SFL convention delegates condemn Sask. Party for handling of pandemic, demand Health Minister resign

Today, delegates at the 65th Annual Saskatchewan Federation of Labour Convention passed resolutions condemning the Sask. Party government for their mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and demanding the resignation of the Health Minister for ignoring the repeated warnings of health care professionals that has led to a devastating fourth wave in the province.

“The Sask. Party government has failed working people from the start of the pandemic,” said SFL President Lori Johb. “From refusing to provide wage top-ups for all frontline workers, leaving federal funds meant to help workers unspent, and ignoring calls for paid sick days, the Sask. Party has made it clear that they have no respect for the workers who have put their health and safety at risk to keep this province running. I’m not at all surprised that convention delegates voted in favour of these resolutions[1]working people have had enough.”

Delegates also voted in favour of a resolution renewing the SFL’s call for the Health Minister to resign.

“As Saskatchewan faces the greatest health crisis it has ever seen, it could not be more clear that the Health Minister is in over its head,” Johb said. “The Minister’s actions have done immense damage to our health care system, which has pushed frontline workers to the brink and forced ICU patients to be transferred out of province. It’s time for the Minister to step aside so that someone more capable can step in to lead the province out of this pandemic.”

Johb added that the Sask. Party’s continued disrespect for working people and their mishandling of the pandemic that has put politics ahead of people has motivated workers and Saskatchewan’s labour movement to do all they can to elect a worker friendly government in the next provincial election.