Other provinces, like Quebec and Ontario have announced a top up of pay for essential service workers during the pandemic and Saskatchewan’s NDP Leader would like to see the same in this province in response to COVID-19. Ryan Meili says lower income essential service workers are risking their health without any financial recognition. He gives the examples of care aids, cleaners in hospitals, delivery drivers and grocery workers. The federal government has said it will backfill some of those costs, but still no announcement from the province.
The NDP is also calling for WCB coverage of the virus, so if a worker gets sick, they would be compensated. Meili explains that it is something that would require a legislative change, which can’t be done unless the government were to re-open a physically distanced version of the Legislature, which the NDP has been advocating for.
In light of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the north, Saskatchewan’s NDP Leader is also calling for increased testing. Ryan Meili suggests testing everyone in La Loche and the Clearwater River Dene Nation to identify all the cases and make sure everyone has what they need to self-isolate, considering the outbreak in the area.
It’s not known how many cases have been confirmed in the community, because the province doesn’t point out specifics. The COVID-19 numbers released are for more general locations.
An Elder in La Loche died on Sunday, with complications from COVID-19. Joseph Pierre Sylvestre was 83. He had been living in a long term care facility when he contracted the virus.
Meili would also like the government to clarify its guidance on the ability to visit friends and family through a virtual household, because he’s not sure everyone understands, with many telling him they have witnessed a lack of physical distancing in public.
The NDP Finance Critic in Saskatchewan is calling for the government to recall the legislature and present a budget to fully respond to COVID-19. The province has authorized over $4.5-billion dollars of public spending through a special warrant. Trent Wotherspoon says because the Legislative Assembly was adjourned in March, there is no avenue for clarity on how the money is to be spent and where. The government has released pre-pandemic spending estimates, updated revenue forecasts and now a special warrant.
Wotherspoon understands the government needs to rely on a special warrant until a budget is passed, but the Finance Critic thinks it’s time to return to the legislature with a plan. NDP House Leader Cathy Sproule says, if they are ready to talk about opening up the province, they should get serious about reopening the legislature and providing accountability.”
