The Saskatchewan NDP announced on Friday that party leader Ryan Meili has written to Premier Scott Moe demanding a return to the legislature to hold an emergency debate on the government’s return-to-school plan.

Meili said an emergency debate would allow the opposition to ask questions and scrutinize the plan with staff and students back in classrooms in nearly two weeks. He said the safe reopening of schools is his top priority.

“This can’t wait for after the election. We have to get this figured out before school starts,” stated Meili. “We’re expecting people to get back to work, we’re expecting teachers to go back to work, students to go back to school. It’s time for Scott Moe to get back to work.”

When asked whether it’s too late to get back to the legislature or if there’s enough time to have a debate before schools reopen, Meili replied by saying they can return on Monday if there is co-operation from the government.

“This is not something that takes a great deal of time to arrange. We are ready to go and this needs to happen urgently,” he said.

He added there are other items that could be discussed if MLAs were back in the legislature.

Meili said the NDP would give the government a chance to respond to the province’s high rates of suicide, work on passing legislation on suicide prevention and to have a fiscal update that includes financial projections omitted from this year’s budget.

Provincial government responds to Legislature calls from NDP

Premier Scott Moe issued a statement on Friday afternoon saying parents will learn more about their school-specific action plan on August 26.

The ministry of education has also provided school divisions with information on the application process for the $40 million the government is offering for the back to school plan.

The government is expecting to have a supply of two million masks in place for distribution by August 25.

As well, finance minister Donna Harpauer will be providing a first quarter fiscal update on August 27.

That update will include the $40 million in additional funds for education, and also the latest budget figures from the ministry of health.

With the first quarter fiscal update, Saskatchewan will become the first jurisdiction to provide detailed medium-term outlooks and projections factoring the impact of COVID-19 in Canada.

Moe did not commit to reconvening the Legislature at this time.