The opposition NDP peppered the Sask Party government with questions about problems that have plagued the Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford.
The mental health facility dealt with leaking areas of the roof during the summer, and it was recently announced that water at the facility is not drinkable due to levels of copper and lead found in the tap water at the facility.
NDP leader Ryan Meili said there’s much more than a leaky roof and undrinkable water that’s wrong with this hospital.
“Wards have been closed at that hospital due to flooding, the patients have been moved from unit to unit due to flooding, the admissions unit has been closed due to mold,” Meili said. “We’ve got many patients who are not able to get into that facility who are in other hospitals or in the community or in the streets because of these serious deficiencies.”
Premier Scott Moe says while he had not heard about these issues Meili discussed, a full facility audit is being conducted by the central services ministry.
“The results of that audit will most certainly be made public,” Moe said. “here is one thing that we can rest assured… is the case; if the NDP had the opportunity, we would not actually be replacing that particular facility.”
During Question Period, Meili also asked about a promise Moe made during his leadership campaign to add 400 Educational Assistants into classrooms across the province. Meili adds teachers have grown frustrated with the lack of educational supports.
Moe said investment has been put in place to add EA’s with a two-point four-eight Billion dollar education budget; the largest in history.
“We’re proud of that investment to ensure that our children, the next generation have every opportunity for success in our classrooms across this province,” Moe said. “It’s a trend: it’s a trend of increasing education budgets… it’s a trend of increasing investment in education and in that next generation… and it’s a trend that’s going to continue.”
Moe went on to say one-point-nine Billion dollars went to the school boards to provide the best education they can provide.
