The official opposition wants to see the Saskatchewan Party government create a multi-sectoral task force to work on controlling the spread of COVID-19 in the province.
NDP leader Ryan Meili penned a letter to Premier Scott Moe on Monday saying it’s about “protect our communities, hospitals, schools and businesses.”
In his opinion, Meili feels the task force would include members of the NDP along with municipal and Indigenous leaders, health care professionals, educational professionals, representatives from business and labour and community-based organizations.
(Courtesy of the Saskatchewan NDP)
It’s something the NDP has called for in the past, but Meili told reporters on Monday at the legislature that now is a crucial time to establish this task force.
“It was the right approach then, but now as we’re in the midst of this surging number of cases, our ICUs and hospitals are getting overwhelmed, it’s all the more important to get every voice at the table,” stated Meili.
He believes it would not take long to set up a task force since he has heard from multiple people in different sectors who have voiced their concerns over the last few months.
He said every day we don’t take action, it’s a chance for the virus to spread further, the economy to be more damaged and for more people to lose their lives.
“We are in a very serious moment, and unfortunately, it is going to get worse in the next little while,” suggested Meili. “That is why it is so important that we take action right now.”
Meili also took the opportunity to say he hopes the premier and his family do not have COVID-19 since Moe is in self-isolation until Sunday, November 29.
“We know this can be very scary. He knows he has been exposed and there is a risk of getting sick,” he stated. “I’m thinking about him. We don’t want anybody to have COVID-19 and we certainly want to see Mr. Moe back here healthy in the legislature next week.”
There was a potential exposure from a person who tested positive for COVID-19 while Premier Moe was out for lunch with family members at Original Joe’s on November 15 in Prince Albert after a death in the family.
The premier’s office noted that Moe is not experiencing any symptoms, however he did receive a COVID-19 test on Monday “out of an abundance of caution.” He will continue his responsibilities remotely from his home in Shellbrook during self-isolation.
