Government throne speech fails workers in the midst of crisis

Today’s throne speech from the Sask. Party government fails working people in Saskatchewan, offering no plans to fix the current COVID-19 crisis in the province that is overwhelming our hospitals and pushing workers to the brink.

“Today’s throne speech shows just how out of touch with reality this government is when it comes to the current situation workers are facing in this province,” said SFL President Lori Johb. “Workers are looking for some answers and accountability from this government for dropping all public health restrictions and allowing a devastating fourth wave to occur, and they are looking for a plan to be able to move past this crisis and create good jobs, boost our struggling economy, and get people back to work. Unfortunately, this throne speech completely missed the mark.”

Johb said that the throne speech was also an opportunity for Sask. Party to acknowledge their mistakes and apologize to front line workers for the damage done to the health care system that has led to cancelled surgeries, ICU patients being transferred out of province, and the need for military assistance.

“Frontline workers are looking for answers as to why the Sask. Party ignored health experts and modelling that predicted this fourth wave,” Johb said. “They want to know why the Sask. Party keeps ignoring medical advice and continuing to put politics ahead of people and scientific evidence, and they want to know what the plan is to fix the damage that’s been done to our health care system. “This throne speech is an attempt to distract from that reality, and workers deserve so much better.”