19, as well as 132 staff at the facility. 20% of residents lost their lives. Amongst the most damning findings of the Ombudsman include:

“The Ministry, the Authority and Extendicare have been aware of Parkside’s overcrowded rooms, crowded office areas and break rooms, narrow hallways, and lack of adequate storage for over a decade”
Neither the SHA nor Extendicare “took meaningful, proactive and effective steps” to mitigate against the threat of an outbreak at Parkside Extendicare
“While the Ministry had the legal authority to impose gathering limits on the long-term care sector, it took no role or responsibility for ensuring they could be implemented”

“I want to thank Mary McFadyen for her work on behalf of Saskatchewan families. Her investigation report confirms that the 46 deaths at Extendicare Parkside were the result of the Sask. Party’s chronic failure to care for Saskatchewan seniors,” said Meili. “Scott Moe, Jim Reiter and Paul Merriman all made decisions that cost far too many people their lives. The legacy of this tragedy must be legislated minimum standards of care, a commitment to high quality publicly-funded and administered long-term care, and a full public inquiry into the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Latest posts

JOB-CREATING SASKPOLY PROGRAM MOVING OUT OF SASKATOON, SCOTT MOE SITS ON HANDS

Electronic Systems Engineering Students Forced to Relocate after Sask. Party Funding Cuts
SASKATOON – Scott Moe and the Sask. Party’s cuts are tearing students away from their homes and families as Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s electronic systems engineering technology (ESET) program is being forced to abruptly relocate from the Saskatoon campus to Regina.

SASKATCHEWAN NDP DEMANDS BETTER SUPPORT FOR LIBRARIES AS SCOTT MOE FAILS TO FUND, LITERACY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE PLUMMETS

Moose Jaw Library Sees Harmful Impact of Stagnant Funding Over 15 Years
MOOSE JAW – The Saskatchewan NDP is joining calls for sustainable funding as the head of a Moose Jaw library said a lack of support from Scott Moe and the Sask. Party is forcing them to cut back.

HEALTHCARE CHAOS SPILLS OUT INTO ADDICTIONS REGISTRATION AREA OF ST. PAUL’S HOSPITAL

As Moe Sits On His Hands, No End In Sight To Capacity Challenges Facing Hospitals Across Saskatchewan

SASKATOON – The Saskatchewan NDP is releasing shocking new photo evidence of St. Paul’s Hospital bursting at the seams after 18 years of Sask. Party failure.

SASKATCHEWAN NDP SEEKS MAJOR ELECTRICITY GRID INVESTMENT FROM FEDS AS MOE FAILS TO DELIVER

Recent Report Identifies ‘Elevated Risk’ In Maintaining Saskatchewan’s Grid During Extreme Weather
SASKATOON – The Saskatchewan NDP is appealing directly to the federal government for urgent investment in interprovincial transmission, as those projects have been left off the national major projects list despite warnings the electricity grid here is at risk.