SASK. PARTY BUDGET CUTTING HEALTHCARE FUNDING

PATIENTS AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS PAYING THE PRICE OF MISMANAGEMENT

MOOSE JAW - Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Finance Minister Trent Wotherspoon, slammed the Sask. Party for cutting healthcare in this week’s provincial budget and said it people in cities like Moose Jaw that pay the price.

Last year, the Saskatchewan government spent $8.022 billion on health and is now only planning to spend $8.004 billion this coming year, a cut of $17.1 million (page 27).

“These claims being made by the Sask. Party of increasing healthcare spending are a total fantasy,” Wotherspoon said. “It's like saying five minus four is six. A second grader could see through this budget — it’s not worth the paper that it’s printed on.”

Saskatchewan ranks last place in Canada for:

Surgical wait times – Knee replacements (318 days) and hip replacements (232 days)
Hospital wait times – Emergency patients at Saskatoon City Hospital wait 55–68 hours for a bed
Healthcare workforce – Specialist-to-patient ratio (103 per 100,000) and physician-to-patient ratio (second worst, at 221 per 100,000)

Wotherspoon said in Moose Jaw, specifically, the Dr. F. H. Wigmore Regional Hospital has seen constant blackout periods for critical medical services.

“So many people here have been forced to head into Regina for anything close to resembling healthcare,” Wotherspoon said.

“This budget is not focused on the future. After 17 years of Sask. Party waste, mismanagement, scandals, healthcare in Saskatchewan ranks dead last in the country.

“People here in Moose Jaw and right across Saskatchewan deserve healthcare that’s there for them, when and where they need it.”

-30-

Latest posts

BECK PLEDGES BETTER WAGES, LOWER COST OF LIVING TO RETAIL WORKERS

Leader Delivers Address At Convention In Humboldt, Calls Workers The ‘Backbone Of Saskatchewan Economy’

HUMBOLDT - Carla Beck told delegates at the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) Convention Wednesday that they “deserve a damn raise” a government laser-focused on making life more affordable in Saskatchewan, and that a Saskatchewan NDP government would put working people first by strengthening labour rights, raising wages and tackling the rising cost of living.

SCOTT MOE’S MLAS BLOCKS EFFORTS TO GET TO THE TRUTH ABOUT THE $26 BILLION COAL CATASTROPHE

Sask. Party Blocks Motion Calling for Provincial Auditor Investigation Into Coal Cost Overruns — Ten Times What Was Publicly Reported

REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is calling out Scott Moe and the Sask. Party for once again refusing to come clean about their $26-billion coal catastrophe after government members blocked a motion Thursday at the Public Accounts Committee requesting an independent investigation by the Provincial Auditor.

CARLA BECK’S TEAM CALLS FOR HALT TO CHILDCARE FUNDING CHANGE THAT WILL HAMMER RURAL COMMUNITIES, PUT PARENTS OUT OF WORK

In One Month, Funding Will Be Cut For Children Attending Childcare Part-Time, Or As Casuals
REGINA – Carla Beck and her team are joining rural childcare advocates to call on Scott Moe and the Sask. Party to fix their broken childcare deal.

CARLA BECK’S TEAM DEMANDS ACTION TO MAKE COMMUNITIES SAFER, CRACKDOWN ON GANGS IN WAKE OF SHOOTINGS IN NORTH

Pelican Narrows Community Leaders Have Been Beggin Scott Moe For Support For Years

SASKATOON – Days after the tragic events in Pelican Narrows and Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Carla Beck’s team is demanding that Scott Moe and the Sask. Party stop ignoring the needs of Northern Saskatchewan and step up to support the communities dealing with a flood of poisonous drugs, rampant gang activity and constant crime.

NDP Caucus Office