REGINA — Opposition New Democrats blasted the Sask Party government Tuesday over concerns raised by the Provincial Ombudsman and the Public Interest Disclosure Commissioner on the handling of the evacuation.
At a news conference at the Legislature, Cumberland MLA Jordan McPhail said the concerns raised by Provincial Ombudsman Sharon Pratcher “reinforces so much of what I've been hearing since the wildfire crisis began nearly two weeks ago.”
“People being bounced around from agency to agency with no clear information. Phone numbers that don't work, emails that never receive a response, more than a week for basic information on where to get support. People sleeping in their cars and in tents because they weren't provided proper shelter. People who have spent thousands of dollars and have been given a dollar and haven't been given a dollar in financial aid. Some stacking on mountains of debt. People are being given vouchers for grocery stores that are 300 km away. At every turn, pure chaos and callous failure. Anger, frustration, hopelessness, and a Sask Party government that doesn't seem to care.
“I hope today's events change some things. I truly do. To my constituents, to the people of our beautiful North, I want you to know that our entire team is in your corner. No resource from our office will be left off the table and we won't stop fighting for you. So you can get the help that you deserve and the help that you need and so that you can get home. We will recover. We will rebuild what has been lost and the North will endure. We are resilient and we will remain resilient through this challenge as well.”
Opposition House Leader Nicole Sarauer called on the province to act immediately.
“We are demanding Premier Scott Moe and Minister Tim McLeod to come forward with an immediate plan to better respond to this crisis. There can be no further delay, no further failure. It's time to show these evacuees some basic human decency. It's time to step up. This is a critical moment for the north and for all of Saskatchewan.”
Sarauer said she hoped that the Provincial Ombudsman’s news conference “truly marks the turning of a corner.”
“I could not believe when the Ombudsman said some evacuees don't even know where their other family members have been sent and whether they are even safe.
She said it was unprecedented to receive complaints from people not able to get food. This is truly an unprecedented failure by the Sask Party government. I can't imagine the stress, the anxiety and the heartbreak people are going through right now.”
Sarauer said the NDP fully support a formal investigation into the response to the wildfire crisis, but “we also agree with her that there will be time for that later.”
“Right now we need to get people help, proper long-term shelter, better communication, financial aid, a list of all available supports of all evacuation centers. I can't even imagine why that doesn't already exist. A plan to return to their communities when it's safe. A plan to rebuild in areas like Denare Beach and East Trout Lake where there has been major loss as a result of the fire.”
In speaking to reporters McPhail acknowledges there has been confusion from evacuees about the response and who to contact, whether it be the SPSA or Canadian Red Cross.
“The confusion is very real amongst all the evacuees and again it's going to be Scott Moe and Tim McLeod that have to answer the calls of the Saskatchewan evacuees on what services they can expect from their government, because they've done everything in good faith… …. the confusion from evacuees has been very real and I think that again Scott Moe and Tim McLeod need to stand in front of microphones stand in front of evacuees and explain to those folks why they have failed them so miserably in this wildfire season.”
This afternoon the provincial government issued this response to the Provincial Ombudsman's news conference.
"We recognize that this has been an immensely challenging situation, particularly for those who have lost their homes.
"We are encouraged today that some evacuees are now able to return home and remain optimistic that favourable conditions will allow more people to return home soon.
"We want to reassure everyone that the Government of Saskatchewan, along with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, have heard the concerns about evacuees not receiving clear communication and difficulties accessing support. We are actively working to address these concerns.
"With regard to the 855 phone number, SPSA has increased the number of staff answering calls in an effort to ensure that everyone is able to access consistent and accurate information in a timely manner.
"Premier Scott Moe will address the media on Wednesday morning in Saskatoon."
