Premier owes workers an apology, Health Minister must resign

Premier owes workers an apology, Health Minister must resign

The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour is in favour of the public health changes announced today, and is calling on Premier Moe to apologize to Saskatchewan frontline workers for ignoring repeated calls from health care professionals and dropping all public health restrictions that led to a disastrous fourth wave of COVID-19 that has overwhelmed our health care system and pushed workers to the brink.

“This situation was entirely avoidable, and is a direct result of the Sask. Party putting politics over public health and failing to listen to the science and health care professionals,” said SFL President Lori Johb. “We’ve been calling for additional measures to be put in place for weeks, and the Sask. Party has done nothing but delay while the virus continues to spread. The Premier and the Sask. Party owe every front line worker who will be dealing with the consequences of their inaction an apology.”

Johb also repeated the SFL’s call for Sask. Party Health Minister Paul Merriman to resign over his mismanagement of the province’s COVID-19 response.

“It has been clear throughout the past few weeks that Minister Merriman is in over his head, and has no idea of the immense pressure that has been put on front line workers as a result of his government’s refusal to get the pandemic under control” Johb said. “The Minister must resign so that someone more capable can step in to lead the province out of the pandemic.”

Johb urged everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible so that the public health measures announced today can be lifted in the future when public health experts- not the Sask. Party- believe it is safe to do so.