NDP Leader calls out Saskatchewan Health Minister
By Jacob Carr Global News
Posted August 27, 2021
Ryan Meili is calling on the Sask Party and Health Minister Paul Merriman to start doing their job or to find a new one. Meili believes that the current government is failing.
New Democratic Party Leader Ryan Meili is calling for Saskatchewan Health Minister to do better or be removed from his position.
“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.
This comes after Merriman commented on possible vaccine mandates in the province earlier this week.
“I think the onus is on the individual to go out and get vaccinated, that’s the best tool that we have. That’s what’s going to bring down our hospitalization numbers, that’s what’s going to bring down our case count is the vaccination,” Merriman said.
READ MORE: Sask. NDP calls for mandatory vaccination for teachers, staff in return-to-school plan
Once again, the Saskatchewan NDP and Sask Party government are at odds over approaches to COVID-19.
“Clearly Paul Merriman has no clue what he’s talking about, we need to make sure that the people who are in contact with the public, especially with vulnerable residents, are vaccinated to protect each other and to protect those workers,” said Meili.
Meanwhile, there are currently no public health orders in place in Saskatchewan.
READ MORE: COVID-19: Sask. Party not considering vaccine mandate despite criticism from opposition
Speaking with Rawlco Radio– the province’s Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr.Shahab, offered recommendations but gave no clear indication of whether or not there will be new government imposed restrictions.
“We are entering into a province-wide surge, where it does make sense for all of us to wear masks in indoor public places,” he said.
Healthcare workers across Saskatchewan are saying that they are burnt out and seeking answers from the government.
In a Physician Town Hall that took place yesterday, Dr. Brent Thoma, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan had this to say: “I think it’s fair to say that many of my colleagues have told me that over the last few weeks our emergency departments are in the worst state they have ever been in. What’s the plan? We need some answers and we need some help,” he said.
Global News reached out to the Sask Party for a response but did not hear back by deadline.
Sask. doctors warned by public health officials that more measures are necessary to blunt 4th wave
Hospitalizations, case numbers, 7-day daily averages all rising as Sask. enters 4th wave
Bryan Eneas · CBC News · Posted: Aug 27, 2021
Companies with care homes in Sask. announce nationwide vaccine mandate for staff
Saskatoon's Dr. Brent Thoma spoke at Thursday's town hall. He said he was disappointed to see no improvement since the last time he spoke at such a meeting, about a month ago.
"It's fair to say that many of my colleagues have told me over the last few weeks our emergency departments are in the worst state they have ever been in," Thoma said.
He said Royal University Hospital's emergency unit has about 40 beds available to patients, counting spots in the pediatrics unit. The department has seen up to 98 patients at a time.
City Hospital, Thoma said, has seen up to nine patients admitted overnight, despite that department not being open, and has seen patients stay for five to six days at a time before they get consultation or are transferred.
St. Paul's, he said, has seen staffing shortages resulting in unsafe patient to staff ratios. One evening shift at that hospital ran with just seven nurses, when the baseline is 15, he said.
Ambulances have also been impacted and have at times been unable to respond to calls in a timely fashion because they were stuck in hospital hallways, he said.
"What's the plan? And I don't mean like in three months, I mean like tomorrow, next week, what is our plan that is going to get us through the next wave?" Thoma asked.
Doctors 'caught in the middle'
Dr. Tamara Hinz, a child psychiatrist in Saskatoon, was among those listening to Thoma and other doctors' presentations on Thursday.
She said she feels "caught in the middle" because individual doctors don't have "any of that decision-making power" to bring in restrictions.
"I assume the health authority must also be feeling that," she said. "We're left sort of with the consequences of those policies and those decisions.
"It's a difficult and an awkward place to be in, to see the modelling, to see what the hospital capacity looks like, and what those projections look like, yet really hold very little power when it comes to having the decision-making authority to alter that path."
With files from The Morning Edition, Guy Quenneville and Gregory Wilson
Hospitalizations, case numbers, 7-day daily averages all rising as Sask. enters 4th wave
Bryan Eneas · CBC News · Posted: Aug 27, 2021
Ryan Meili, the leader of the Saskatchewan NDP, spoke outside his Saskatoon constituency office on Aug. 27, 2021. (Guy Quenneville/CBC)
Numbers shared at Thursday night's physician town paint a grim picture of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan.
Slides shared at the weekly meeting showed COVID-19 case counts quadrupling over the last month.
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases had increased dramatically to 172 as of Thursday. On July 21 that number sat at 31.
