REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Health Critic Vicki Mowat responded to the newest iteration of the Sask. Party government’s healthcare staffing plan which fails to address the widening gaps in our healthcare system.
“The plan announced today is something the government should have been doing for years. Instead, they sat on their hands and made excuses while Saskatchewan’s hospitals were being run into the ground,” said Mowat. “While it’s good to see action on our call for full-time positions and training seats, nearly half of what was announced today are repackaged old policies.”
Of the 26 measures announced today, only 14 are new initiatives. Moreover, the plan to hire 1,000 new healthcare professionals over two years only meets two-thirds of the current job postings on the SHA website. Meanwhile, provinces like Ontario and British Columbia developed and began implementing aggressive recruitment and retention strategies months ago.
“Pledging to hire a thousand health care workers two years down the road when the SHA has fifteen hundred job postings today - and likely many more vacancies - simply won’t cut it,” said Mowat.
“Healthcare workers are leaving for other provinces like British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario despite the higher cost of living. When it comes to retention, this plan is vague on details and fails to provide concrete strategies to keep healthcare workers in Saskatchewan. Retention should have been priority number one.”
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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.
