REGINA - Opposition New Democrats are venting frustration this week over what they claim is the government’s lack of response to their questions on health care that were submitted at committee in March.
In response, the government is saying they did respond back on June 17, and accused the Opposition of "choosing headlines over health care."
The dispute erupted following a news conference outside the Legislature Monday. At that media availability NDP Health Critic Meara Conway roasted Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill and Minister of Mental Health Lori Carr for failing to provide public data on such things including healthcare disruptions, vacant positions in the healthcare system, expenditures on various areas, and others after committing to do so during Health Estimates at the Human Services Committee on March 31.
“Now, nearly four months later, not a thing has been provided, nor has a reason been given for the delay,” said Conway.
”These ministers looked me in the eye in estimates, they promised critical information going to the state of our healthcare, they promised that these items would be delivered, some as early as the following week, some as early as the following month, and still to this day I haven't heard a thing. So essentially I'm here today to put the Sask Party on blast for withholding key information that is critical to understanding the depth of the crisis of our healthcare system.”
Conway accused the government of again going “out of their way to escape accountability and cover up the depths of the struggles in our healthcare system. Closures, disruptions, vacancies, expenditures. Basic stuff, important stuff.”
Conway said they had asked about rural disruptions and closures, which she says are not publicly posted by the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
“Often people have to discover this through a Facebook post, have to call, as we often have to do directly to these hospitals, or worse of all, show up in person to find a notice posted on the door,” said Conway.
Conway also pointed to emergency rooms in the cities that are “constantly overrun,” as well as Regina’s Urgent Care Centre “that was committed as being a 24-7 fix. We know that now that promise may never be filled. We know that it had to close down on the busiest weekend for first responders in Regina."
Conway said they also asked about issues with AIMS the multi-million dollar IT project, as well as about key vacancies in health care.
Conway said their office followed up twice with a letter on May 7, and then again June 5.
“Since sending those two follow-ups, I've received no acknowledgement, no response, no reason for the delay. I've received radio silence.”
Comway described the Sask Party government as “so arrogant, so entitled, and so out of touch that they won't even acknowledge the crisis in our health care system or provide key information that is necessary to fix it.”
Conway went on to suggest the lack of information was impeding their ability as an Opposition to offer alternative solutions.
“You can't just criticize. You need to make propositions. You need to be propositional," Conway said. "You need to suggest alternatives. Unfortunately, we can't do that. We can't build the future in health care that people deserve without critical information on the state of health care at this time. So we're calling on the Sask Party to provide that information, ASAP.”
Sask Today contacted the province for comment, and they provided an emailed statement this afternoon which reads as follows:
"The requested information from Estimates was provided to the Clerks on June 16th, 2025. The Clerks then provided the information to committee members, including the NDP on June 17th, 2025.
"While the NDP are busy not checking their emails and choosing headlines over healthcare, this government is building new hospitals, hiring more healthcare professionals, and expanding access to care."