Hospitalization totals saw a 30 per cent increase in one week and ICU admissions continue to trend upward. The average age of those hospitalized is lowering, with 37 per cent of people being under 39.
Saskatchewan also has the lowest immunization rate in all of Canada, and the lowest coverage in children and young adults.
Nationally, slightly more than 83 per cent of the population has received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In Saskatchewan that number hovers over the 75 per cent mark.
More than 75 per cent of the population of Canada has had a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. In Saskatchewan it is slightly more than 66 per cent.
What is our plan that is going to get us through the next wave?- Dr. Brent Thoma
The provincial health-care system is coming under stress as the fourth wave of COVID-19 ramps up in Saskatchewan.
"Public health workforce cannot keep up with the volume of contact tracing, isolation, case outbreak investigation and immunization," the slides said.
Sask. chief medical health officer addresses vaccination rates, climbing hospitalizations
COVID-19 in Sask: 158 new cases, 2 more deaths
The "offensive strategy" highlighted in the presentation noted cases and hospital admission will continue to rise in Saskatchewan, based on what's happening in other jurisdictions and modelling data.
Several suggestions for how to blunt the the fourth wave's impact were made, including reintroducing mandatory mask mandates indoors, and mandatory immunization or frequent testing for health-care workers, teachers and other at-risk groups.
Reductions in personal and public gathering sizes and vaccine "passports" for non-essential social events were also suggested to combat the spread of COVID-19, as was the strategic use of testing.
Opposition calls premier and health minister 'irresponsible, stupid men'
On Friday, the leader of the Opposition Saskatchewan NDP party again criticized the provincial government for not announcing such measures.
"Scott Moe and Paul Merriman have simply said no. They don't care," Ryan Meili said of Saskatchewan's premier and health minister. "These are irresponsible, stupid men who have made choices that have cost too many lives and will only cost more."
Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau promised $1 billion in funding for provinces that want to move forward with vaccine passport programs if his party is re-elected.
"I hope that that will see us have some change," Meili said, before adding that Moe "will even resist the federal government when this is something that's so clearly needed."
Trudeau promises $1B to help provinces pay for vaccine passports
Ontario to institute vaccine passport system, sources say
A spokesperson for the province reiterated that the Saskatchewan government is not looking at implementing a proof of vaccination policy.
"The Liberal leader's funding revealed today is a campaign commitment, not a government announcement," the spokesperson said. "Given the federal election is not until Sept. 20 and the people of Canada have yet to choose who will form government, this commitment has no impact on our decisions today."
Major sports teams could soon lose money, fans if they fail to adopt COVID-19 vaccine passports, say academics
Numbers shared at Thursday night's physician town paint a grim picture of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan.
Slides shared at the weekly meeting showed COVID-19 case counts quadrupling over the last month.
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases had increased dramatically to 172 as of Thursday. On July 21 that number sat at 31.
Hospitalization totals saw a 30 per cent increase in one week and ICU admissions continue to trend upward. The average age of those hospitalized is lowering, with 37 per cent of people being under 39.
Saskatchewan also has the lowest immunization rate in all of Canada, and the lowest coverage in children and young adults.
Nationally, slightly more than 83 per cent of the population has received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In Saskatchewan that number hovers over the 75 per cent mark.
More than 75 per cent of the population of Canada has had a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. In Saskatchewan it is slightly more than 66 per cent.
What is our plan that is going to get us through the next wave?- Dr. Brent Thoma
The provincial health-care system is coming under stress as the fourth wave of COVID-19 ramps up in Saskatchewan.
"Public health workforce cannot keep up with the volume of contact tracing, isolation, case outbreak investigation and immunization," the slides said.
Sask. chief medical health officer addresses vaccination rates, climbing hospitalizations
COVID-19 in Sask: 158 new cases, 2 more deaths
The "offensive strategy" highlighted in the presentation noted cases and hospital admission will continue to rise in Saskatchewan, based on what's happening in other jurisdictions and modelling data.
Several suggestions for how to blunt the the fourth wave's impact were made, including reintroducing mandatory mask mandates indoors, and mandatory immunization or frequent testing for health-care workers, teachers and other at-risk groups.
Reductions in personal and public gathering sizes and vaccine "passports" for non-essential social events were also suggested to combat the spread of COVID-19, as was the strategic use of testing.
Opposition calls premier and health minister 'irresponsible, stupid men'
On Friday, the leader of the Opposition Saskatchewan NDP party again criticized the provincial government for not announcing such measures.
