Nicole Rancourt (NDP) and Alana Ross (Sask. Party) speaking at a Thursday forum on seniors issues. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Provincial election

Prince Albert Northcote candidates talk seniors issues

Oct 9, 2020 | 1:30 PM

Prince Albert Northcote candidates sat down to talk seniors issues at forum hosted by the Senior’s Advocacy Centre Thursday.

Discussion centered around two main topics – transportation and health care – as the political contenders made their pitch to older constituents.

John Fryters of the Seniors Advocacy Centre posed the first question of the afternoon asking what each candidate’s party would do to provide the accessible and affordable transportation. Fryters called the closure of the Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC) more devastating for Saskatchewan seniors than the COVID-19 pandemic.

NDP candidate Nicole Rancourt said her party would rebuild a provincial transportation company. She said it was needed, not just to provide access to medical appointments, but to allow seniors more independence to travel and visit family.

Meanwhile Sask. Party candidate Alana Ross explained the decision to shutdown STC was made because of rising costs associated with it. She said the money instead was invested in areas like health care, social services and education.

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Both candidates outlined promises aimed at improving health care for seniors.

Ross pointed to commitments to reduce ambulance costs for seniors and hire 300 new continuing care aids. Of those, 180 would be in long-term care facilities, while 50 would provide home care services throughout the province.

As a nurse, Ross said she had worked in seniors health care in various form for 30 years, and had a first-hand understanding of issues they face in the healthcare system.

She also cited the Sask. Party’s record of increasing funding to both long-term care and home care by 50 per cent each since they were elected in 2007. She also highlighted measures to make medication more affordable for seniors.

“In terms of the seniors drug plan, we have one of the most comprehensive drug plans in Canada for our seniors,” she said.

Rancourt said the NDP was committed to putting major resources into health care, including $100 million for long-term and acute care and $50 million for home care.

“The workload that home care and long term care workers have, they’re understaffed, they’re under-resourced and it’s putting seniors at risk,” Rancourt said.

Rancourt said the $50 million for home care would allow seniors to stay in their own homes longer and allow for the hiring of approximately 200 certified care aides, 100 licenced practical nurses, 70 registered nurses, 100 caretakers, 40 carpenters, 50 cooks, 80 groundskeepers, and 60 occupational therapists.

She also touted her party’s promise to implement standards of care for the province’s longterm care homes.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom