The Saskatchewan NDP is calling on Premier Moe to take immediate action on getting India’s new 30 per cent tariff on Canadian peas removed. 

Party Leader Carla Beck says it took six months for Scott Moe to fly to China following the implementation of tariffs on Canadian canola products, pork, and seafood. She questioned if it would take another six months for him to make the trip to India. 

Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison thought her ask was quite hypocritical.  

“You have got to be kidding me. Those members opposite, time and time again, have lashed out at our trade offices and our trade missions.

He cited several news articles quoting NDP members as deeming previous trade missions unnecessary and a waste of taxpayer dollars.  

In a separate debate, the NDP’s Associate Health Critic says he was met with closed doors Sunday during his attempt to visit the emergency room at Saskatoon City Hospital. 

Keith Jorgenson says the closure was due to a shortage of doctors.  

“The Premier and the Minister have promised that they’re going to increase, give us more, urgent care capacity in Saskatoon, but we can’t even keep the ERs that we have in our hospitals open and running right now.”

Health Minister Jermey Cockrill admitted that there was a last-minute unforeseen lack of physician availability at City Hospital on Sunday, but notice was provided to Saskatoon residents. He adds that shortages like these are exactly why the Saskatchewan Healthcare Recruitment Agency has made visits to the Unites States and is soon to travel to the United Kingdom.   

The NDP also criticized the Government for charging cancer patients to park while getting healthcare treatments. 

The Opposition was referring specifically to Dennis Ogrodnick, a former city councilor and current cancer patient seeking care at Prince Albert Victoria Hospital. 

Cockrill says those parking fees are used to improve patient experience one way or another. 

“Half those parking fees, roughly, that the Saskatchewan Heath Authority collects go right back into maintenance of the parking lot. It costs money plow snow and paint lines and paint parking lots, ” he explains. “The other half of those revenues go directly right into patient care.”

Rural and Remote Health Critic Jared Clarke replied that it shouldn’t be on the backs of cancer patients to balance the government’s budget.