"Scott Moe and Paul Merriman have simply said no. They don't care," Ryan Meili said of Saskatchewan's premier and health minister. "These are irresponsible, stupid men who have made choices that have cost too many lives and will only cost more."
Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau promised $1 billion in funding for provinces that want to move forward with vaccine passport programs if his party is re-elected.
"I hope that that will see us have some change," Meili said, before adding that Moe "will even resist the federal government when this is something that's so clearly needed."
Trudeau promises $1B to help provinces pay for vaccine passports
Ontario to institute vaccine passport system, sources say
A spokesperson for the province reiterated that the Saskatchewan government is not looking at implementing a proof of vaccination policy.
"The Liberal leader's funding revealed today is a campaign commitment, not a government announcement," the spokesperson said. "Given the federal election is not until Sept. 20 and the people of Canada have yet to choose who will form government, this commitment has no impact on our decisions today."
Major sports teams could soon lose money, fans if they fail to adopt COVID-19 vaccine passports, say academics
Companies with care homes in Sask. announce nationwide vaccine mandate for staff
Saskatoon's Dr. Brent Thoma spoke at Thursday's town hall. He said he was disappointed to see no improvement since the last time he spoke at such a meeting, about a month ago.
"It's fair to say that many of my colleagues have told me over the last few weeks our emergency departments are in the worst state they have ever been in," Thoma said.
He said Royal University Hospital's emergency unit has about 40 beds available to patients, counting spots in the pediatrics unit. The department has seen up to 98 patients at a time.
City Hospital, Thoma said, has seen up to nine patients admitted overnight, despite that department not being open, and has seen patients stay for five to six days at a time before they get consultation or are transferred.
St. Paul's, he said, has seen staffing shortages resulting in unsafe patient to staff ratios. One evening shift at that hospital ran with just seven nurses, when the baseline is 15, he said.
Ambulances have also been impacted and have at times been unable to respond to calls in a timely fashion because they were stuck in hospital hallways, he said.
"What's the plan? And I don't mean like in three months, I mean like tomorrow, next week, what is our plan that is going to get us through the next wave?" Thoma asked.
Hinz said people on the frontlines of Saskatchewan's child psychiatric community knew this was a “looming crisis” bound to happen, because of challenges with recruitment and a pending retirement. (Jen Talloden Photography)
Doctors 'caught in the middle'
Dr. Tamara Hinz, a child psychiatrist in Saskatoon, was among those listening to Thoma and other doctors' presentations on Thursday.
She said she feels "caught in the middle" because individual doctors don't have "any of that decision-making power" to bring in restrictions.
"I assume the health authority must also be feeling that," she said. "We're left sort of with the consequences of those policies and those decisions.
"It's a difficult and an awkward place to be in, to see the modelling, to see what the hospital capacity looks like, and what those projections look like, yet really hold very little power when it comes to having the decision-making authority to alter that path."
With files from The Morning Edition, Guy Quenneville and Gregory Wilson
Moe says no to vaccine mandates, passports but expects businesses, organizations will enact policies
Health minister says 'you're infringing on people's personal rights if you're mandating things'
Adam Hunter · CBC News · Posted: Aug 27, 2021
Sporting events, concerts, movie theatres.
Bars and restaurants.
Health minister says 'you're infringing on people's personal rights if you're mandating things'
Adam Hunter · CBC News · Posted: Aug 27, 2021
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says his government will not implement a vaccine mandate and does not plan to introduce vaccine passports. He said he expects businesses or organizations to make their own policies. (Michael Bell/The Canadian Press)
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says his government will not be requiring proof of vaccine to visit businesses or participate in activities and it will not make individuals "take the vaccine."
This week, Manitoba announced government employees who work with vulnerable populations "need to be fully immunized for COVID-19 by Oct. 31, or undergo regular testing."
Moe sat down for an interview with Rawlco Radio on Thursday morning. He said Saskatchewan also has no plans to implement a vaccine passport system similar to B.C., Manitoba, and Quebec.
He said he expects that Saskatchewan-based businesses and organizations that choose to implement their vaccine requirement policies will do so in the days and weeks ahead.
"It is not the government's role to line people up and say 'you are going to take this needle if you are going to live in this society,'" Moe said.
The premier said vaccine mandates often include proof of a negative test in place of vaccination.
Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark has expressed support for vaccine passports and vaccination requirements.
