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.”

Saskatchewan leads the nation in death rates and has the lowest vaccination rates in the county. Despite the need to get the fourth wave under control, the Sask. Party has instead chosen to block its municipalities from enacting stricter measures based on recommendations from regional medical health officers. This is a pattern, with the province first doing so in 2020, when it rescinded stricter COVID-19 bylaws by the City of Regina and the Town of Gravelbourg. This directly contradicts all public statements both Premier Scott Moe and Health Minister Paul Merriman have made stating municipalities can enact stricter measures based on regional health recommendations.

“It’s absurd that this Sask. Party government would say one thing publicly, and then do the exact opposite behind closed doors. This proves without doubt that this is a government that is ignoring the science, ignoring its medical health officers, and playing politics with the health and safety of the people of Saskatchewan,” said Meili. “We’ve seen this play out before. Instead of learning from their mistakes and being proactive, it’s like they’re living out the plot to Groundhog Day. They need to do better.”

-30-

For more information, please contact:

Brock Bowman

306-519-9549

Latest posts

CARLA BECK STANDS WITH CANCER PATIENT LEADING CHARGE TO END CANCER PARKING FEES

SCOTT MOE’S CRUEL POLICY MUST BE REVERSED IN UPCOMING BUDGET
PRINCE ALBERT – Carla Beck is standing with former city councilor and terminally ill cancer patient Dennis Ogrodnick as he leads the charge to axe Scott Moe’s heartless parking fees for cancer patients.

CRIME RISING IN SASKATOON WITH SCOTT MOE AT THE WHEEL

Violent Crime Jumps 13% While Moe And His Minister Sit On Hands
SASKATOON – The Saskatchewan NDP is demanding that Scott Moe and Community Safety Minister Michael Weger act immediately to address shocking crime increases in Saskatoon.

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.