NDP calling for Shahab’s recommendations to be released

Saskatchewan’s current situation in the COVID-19 pandemic is sad and frustrating and avoidable, according to the NDP.

NDP MLA Vicki Mowat, the party’s health critic, said the health system has collapsed between cancelled surgeries, suspended pediatric treatments, and burned-out staff.

Mowat said the people of the province have a right to know why this has happened. She believes the provincial government ignored advice from chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab, ignored the roadmap for education, and ignored offers of help from the federal government.

“This was caused by a series of political decisions over the last couple of months made by this government who chose to ignore medical advice and still won’t acknowledge their role in this crisis,” said Mowat.

Mowat is calling on the provincial government to publicly release all of the recommendations that Shahab has made throughout the pandemic and she wants government to explain why it did or didn’t follow his advice.

“If there’s nothing to hide, there shouldn’t be a problem with releasing those recommendations fully,” said Mowat.

Mowat pointed to advice coming from Shahab recently telling people to keep their gatherings small and with consistent people, but also that the same advice hasn’t been translated into a public health order. She said the public needs to know what has been recommended so it can know whether Shahab is being muzzled.

“We need to get to the bottom of what is happening here and the simplest way to do that is to be honest with the people of Saskatchewan and to ensure that there’s transparency in what those recommendations have been,” said Mowat.

The reporting could be a regular thing or a website, Mowat said. She noted there also needs to be some examination of the independence of the chief medical health officer’s position, referencing other provinces where regular reports come from the office and others where health orders have come straight from the doctor.

Mowat said it’s all about the government owning up to what it’s done and being transparent with the people of the province.

In a statement, the Government of Saskatchewan said it consults with Shahab and other health officials on “a daily and weekly basis” to determine its response to the pandemic.

“These consultations often take the form of ongoing discussions and we have full confidence that the Public Health Order, signed by Dr. Shahab, will help limit the spread of COVID-19,” the statement said.