The University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina, and Saskatchewan Polytechnic have all recently introduced vaccine policies.
On Thursday, two private companies that operate several nursing and retirement homes in Saskatchewan said they will require their employees across Canada to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Moe said the Saskatchewan Roughriders can implement a vaccine policy if they choose and his government would support them by assisting with proof-of-vaccine through the ministry of health.
VIDEOSask. health minister says signs point to 4th wave, cites personal freedoms as reason against mandates
He said people can access their vaccine records and the government is working on a QR code as well for mobile devices.
B.C. and Quebec vaccine passports lead to increased vaccine uptake
Earlier this month, Quebec announced on Sept. 1 it would require vaccine passports to attend places and take part in activities for individuals over 13 years old.
Quebec has developed an app that will contain the individuals vaccination status. It will be required for accessing places and activities "where the risk of transmission is high."
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says his government will not be requiring proof of vaccine to visit businesses or participate in activities and it will not make individuals "take the vaccine."
This week, Manitoba announced government employees who work with vulnerable populations "need to be fully immunized for COVID-19 by Oct. 31, or undergo regular testing."
Moe sat down for an interview with Rawlco Radio on Thursday morning. He said Saskatchewan also has no plans to implement a vaccine passport system similar to B.C., Manitoba, and Quebec.
He said he expects that Saskatchewan-based businesses and organizations that choose to implement their vaccine requirement policies will do so in the days and weeks ahead.
"It is not the government's role to line people up and say 'you are going to take this needle if you are going to live in this society,'" Moe said.
The premier said vaccine mandates often include proof of a negative test in place of vaccination.
Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark has expressed support for vaccine passports and vaccination requirements.
The University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina, and Saskatchewan Polytechnic have all recently introduced vaccine policies.
On Thursday, two private companies that operate several nursing and retirement homes in Saskatchewan said they will require their employees across Canada to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Moe said the Saskatchewan Roughriders can implement a vaccine policy if they choose and his government would support them by assisting with proof-of-vaccine through the ministry of health.
VIDEOSask. health minister says signs point to 4th wave, cites personal freedoms as reason against mandates
He said people can access their vaccine records and the government is working on a QR code as well for mobile devices.
B.C. and Quebec vaccine passports lead to increased vaccine uptake
Earlier this month, Quebec announced on Sept. 1 it would require vaccine passports to attend places and take part in activities for individuals over 13 years old.
Quebec has developed an app that will contain the individuals vaccination status. It will be required for accessing places and activities "where the risk of transmission is high."
Sporting events, concerts, movie theatres.
Bars and restaurants.
Indoor sports and activities.
The passport system was introduced on Aug. 5 and the app was available for download on Wednesday.
"People who have made the effort to get their two doses must be able to live a somewhat normal life," said Quebec Premier François Legault on Aug. 5.
Quebec's health minister Christian Dubé said more than 11,000 people booked appointments for their first shot the day the passport system was introduced.
"That is double [the total from] the previous days," Dubé said
Earlier this week, B.C. announced it will implement a vaccine passport system for sporting events, concerts, restaurants, and theatres. Manitoba has a similar policy.
On Thursday, the B.C. government said the number of people registering for the vaccination program or booking appointments each day has jumped by as much as 200 per cent compared to a week earlier. The biggest jumps, the government says, have been in people under the age of 40.
B.C. sees big jump in vaccination bookings after announcing COVID-19 vaccine passport
The B.C. government said that on Tuesday and Wednesday, 12,904 people under the age of 40 registered and 11,301 booked appointments, more than doubling last week's numbers.
Sask. health officials dismiss mandates, passports
On Wednesday, Saskatchewan's Health Minister Paul Merriman and chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said in separate interviews that the government would not mandate vaccinations.
Shahab questioned the necessity of provincial mandates, including masks, citing the need for voluntary compliance.
"We still have lots of vaccine. You know, before we get into the fall, I think it's critical that vaccine uptake goes up. And a lot of [my] colleagues are working with communities to do exactly just that."
He encouraged people to get vaccinated to help protect themselves and reduce the strain on the health-care system.
In July, 90 per cent of all new cases and hospitalizations were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people.
According to the province, 95 per cent of ICU admissions were not fully vaccinated and 100 per cent of deaths were people who had not been vaccinated.
Shahab said vaccine passports were not being implemented by the government, but that evidence indicates they do increase vaccine uptake.
"I absolutely agree that whenever there's a requirement, for example, in university students, the [vaccine] uptake does go up," Shahab told CBC's Sam Maciag.
