The Saskatchewan Health Authority says it has finalized an agreement with Extendicare Canada Inc. where the SHA will assume operations and delivery of long-term care services at all five Extendicare homes in Saskatchewan.

This went into effect last Sunday which the Health Authority says included a a formal welcome for residents and staff in each home yesterday with SHA senior leaders.

In October 2021, the SHA announced it was going to assume responsibility for the delivery of long-term care services at the homes.

The agreement includes the transition of nearly 1,300 Extendicare staff to the SHA and the purchase of all five properties: one in Saskatoon, one in Moose Jaw and three in Regina.

As recently as last week, in an interview with our newsroom, the union – SEIU-West – said its members hadn’t heard who their boss would be after the transition, what the policies would be that they need to follow, and whether their seniority carried over although Union President Barb Cape says she understood the nuts and bolts of a collective agreement will carry over.