Saskatchewan NDP leader Ryan Meili speaks to media on Aug. 27, 2021. (Libby Giesbrecht/650 CKOM)

By Libby Giesbrecht/ CJME News

NDP leader calls for health minister’s job, action against fourth wave

Aug 27, 2021 | 5:13 PM

The Saskatchewan NDP leader is demanding action on COVID-19 from the government to protect the province against the fourth wave.

On Friday, opposition leader Ryan Meili spoke to media in Saskatoon to call on Saskatchewan’s premier, who he says has “abandoned” the province.

Meili said details shared during this week’s physician’s town hall showed a case increase of four times in Saskatchewan over the past month and a 60 per cent increase in hospitalizations.

Saskatchewan also has the lowest rate of vaccinations in the country, and modelling currently predicts the fourth wave of COVID-19 will overwhelm hospitals in the province.

Meili called the details “shocking.”

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“What struck me most yesterday wasn’t those numbers, but the frustration, the fear, the anger that I was hearing from physicians,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be this way, there are things we can do to reduce what this fourth wave looks like.”

The NDP leader said his party has asked repeatedly for action from the government, which has responded in the negative.

“The leadership on the front lines is asking the government to act, to save our lives, and Scott Moe and Paul Merriman have simply said no. They don’t care,” Meili said.

“These are irresponsible, stupid men who have made choices that have cost too many lives and will only cost more.”

Meili said the government needs to follow SHA guidelines, including requiring proof of vaccination for various events, mandating vaccinations for teachers and healthcare staff and increasing contact tracing and COVID-19 testing. He also mentioned implementing forcible isolation for individuals who test positive for COVID-19.

“If we bring in actions, it will reduce the spread of COVID-19 — it does not have to be that bad,” Meili explained. “But for that to happen, Scott Moe needs to do his job and, since we know Paul Merriman is never going to do his, he (Moe) needs to bring in a health minister who will.”

Meili said there is hope, with modelling showing doomed results for the course where no restrictions are implemented in the province.

“That’s why we’re calling today for action to reduce the impact of the fourth wave because what we see right now is far too dangerous.”