Sask. chief medical health officer addresses vaccination rates, climbing hospitalizations
Merriman said Wednesday that signs pointed to a fourth COVID-19 wave in the province but, like the premier, ruled out vaccine mandates.
"I think you're infringing on people's personal rights if you're mandating things," Merriman said.
"If it's government-mandated, it's just it changes the factor of the government telling you what to do versus you making a choice to go get it. If people don't want to get vaccinated, that's their choice."
He also rejected the idea of an incentive program.
"I haven't seen anywhere where the incentives have made a huge impact on their vaccination numbers."
The health minister encouraged people to get vaccinated and said there are 500,000 doses available in Saskatchewan.
As of Thursday, among provinces Saskatchewan had used the lowest percentage of the doses it received at 73 per cent. The Canadian average is 83 per cent.
Saskatchewan also ranks second last among all provinces and territories in the percentage of eligible people fully vaccinated.
Saskatchewan and Alberta rank the lowest among provinces in terms of the total population vaccinated.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Adam Hunter
Journalist
Adam Hunter is the provincial affairs reporter at CBC Saskatchewan, based in Regina. He has been with CBC for more than 14 years. Follow him on Twitter @AHiddyCBC. Contact him: adam.hunter@cbc.ca
The passport system was introduced on Aug. 5 and the app was available for download on Wednesday.
"People who have made the effort to get their two doses must be able to live a somewhat normal life," said Quebec Premier François Legault on Aug. 5.
Quebec's health minister Christian Dubé said more than 11,000 people booked appointments for their first shot the day the passport system was introduced.
"That is double [the total from] the previous days," Dubé said
Earlier this week, B.C. announced it will implement a vaccine passport system for sporting events, concerts, restaurants, and theatres. Manitoba has a similar policy.
On Thursday, the B.C. government said the number of people registering for the vaccination program or booking appointments each day has jumped by as much as 200 per cent compared to a week earlier. The biggest jumps, the government says, have been in people under the age of 40.
B.C. sees big jump in vaccination bookings after announcing COVID-19 vaccine passport
The B.C. government said that on Tuesday and Wednesday, 12,904 people under the age of 40 registered and 11,301 booked appointments, more than doubling last week's numbers.
Sask. health officials dismiss mandates, passports
On Wednesday, Saskatchewan's Health Minister Paul Merriman and chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said in separate interviews that the government would not mandate vaccinations.
Shahab questioned the necessity of provincial mandates, including masks, citing the need for voluntary compliance.
"We still have lots of vaccine. You know, before we get into the fall, I think it's critical that vaccine uptake goes up. And a lot of [my] colleagues are working with communities to do exactly just that."
He encouraged people to get vaccinated to help protect themselves and reduce the strain on the health-care system.
In July, 90 per cent of all new cases and hospitalizations were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people.
According to the province, 95 per cent of ICU admissions were not fully vaccinated and 100 per cent of deaths were people who had not been vaccinated.
Shahab said vaccine passports were not being implemented by the government, but that evidence indicates they do increase vaccine uptake.
"I absolutely agree that whenever there's a requirement, for example, in university students, the [vaccine] uptake does go up," Shahab told CBC's Sam Maciag.
Sask. chief medical health officer addresses vaccination rates, climbing hospitalizations
Merriman said Wednesday that signs pointed to a fourth COVID-19 wave in the province but, like the premier, ruled out vaccine mandates.
"I think you're infringing on people's personal rights if you're mandating things," Merriman said.
"If it's government-mandated, it's just it changes the factor of the government telling you what to do versus you making a choice to go get it. If people don't want to get vaccinated, that's their choice."
He also rejected the idea of an incentive program.
"I haven't seen anywhere where the incentives have made a huge impact on their vaccination numbers."
The health minister encouraged people to get vaccinated and said there are 500,000 doses available in Saskatchewan.
As of Thursday, among provinces Saskatchewan had used the lowest percentage of the doses it received at 73 per cent. The Canadian average is 83 per cent.
Saskatchewan also ranks second last among all provinces and territories in the percentage of eligible people fully vaccinated.
Saskatchewan and Alberta rank the lowest among provinces in terms of the total population vaccinated.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Adam Hunter
Journalist
Adam Hunter is the provincial affairs reporter at CBC Saskatchewan, based in Regina. He has been with CBC for more than 14 years. Follow him on Twitter @AHiddyCBC. Contact him: adam.hunter@cbc.ca
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