For immediate release: May 13, 2025
Fears Emerge That Care Could Get Even Worse If Sask. Party Plows Ahead With Healthcare Budget Cuts
REGINA — The Saskatchewan NDP and the family of William Hastie are calling for action — specifically, a reversal of Sask. Party cuts and an end to mismanagement — after a 96-year-old froze to death outside a Saskatoon care home.
The care home had no working door alarms, was critically short-staffed, had not been inspected in over three years, and had been cited in 2021 for serious safety and care violations, but no follow-up occurred.
“This death was preventable,” said Keith Jorgenson, Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Minister for Seniors. “But after years of Sask. Party mismanagement, our care homes are under-resourced and under-inspected.”
William’s granddaughter, Ashley Bonneville, attended the Legislature Tuesday and told members of the media that that government had failed to inspect and enforce safety standards in the facility where her grandfather died.
“Our grandparents should be able to die with dignity, in a warm bed, not frozen outside,” said Ashley Bonneville. “I’m here today to shine a light on this incident so it never happens again.”
Jorgenson warned that the Sask. Party’s decision to cut healthcare funding by $17 million in the latest budget will only make the crisis worse.
“Our parents and grandparents built this province. They deserve safety, dignity, and proper care — not budget cuts,” Jorgenson said.
“The Sask. Party must reverse their cuts and reinvest in seniors’ care now, before more lives are lost.”
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