Actors help lighten the mood during Wednesday night's event at the Coronet Hotel. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Healthcare

New NDP leader visits Prince Albert, party also marks 60th anniversary of medicare

Jun 30, 2022 | 1:36 PM

Making her first stop in Prince Albert since being elected leader of the Saskatchewan NDP, Carla Beck attended a special event Wednesday night to mark the 60th anniversary of medicare.

During her speech at the leadership convention in Regina, Beck talked about standing on the shoulders of giants, and she raised that point again when speaking with paNOW. Discussing the contributions the NDP has made, Beck cited not only medicare but also the Bill of Rights and Occupational Health and Safety.

“Things that were groundbreaking for not only Canada but for North America in some cases. It makes me very proud to be a New Democrat,” she said.

“And it really puts a fire in my belly to ensure we build this party again so we can deliver things that are groundbreaking and benefit people right across this province.”

Over the summer, Beck has committed to touring the province and talking to communities about the concerns they feel are most pressing.

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“There are solutions that are out there that should be considered and they’re not being considered right now. We are hearing time and time again of a government that isn’t listening, that is not returning phone calls, that’s not meeting with regular citizens or community leaders,” she explained.

A large crowd gathered for the event Wednesday night. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

With respect to what’s happening in P.A., Beck acknowledged she’s heard a lot about crime but also poverty, mental health, and a lack of resources.

“You know we spent some time downtown in Prince Albert and it was a concern raised by people who were trying to help people off the streets and recover and provide harm reduction, but also by business owners who were impacted.”

Acknowledging the First Nations leaders that were in the crowd Wednesday night, including Muskoday Chief Ava Bear, Beck noted solutions need to come from having everyone at the table.

“One of those things that is so clear to me, especially since January, is that people are really tired of division. They are tired of one pointing fingers at different groups or different levels of government,” she said.

“These are significant issues that are gonna require everyone coming to the table working together to find solutions and not point fingers.”

Friday afternoon, Carla Beck, joined by concerned health care workers and community members, will be in Shellbrook to call attention to the closures of health care beds and services in small urban and rural communities across Saskatchewan.

The Shellbrook Hospital is the only acute care centre serving the region. Since May 20, half of Shellbrook’s acute care beds have been closed.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell