“For 20 years, the Sask. Party has worked actively to drive public healthcare into the ground — now they plan to dismantle it once and for all,” said Meara Conway, Health Shadow Minister. “Scott Moe is actively endorsing a model where the balance on your credit card determines the quality of care you and get — even whether you ever get it.”
In the interview with former B.C. Premier Christy Clark, published this week, Moe endorsed Danielle Smith’s recent privatization of healthcare saying:
“You know the Canada Health Act in many ways is restricting. Danielle Smith has made a change with respect to her surgeons. So listen to this. A surgeon can practice in the public system in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and then can fly to Edmonton or Vancouver and can deliver private surgeries on the weekend, fly back Sunday night to Saskatoon and work in the public system again throughout the week. That same surgeon in Saskatoon cannot work in the public system during the week and then do those same private surgeries in Saskatoon on the weekend. The Canada Health Act forbids it.”
The Canadian Medical Association and countless other advocacy groups has warned that Smith’s plan will lead to longer wait times, cut off access and people being forced to pay for essential care.
Moe previously touted Smith’s moves in a year-end interview with Rebel News. This week, he said the “mindset” needed to change around public healthcare.
“Look, the mindset of Saskatchewan’s incredible healthcare workers is to provide the best possible care for each person or family who needs it,” Conway said. “The only person whose mindset needs to change on healthcare is Scott Moe.”
This week, Beck’s team released a roadmap for big, bold change to fix the crisis in Saskatchewan healthcare. People can read the full report that stemmed from 1,000 conversations at YourCareYourSay.ca.
“In every conversation we had, not one person suggested dismantling public healthcare,” Conway said. “In fact, Saskatchewan people are proud of public healthcare — they’re proud to be living in the birthplace of Medicare. They believe healthcare can be fixed, but not with the failing Sask. Party at the helm.
“That’s why it’s time for change.”
-30-