The Saskatchewan NDP has urged the Saskatchewan Party government to push Ottawa into sending the Canadian military to support the province’s long-term care homes affected by COVID-19 outbreaks.
Matt Love, seniors’ critic for the NDP, said Monday that the provincial government has failed workers in long-term care who are overwhelmed by climbing COVID-19 numbers.
Love said it’s time to reverse course and save lives.
“This government failed to act weeks ago when they could have gotten a hold on this pandemic,” suggested Love. “We know time is of the essence. We cannot make the same mistakes again because we don’t have time to waste.”
The opposition noted how the Sask. Party government said they would not be requesting military assistance last week when 12 residents of Parkside Extendicare in Regina had passed away. The number has since climbed to 18.
“Mr. Premier: get on the phone now and bring in all the support we can get on the ground, now,” added Love in his statement.
The NDP is also calling for other key measures in long-term care:
• Hiring the 300 continuing care aides announced in the throne speech now, instead of waiting until spring 2021;
• Introducing a standard of no more than two residents per room; and
• Undertaking in-person inspections at every long-term care facility with an outbreak and make the results of those inspections public.
