REGINA - Today, NDP Health Critic Vicki Mowat asked the Provincial Auditor to conduct a special investigation into processes at the Saskatchewan Health Authority that led to the creation of a new Vice President position for a long-time Sask. Party operative.
“The explanations for Scott Livingstone’s departure have not passed the sniff-test since day one. Now it seems that forcing in partisan operatives to SHA leadership drove Mr. Livingstone out,” said Mowat. “It’s the definition of cronyism. We need an investigation from the auditor to get to the bottom of what happened. We already know the Health Minister lied about this - what else is he hiding?”
The Provincial Auditor has the ability to conduct a special investigation under Section 13 of the Provincial Auditor Act into any matters the auditor deems “important and urgent.” Last week’s news that Raynelle Wilson’s installation into a brand new executive role at the SHA contributed to the departure of the former CEO during the middle of a pandemic requires answers. The lasting impacts of political interference in an already stretched health care system is both important and urgent.
“The public needs answers - why in the middle of a health crisis did the Sask Party focus on placing a long-time political operative with zero health experience into the top brass of the SHA? No cost was too much - even losing the long-serving, dedicated CEO,” said Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition, Nicole Sarauer. “Now more than ever, we need our government to lead with integrity and transparency, not cronyism and lies. This proves once again that the Sask Party puts politics ahead of public health and people’s lives.”
The Sask. NDP also called for the appointment to be reversed and the position to be eliminated pending external investigation.
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Poor working conditions, favouritism, $300K travel nurse pay at issue
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition released a letter signed by 49 emergency room nurses in Saskatoon. The letter slams the Sask. Party government for failing to support Saskatchewan nurses and curb the province’s reliance on expensive out-of-province travel nurses.
REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Critic for First Nations and Métis Relations Betty Nippi-Albright hosted a Day of Action with Indigenous leaders from Nekaneet First Nation, Yellow Quill First Nation, Waterhen Lake First Nation, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Carry The Kettle First Nation, Key First Nation and the residential school support team from Yorkton Tribal Council. Together, they continue to draw attention to the Sask. Party government’s disregard for the Duty to Consult process.
MOOSE JAW - Today, the Official Opposition stood with Taylor Enns, president of the Moose Jaw Firefighters Association, and Brayden Dutchak, the son of a cancer survivor. Together, they called on the Sask. Party government to reopen Saskatchewan’s only hyperbaric chamber.
Records show former Sask. Party Finance Minister lobbied for Calgary surgery scheme on behalf of a major Sask. Party donor
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition grilled the Premier and his Minister of Health after the Minister misled the public, claiming that he had not been lobbied by a former Sask. Party MLA when Saskatchewan's official lobbyist logs show the exact opposite.