NDP Leader Ryan Meili and Education Critic Carla Beck were joined by Lynne Saas, a former teacher and school administrator as well as Director of Education for Scenic Valley and Prairie Valley school divisions, to call for a real plan that supports immunocompromised students and school staff and fills the need for additional off-site spaces.
“This is the worst plan in Canada. We’re only weeks away from schools reopening and there’s no consistent plan or funding to keep the students at greatest risk safe,” said Meili. “It’s clear, that securing the off-site spaces that would help make this possible was not a government priority. School divisions are doing their best, but they have been let down by this Education Minister and this Premier.”
Meili noted that with no government funding or support, Saskatchewan families are left with a patchwork of different plans across the same park, between two towns just down the road and even in the same facility in the case of joint-use schools.
“This government’s plan fails to meet their legal responsibility to ensure all kids, especially those for whom a COVID-19 infection could be-life threatening, have a safe learning environment,” said Saas, who also worked as a consultant for the Special Education Branch of Sask Education as well as a consultant for special needs students for several Saskatchewan school divisions. “Parents shouldn’t be forced to make the difficult choice of either sending their at-risk child to a maskless school or forego the benefits of a school environment.”
The seven-point plan released by the NDP last week outlined the need for clear procedures for what to do when students or staff test positive or have symptoms and to ensure processes are in place to quickly communicate potential school-based or community-specific outbreaks to families. It also highlighted the need to identify alternate and distance learning, including using unused spaces close to schools for those teachers and students who are immunocompromised.
Beck said the Sask. Party’s plan doesn’t provide either.
“The Sask. Party prefers downloading responsibility to school divisions. Without clear guidelines or even additional funding, they will be flying blind, leaving students and teachers at risk,” Beck said. “Students, school staff and parents deserve a plan that will keep them safe, but what’s been seen from this government has left families frustrated and confused. It’s unacceptable.”
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.