SASK. PARTY STACKS FAILING HEALTH AGENCY WITH POLITICAL LOYALISTS

Saskatchewan Health Agency Broken, In Need of Major Reform: Saskatchewan NDP
REGINA – The Sask. Party government has quietly stacked the board and senior leadership of the Saskatchewan Health Authority with political loyalists and political operatives, not healthcare workers or experts.

“Our healthcare system is bloated, top-heavy, and disconnected from local communities because the Sask. Party is stacking its leadership with their political insiders,” said Meara Conway, Saskatchewan NDP Health Shadow Minister.

“It should be frontline workers and healthcare experts filling those senior positions, not the best buds of Moe and his Health Ministers.”

The Saskatchewan NDP has uncovered that the two most senior members and at least half of the SHA board are former Sask. Party campaigners or staffers.

Arlene Wiks, chair of the SHA board, was a political operative on the election campaign of former Health Minister Paul Merriman and has regularly donated to the Sask. Party going as far back as at least 2013.

Tyler Bragg, vice chair, was a political operative on the election campaign of another former Health Minister, Everett Hindley. Bragg regularly donates to the Sask. Party and has been described by Hindley as a longtime friend.

Scott Moe’s former press secretary and leadership campaign staffer, Jim Billington, has also been brought on as an SHA Vice President, for which he was paid over $250,000 last year.

Board member Brenda Abrametz has been a Sask. Party operative since at least 2006 and has donated to the campaigns of at least three Sask. Party candidates, in addition to the party.

Board member Marilyn Charlton was the campaign manager for yet another former health minister, Dustin Duncan, and served as a constituency assistant for the Sask. Party as early as 2005.

Board Member Gary Zabos was an operative on the campaign of former Sask. Party MLA Don Morgan and has donated to the Sask. Party.

“After two decades in power, the Sask. Party has broken our healthcare, and we owe it to future generations to rebuild it from the ground up,” added Conway.

“To get our health system back on track we must take resources and decision-making power away from the political insiders in Regina and give it back to local leaders and frontline workers.”

The Saskatchewan NDP encourages anyone who wants to have a say in the future of healthcare to make their voices heard by visiting YourCareYourSay.ca.

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